Interview with Dot Ryan, author of Corrigans' Pool
Dorothy Thompson
January 23, 2010
Thank you for this interview, Dot. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, Corrigans´ Pool, is all about?
Thank you for inviting me. Corrigans´ Pool is a Civil War era novel that takes place in and around Savannah, Georgia between 1861 and 1864. If you don´t mind, I´ve taken parts of the following description from the recent ForeWord Clarion Review of Corrigans´ Pool, which gave the book five stars out five:
The eldest of two daughters, Ella Corrigan rises to the challenge when a family tragedy results in an incapacitated mother and a father consumed by guilt. Despite the pressures of essentially running the family plantation on her own, she bears the burden of responsibility stoically, with kindness, efficiency, and little resentment for her lot in life.
Somewhat resigned to the possibility of never marrying, Ella is stunned by her reaction when she meets the dashing, if seemingly ill-suited, Gentry Garland. She repeatedly resists the attraction at first, resulting in moments both touching and amusing, until she finally accepts the love between them. From there, it doesn´t take long for Ella to begin envisioning a different, more enriching future—at least until the Civil War lands on their doorstep and Gentry strangely disappears without a word.
Devastated, Ella makes the fateful decision to marry neighboring plantation owner Victor Faircloth. Victor´s increasingly contemptuous violence toward those who serve his household sickens Ella, and a gripping mystery begins to unfold involving his rapidly disappearing slaves and the beautiful pool, called Corrigans´ Pool, on Ella´s family property. As the Civil War rages on, Ella finds herself fighting a war of her own to save her home, her loved ones, and the innocent victims of her husband´s brutality.
Villains and heroes are exposed in their true light, loves are lost and found, and the strength of human spirit ultimately prevails.
Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?
I was inspired to write Corrigans´ Pool by my great love of American history, especially the Civil war era in which many of my ancestors fought on both sides. I grew up listening to my paternal and maternal grandmothers´ stories, passed down from generation to generation, about life in those days. I knew early on that someday I would write historical novels about all eras of American history.
Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?
Yes, this is my first published book. It is also the very first I´ve written.
I queried well over a dozen agents and received a reply from a very nice lady wanting to read the manuscript. Three months later she e-mailed me, suggesting that I rev up the romance in the book, put the male love interest in every chapter "like Rhett Butler" and then get back to her. I thought long and hard about it, and decided against turning my story into something I had not intended.
Although there is romance in the book, it is subtle and not the single aspect of Corrigans´ Pool that makes the story appealing. With faith that I had written a creditable novel—and fully aware of the stigma against self-published books—I decided then and there to self-publish. I wanted to spend the rest of my years writing, not pursuing agents and publishers who, perhaps because of the economy, are not as open to new talent as they once were. My reasoning may be better understood by other writers "of a certain age" than younger writers starting out with a wide open lifetime ahead of them.
I researched several self-publishing companies, and decided on iUniverse. The book earned iUniverse´s prestigious Editor´s Choice and Rising Star categories.
Do you have an agent?
No, I don´t have an agent nor have I ever. I hear conflicting notions about the necessity of an agent. I can understand why a writer would want one if she is dead set on getting a traditional publisher. These days, few traditional publishers will look at manuscripts that are not represented by agents. If I am lucky enough to have a traditionally publisher want Corrigans´ Pool somewhere down the line, I will consider getting an agent. In a perfect world, a person—who just happens to be an agent—reads Corrigans´ Pool and loves it so much that she/he calls me. Lol. But agents don´t have time to read purely for their own pleasure, do they?
Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time iUniverse sent the contract and the time it was released?
I wrote bits and pieces of Corrigans´ Pool in the 60s´ and 70s´ in between raising three children and later holding down a forty hour a week job in the county courthouse. Those years were the business times of my life and I had to write in the wee hours of night when everyone was sound asleep. I didn´t get much writing done before exhaustion took over! I finished my novel in 1982 … and lost every page of it in a fire a few months later, along with most of my research notes. This was in the days when everything was done on typewriters and I had neglected to make copies—a mistake I will never make again!
Several years passed before I swallowed my grief and started writing Corrigans´ Pool once more from scratch. I had purchased my first computer and was in heaven! But then, my new husband and I bought a large, Texas Dance Hall business as an investment and, unable to find a manager, we were forced to run it ourselves. We were so busy with this new and unlikely occupation that my writing came to a regrettable halt. In time, I came to realize that this unusual adventure was more of a blessing than the fiasco I had first though it to be. If you´d like to know more about it and maybe get a good laugh in the process, go to my website and look at Memoirs of a Texas Dance Hall Queen. A few years after we sold the business, Corrigans´ Pool had arisen from the ashes of the old—better, I believe, than the first—but a whopping 1012 pages!
I began gathering advice and opinions of writers and editors who were kind enough to respond to my inquiries, all of whom are mentioned in the Acknowledgment page of Corrigans´ Pool. All agreed that, as a first-time novelist, my manuscript had to be a lot shorter if I expected to get a publisher. Cutting it down to size was like writing the entire manuscript over again! A long, back and forth editing process with professional editors followed. Now to find a publisher—this, as I said earlier, turned out to be iUniverse.
I signed on with iUniverse in November of 2007 and the book came out in April of 2009. In that the book was self-published, the length of time could have been much shorter but I took the time to make additional chances to the manuscript, slowing down the process considerably. In speaking with other authors who have published with various self-publishing companies, I learned that there are always a few bumps in the road, some of which cannot be avoided.
After all was said and done, the book turned out as beautiful as any produced by traditional publishers. More importantly, high marks from readers and reviewers say the content is as good as any historical fiction of its type on the market.
Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?
Yes, I do. First off, do not let anyone or anything spoil your dream, not rejection slips or any other of life´s surprises and disappointments. Most importantly, forget about the time limit you may have set on your dream of being published. Time limits do not apply to dreams, unless it is the worthwhile hours, days, and years spent actually writing; such time spent is never wasted and is a sure way to make your dream come true. And remember, you don´t have to be young and able to run in a marathon to write. You just have to keep moving toward the finish line, even if you have to crawl.
But there is absolutely one thing you must do before attempting to get your book published or think of publishing it your self: Get it evaluated by a professional and, if you are serious about a writing career, follow their advice and instructions.
I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book in January 2010 via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?
With advice here and there, I tried for a short time to market Corrigans´ Pool but inexperience made the process daunting and often confusing. I finally admitted I needed help, especially after my husband became seriously and needed most of my attention. I chose a virtual book tour in hopes that the tour will get my book noticed, and will allow me the freedom to do what I love to do; write more novels. I intend to do a lot of "physical" promoting as soon as my husband is able to travel with me; he is my moral support and, including all the usual happiness between a husband and wife, he is my best friend. I wouldn´t dream of leaving him behind.
What´s next for you?
I will keep striving to be recognized as a serious writer. At this time, I am working on the sequel to Corrigans´ Pool, which I have tentatively titled Leaving Corrigans´ Pool. The sequel takes place in Texas during that state´s dangerous Reconstruction era after the Civil War. I have also written several chapters of three additional novels, two of which take place in the South during World War II, the third takes place in a small historic Texas town in the nineties and is my first attempt at a supernatural, fantasy-type novel—not about vampires; I wouldn´t dare try to sink my teeth into a subject that is currently getting transfusions from experts in the field!
Thank you for this interview, Dot. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to answer your questions and give folks a good idea of who I am and what my writing is about. More information is on my website, www.dotryanbooks.com. Also available there is the unedited Part One of the sequel to Corrigans´ Pool, but it would be wonderful if you would read Corrigans´ Pool first—although the sequel will stand on its own.
www.corriganspool.wordpress.com
I am not yet proficient at twittering or FaceBook, but I´m at www.twitter.com/dotryan1 and www.facebook.com/Corrigans-pool.
If you decide to buy Corrigans´ Pool, please go to any major online bookstore, including http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.Amazon.com
I am told that brick and mortar book stores will order copies upon request, especially Barnes & Noble.
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