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Live Chat with Debut Author Natalie Baszile

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m., ET, for a live online chat (set a reminder, below).

Listen to Nora’s podcast interview with the author.

Click here to find out more about the book.

 Live Chat with Natalie Baszile, QUEEN SUGAR(10/09/2013) 
3:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Natalie Baszile, author of Queen Sugar in about 15 minutes
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:46 Nora - EarlyWord
3:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:46 Nora - EarlyWord
3:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Queen Sugar Cover
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:46 
3:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
...and some of Natalie's photos of the bayou to get everyone in the mood.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:47 Nora - EarlyWord
3:47
  
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:47 
3:47
 Nora - EarlyWord
The Beauty of the Cane Rows
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:47 
3:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's a podcast of the interview I did with Natalie a few weeks ago...
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:49 Nora - EarlyWord
3:50
Interview with Natalie Baszile  Play
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:50 
3:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It's great to see so many chat participants gathering. You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and I'll submit as many of them as I can to Natalie before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive any that we commit!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:51 Nora - EarlyWord
3:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Many of you have looked at the slide show of Natalie's photos. Here's a series from it that shows what back breaking labor planing cane is.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:58 Nora - EarlyWord
3:58
 Nora - EarlyWord
Planting Cane
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:58 
3:59
 Nora - EarlyWord
Dropping Cane in the Rows
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:59 
3:59
 Nora - EarlyWord
Cane Wagon
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:59 
3:59
 Nora - EarlyWord
A Well-Deserved Break
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:59 
3:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We're about to begin. I see Natalie has joined us.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 3:59 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Welcome, Natalie.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Nora. Hello, everyone! Thanks for signing on.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:00 Natalie Baszile
4:01
Natalie Baszile: 
I'm looking forward to your questions.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:01 Natalie Baszile
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We received some questions in advance. This one is a good place to begin:

Natalie – Love this book. the characters are so real ....was a lot of time spent in this area observing and picking certain characters? the flavor of the south puts you right in the scene.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks very much. Yes, I spent a lot of time in Louisiana researching and writing the book, trying to get the characters and the setting just right . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:02 Natalie Baszile
4:03
Natalie Baszile: 
I’d say that in addition to telling a good story, capturing the look and feel, the atmosphere of South Louisiana was my primary goal. It’s such a strange and wonderful place. The mix of cultures—African, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, English, Caribbean—makes it completely different from any other part of the country, and I wanted readers to experience that .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:03 Natalie Baszile
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How ere you able to immerse yourself in the culture?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:06
Natalie Baszile: 
In the twelve years it took to write the novel, but especially since 2005, I tried to get down to Louisiana as often as I could in order to absorb the atmosphere. It’s something you sense as soon as you get there. It’s in the air. I’m not kidding when I say you step off the plane and notice that the air smells different—wonderfully earthy and mildewy. The climate is semi-tropical, so everything is in a constant state of managed decay. I did a lot of research about sugar cane farming, but I also spent a lot of time sitting, or visiting places with no particular agenda in mind. I just wanted the place to seep into my bones.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:06 Natalie Baszile
4:07
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The cover is beautiful – where does that image come from?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:07 Nora - EarlyWord
4:07
[Comment From Sue DSue D: ] 
I loved the descriptions of this book be it people or places. You could feel the heat or smell the food. I actually had a huge craving to find some gumbo - your descriptions were that good.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:07 Sue D
4:08
Natalie Baszile: 
Haha! That's funny. Food is a huge part of South Louisiana culture . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:08 Natalie Baszile
4:08
Natalie Baszile: 
I’m glad you like the cover. The art department at Penguin came up with the design. I’m very happy with it. They really captured the tone and feel of the book, and I especially love the dragonflies. At first, there was only one dragonfly, resting on the cane leaf, but my editor, Pam Dorman, thought the cover needed more movement, so she suggested they add a second one. They added the one that’s hovering in the air. I love because in the book, there’s mention of a dragonfly in one of Charley’s chapters and one in Ralph Angel’s chapters . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:08 Natalie Baszile
4:09
[Comment From JACKIEJACKIE: ] 
i THINK THAT SHOWS IN THE DIALOG AND THE WAY THAT YOU BROUGHT IN THE ISSUES OF THE FARMERS
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:09 JACKIE
4:09
Natalie Baszile: 
I also really love the cane tassle. A friend in Louisiana told me recently that sugarcane rarely forms tassels like that, but when it happens, farmers take it as a sign of good luck.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:09 Natalie Baszile
4:09
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
I thought the description of family, blood and extended was spot on. Most people don't have that anymore. Is it really still prevalent in Louisiana?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:09 Guest
4:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Several readers expressed interest in the character of Charlie’s half-brother, Ralph Angel. Let’s see how this group felt about him.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:10 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Jackie. The dialog was fun to write. People in Louisiana have a beautiful accent. At least I think so. . . . I wanted to capture that.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:10 Natalie Baszile
4:10
How did you react to Charley s half brother, Ralph Angel?
Felt sympathetic
 ( 17% )
Doomed by his upbringing
 ( 0% )
Didn't like him
 ( 17% )
Hoped he'd get it together
 ( 67% )

Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:10 
4:11
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
loved this book what part of Louisiana were you in, I was stationed in New Orleans, and went to school some while there and the locals wwere very special and welcoming to me, it was a time I will never forget.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:11 Guest
4:11
Natalie Baszile: 
In South Louisiana, family is EVERYTHING. I don't want to make a sweeping generalization, but people really spend a lot of time with their families. It was important for me to explore that in the book.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:11 Natalie Baszile
4:12
Natalie Baszile: 
I spent most of my time in between New Iberia and Franklin, Louisiana.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:12 Natalie Baszile
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I understand you grew up in a family business. Charley creates her own family business. How do you think family businesses affect relationships?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:13
Natalie Baszile: 
Family business can be wonderful, a real source of comfort and stability, but they can also be stifling. I think it depends on how old you are when you start working with your family and how much life experience you’ve had. I also think it’s very important that parents don’t hold on too tight; even when they understand that all the positive things a family business can offer. In my case, I tried to be the loyal daughter, but I knew pretty early that it wasn’t the place for me. I wanted to write.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:13 Natalie Baszile
4:14
Natalie Baszile: 
But I learned a lot of valuable lessons from being in business that have helped me as a writer.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:14 Natalie Baszile
4:14
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
After finishing the book, I understand why what happened to Ralph Angel happened, but I was disappointed that he was a little stereotypical. What made you decide this fate for him?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:14 Dominique
4:15
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It looks like most of our participants felt sympathetic for Ralph.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:15 Nora - EarlyWord
4:16
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks for your comment, Dominique.. And I'm very happy to hear most people found him to be sympathetic.

I worked extremely hard to make him sympathetic—not simply a one-dimensional villain—and prayed readers would find his story tragic, even heartbreaking. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Ralph Angel because I always understood him to be a character who wanted desperately to do the right thing--to please people, to be loved. But he was always his own worst enemy. . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:16 Natalie Baszile
4:16
Natalie Baszile: 
Often, especially in the later revisions, I felt as though Charley and Ralph Angel were two sides of the same coin. Different characters, for sure, but that they were living on parallel tracts. Oddly enough, the similarities in their stories--the fact that both are widowed, the fact that they both have young children, the fact that they struggle to be good parents—those similarities weren’t intentional, and I didn’t realize they were living in parallel lives until I’d revised the novel a couple times. I guess you could say that’s the magic of the subconscious mind. As I became aware of how much their lives mirrored each other’s and that Charley easily could have been dealt Ralph Angels’s hand, I tried to work that into Charley’s awareness.

Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:16 Natalie Baszile
4:17
[Comment From JACKIEJACKIE: ] 
i THINK THAT WAS WHAT WORKED WITH CHARLEY IN TTHIS STORY.....EVERYTHING WAS FAR FROM PERFECT FOR HER AND THIS NEW BUSINESS--YOU KEPT ROOTING FOR HER TO SUCCEED..
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:17 JACKIE
4:17
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Jackie! I'm glad you kept rooting for her.. .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:17 Natalie Baszile
4:18
Natalie Baszile: 
That was actually the hardest thing to balance. Because I needed the reader to stay in Charley's corner, even while they felt sympathy for Ralph Angel . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:18 Natalie Baszile
4:19
Natalie Baszile: 
I needed both characters to be imperfect.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:19 Natalie Baszile
4:19
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
thank you for this. i was sympathetic, but also frustrated that his ending could have been avoided by the choices he made. but then the book would be completely different!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:19 Dominique
4:20
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I thought that one of the themes in the books was from one of the lines in your book - that everyone wants their days to have purpose and needs to know they are moving forward. I thought all of the characters had their demons to battle and this influenced what meant moving forward to them.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:20 Anne
4:20
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
The story had many interesting, complex, flawed characters, which made it so rich and interesting. It drew me in immediately and I really enjoyed it. It also gave me an appreciation for the farmers and workers. Sugar is something so many of us take for granted.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:20 bookclubreader
4:21
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Anne. That's exactly what I was trying to explore.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:21 Natalie Baszile
4:22
Natalie Baszile: 
Farming is by far one of the toughest professions out there. There's no guarantee, no real safety net. And yet, farmers keep coming back year after year.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:22 Natalie Baszile
4:22
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Any surprises from early reactions to the book?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:22 Nora - EarlyWord
4:22
Natalie Baszile: 
So far, I’ve only received positive feedback, for which I’m tremendously grateful, but I understand not everyone will love it. The handful of people who’ve read the book, though, have said they’ve enjoyed it. Honestly that’s what I want most of all: for people to be moved by the story; for the characters to stay with them; for it to be a satisfying reading experience. I know how I’ve felt in the past when I’ve read a book that I’ve loved. I remember reading Charles Frasier’s Cold Mountain and not wanting the book to end. I still remember sitting on the couch, reading the final scene when the patroller shoots Inman, and actually saying out loud, “Oh, no! Oh, no! This can’t be happening!” and feeling completely devastated. Or reading Amy Bloom’s Away, and tearing up at the end because I was so happy and relieved for Lillian. Reading a good book can be a moving, deeply satisfying experience. I think that’s what every writer hopes for: that their readers will be moved.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:22 Natalie Baszile
4:23
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Love your blog -- http://nataliebaszile.wordpress.com --
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:23 Nora - EarlyWord
4:23
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Natalie's Blog
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:23 Nora - EarlyWord
4:24
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Nora! I love my little blog, although recently, I haven’t had time to post as often as I’d like. I try to make the posts interesting. I think they should have some sort of narrative arc and be worthy of the reader’s time. I’m don’t think anyone is interested in reading about what I had for breakfast, so I try only to share things that feel important, and that means the posts sometimes take a long time to craft. I find that I’m most inspired when I travel to Louisiana—again, because it’s such a strange and wonderful place, but also because when I’m there, I just sort of go with the flow and let things unfold. I’m always surprised . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:24 Natalie Baszile
4:24
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Especially the part about trying to open an account with the New Orleans Water & Sewer Co. --
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:24 Nora - EarlyWord
4:24
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Saga of Opening an Account At The New Orleans Water and Sewage Board
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:24 Nora - EarlyWord
4:25
Natalie Baszile: 
Oh my goodness. What a nightmare.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:25 Natalie Baszile
4:25
Nora - EarlyWord: 
What made you start the blog?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:25 Nora - EarlyWord
4:25
Natalie Baszile: 
I started the blog a few weeks after I sold my novel and was waiting for editorial comments. I needed a project. For the first time in over a decade, I didn’t have a big project to sink my teeth into, and I was afraid my writing muscles would atrophy, so the blog seemed like the perfect vehicle to stay in touch with the writing. I also noticed that in the absence of a big project, I suddenly had the creative space to entertain smaller ideas, the bandwidth to consider smaller narratives, things that weren’t necessarily short-story material, but that still felt important enough to share. I describe writing blog posts as blowing bubbles—they’re these magical little units of narrative – not too big, but not too small. . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:25 Natalie Baszile
4:27
[Comment From TrishaTrisha: ] 
Louisiana in itself will make you want to blog it is a world all to itself
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:27 Trisha
4:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Was it confusing to write the blog and the novel at the same time?

Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:27 Nora - EarlyWord
4:27
Natalie Baszile: 
Absolutely, Trisha. I agree
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:27 Natalie Baszile
4:27
Natalie Baszile: 
When I was working on the novel, I was afraid to siphon away any creative energy, so I didn’t work on any other projects. When I got an idea for a short story or an essay, I’d take notes and maybe write a draft, but I poured 98% of my energy into the novel. In the last three years or so, I felt myself being drawn to essays, so the blog has been a good place to practice. A version of one of my blog posts, “Frogging Quintana” was published in a two anthologies this past summer. That was fun.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:27 Natalie Baszile
4:29
Natalie Baszile: 
I'm going back to Louisiana this Saturday. We'll see what I come up with!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:29 Natalie Baszile
4:29
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I want to apologize to everyone about Natalie's avatar -- she doesn't look like that! -- I haven't been able to get her beautiful photos to load!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:29 Nora - EarlyWord
4:30
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You split your time between San Francisco and New Orleans – they seem like very different places.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:30 Nora - EarlyWord
4:30
Natalie Baszile: 
Yes, I find myself spending more and more time in New Orleans because now I have friends there. You’re right to suggest that they are very different places: I’ve come to think of New Orleans as “My Crazy Mistress” (I wrote a post last summer about this). She moves at her own pace. She does things her way, and she isn’t particularly interested in changing. San Francisco, by contrast, is always moving, constantly changing. It’s ground zero for innovation with all the start-ups and tech companies, and that’s always exciting. It’s not as crazed as, say, Manhattan, but there’s an energy here that makes you want to challenge yourself. It’s a very inspiring place to live. . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:30 Natalie Baszile
4:31
[Comment From Sue DSue D: ] 
Are you touring for the book? Where will you be going? Anywhere near St. Louis MO?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:31 Sue D
4:31
Natalie Baszile: 
But I’d also say there are a number of similarities between the two cities. There’s a funky, bohemian vibe that I like, an appreciation for quirkiness. You can do your thing—whatever that is—in either town, and no one is really going to say much. . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:31 Natalie Baszile
4:31
Natalie Baszile: 
I find I need both places. I love San Francisco’s entrepreneurial spirit, but I also love New Orlean’s laid back atmosphere where folks really appreciate life and good friends and good food and a slower pace .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:31 Natalie Baszile
4:32
Natalie Baszile: 
My publicist and I are working on my book tour right now.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:32 Natalie Baszile
4:33
Natalie Baszile: 
So far, we're concentrating on the West Coast and places in the south. but I'd love to come to St. Louis, MO.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:33 Natalie Baszile
4:33
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Natalie, did you base Ms. Honey on a real-life person?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:33 Dominique
4:33
Natalie Baszile: 
Miss Honey was loosely inspired by my grandmother. She was a real character.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:33 Natalie Baszile
4:34
Natalie Baszile: 
She pretty much ruled over the town she lived in. When she died, the entire town came out to her funeral. It lasted 4 hours.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:34 Natalie Baszile
4:34
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Back to the question about touring -- are you available to groups via SKYPE? How can libraries reach you?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:34 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
Natalie Baszile: 
Absolutely! I'm happy to SKYPE. For now, folks can reach me at my personal email: NBaszile@gmail.com. My website should be ready soon.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:35 Natalie Baszile
4:36
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
There was one character I wanted to get inside his head or at least ask him a couple of questions - that was the father.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:36 Anne
4:36
Natalie Baszile: 
Okay, shoot.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:36 Natalie Baszile
4:36
Natalie Baszile: 
What were you curious to know?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:36 Natalie Baszile
4:39
Natalie Baszile: 
Ernest is indeed sort of a mystery-certainly to Charley . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:39 Natalie Baszile
4:40
Natalie Baszile: 
I wanted his gift of the farm to be a shock to her, for her to realize that she didn't know everything about him. Because that's true in life, right? You never really know what people are thinking, what secrets they are harboring like mushrooms in the back of their closet.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:40 Natalie Baszile
4:42
Chris Kahn: 
Folks---In case this is posted need to let everyone know that Nora has had her system go down and is not able to post
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:42 Chris Kahn
4:43
Natalie Baszile: 
Okay. I'm happy to answer other questions while we wait for Nora.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:43 Natalie Baszile
4:43
Chris Kahn: 
We are working on the problem...please hang on!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:43 Chris Kahn
4:44
Chris Kahn: 
Please send questions to Chris@earlyword.com and I will post them!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:44 Chris Kahn
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
So sorry -- back on now!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We have a ton of questions out there -- will try to post as many as I can.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Natalie Baszile: 
ok
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:45 Natalie Baszile
4:45
[Comment From JACKIEJACKIE: ] 
I was a little angry with the father for leaving the kids in this type of situation. However I have known other parents that have done this to their family. It usually does not end well
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:45 JACKIE
4:46
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
He seemed like a selfish man - that he would determine the legacy of his children w/o their input.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:46 Anne
4:47
Natalie Baszile: 
that's interesting. I always imagined that Ernest did what he did out of love for Charley and that he was deeply hurt by Ralph Angel.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:47 Natalie Baszile
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's another reaction:
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
And I wonder if Ernest thought about how his bequest would affect Charley and Ralph, and their children.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:47 bookclubreader
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Changing topics:
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
[Comment From Sue DSue D: ] 
How do you work? writing long hand or computer? Morning or evening? music or not?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:47 Sue D
4:48
Natalie Baszile: 
At this point, definitely on a computer. My handwriting is terrible . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:48 Natalie Baszile
4:48
Natalie Baszile: 
And I usually try to work during the day when my kids are at school. But honestly, I don't hit my stride until around 4:00 in the afternoon.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:48 Natalie Baszile
4:49
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Natalie, the relationship, or lack of, between Charley and her mother is interesting. can you explain why it is so strained? was that intentional?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:49 Dominique
4:49
Natalie Baszile: 
I wanted their relationship to be tense for sure.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:49 Natalie Baszile
4:49
Natalie Baszile: 
But it's important to understand that Lorna doesn't come from the south. She's a Yankee.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:49 Natalie Baszile
4:50
Natalie Baszile: 
I also wanted to explore the relationship between mothers and daughters.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:50 Natalie Baszile
4:50
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I kept thinking what I would do if I was Charley - about what I would do once I found out the state of the cane farm (I did enough learning all about cane farming) - what I would have done if my daughter threw the ring away (when I knew that was a security blanket
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:50 Anne
4:51
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Anne. Charley certainly faces her share of challenges, especially when it comes to Micah . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:51 Natalie Baszile
4:52
Natalie Baszile: 
But I was interested in the question of exactly what women do for their children. How far they'll go.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:52 Natalie Baszile
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Tell us about the process of getting the book published.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
Natalie Baszile: 
Oh gosh. . . The short-ish answer is I had an experience early on that taught me a valuable lesson. I’d just started writing the book when I went to a writers’ conference and I was introduced to an agent who asked to read what I’d written. The truth was, I barely knew how the story would unfold, let alone what it was about, what questions it was really asking, but I went home, and for the next six weeks worked like a mad woman to finish the draft. I sent it to him and of course, he read it and said he wasn’t interested after all-- “thanks but no thanks.” I learned then that I really had one shot with agents, and that I couldn’t afford to squander another opportunity or introduction . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:53 Natalie Baszile
4:54
Natalie Baszile: 
So, for the next ten years, I worked on the novel and didn’t put any pressure on myself—well . . . I didn’t put much pressure on myself to think about publication. I just tried to write the best story I could write. That was challenging sometimes because there were a lot of writers at my writing office who were getting their novels and short stories published, and while I happy as I was for their success, I felt like I was just plodding along like a mule in the traces. Whenever I felt discouraged or started to wonder whether it would ever be my turn, I’d remind myself that I was on my own path. There were some painful moments along the way when I thought I’d given the novel everything I had, moments when I believed the novel was ready only to be told that it wasn’t. The summer of 2009, I though I’d run out of juice. I think I’d revised the novel nine or ten times by then and I was exhausted. But I kept going because deep down, I believed in the story—which is different from believing it would ever be published, by the way. I just had the sense that there was something there worth working for, even if it was just for myself . . .
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:54 Natalie Baszile
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The conversation about family relationships in the book is so interesting. Here's another observation.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I understood how Charley felt guilty about Micah getting burned and I got the Charley did not want her love/support of her daughter to be conditional like Lorna's was for Charley.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:55 Anne
4:56
Natalie Baszile: 
exactly!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:56 Natalie Baszile
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Just a few more minutes for final questions!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
Natalie Baszile: 
Charley tries to be a different kind of mother.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:56 Natalie Baszile
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Natalie, we had a bunch of participants offering inducements for your book tour...
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
[Comment From Sue DSue D: ] 
Well, some people do consider St. Louis part of the South. We would love to have you!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:57 Sue D
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'm finding this one hard to believe...
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
[Comment From TrishaTrisha: ] 
And drive thru daquiris
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:57 Trisha
4:58
[Comment From KikiKiki: ] 
Natalie, what's been the most exciting part of the debut author process so far?
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Kiki
4:58
Natalie Baszile: 
Oh wow! Thanks!

And yes, drive thru daquiris are a real thing!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Natalie Baszile
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We'll conclude with a couple of great comments...
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
Your perseverance in the publishing process is very much like Charley's determination to produce a crop. A labor of love.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 bookclubreader
4:58
[Comment From LilyLily: ] 
Loved the book, and the relationships between the characters. It's a book that stays with you after you're done reading it.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Lily
4:58
Natalie Baszile: 
The most exciting part of this process so far has been sharing the book with friends who had a hand in helping me write it; especially the folks in south louisiana.

Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Natalie Baszile
4:58
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
Just wanted to say that I enjoyed the book and it is another reason why I am drawn to books set in LA :)
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:58 Anne
4:59
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm so, so happy and grateful you enjoyed the book!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:59 Natalie Baszile
4:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Thanks so much Natalie. It's been fun chatting with you!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 4:59 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks, Nora. This has been fun!
Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:00 Natalie Baszile
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
As a reminder, This chat and the podcast interviews will be archived on the Penguin First Flights page on EarlyWord -- useful for readers advisory.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The book is coming out on February. If you haven't read it yet, digital readers copies are currently available on Edelweiss and NetGalley
Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Goodbye everyone and happy reading.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:03
Natalie Baszile: 
Thanks everyone. I'm so glad to have met you all (virtually). Feel free to get in touch if you'd like me to SKYPE.
Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:03 Natalie Baszile
5:03
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Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:03 
 
 

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