Interview with G.F. Skipworth, author of 'The Simpering, North Dakota Literary Society'

G.F. Skipworth has toured much of the world as a concert pianist, symphonic/operatic conductor, composer and vocalist. Educated at Whitman College, the Peabody Conservatory, Harvard and UCLA, he has also worked in speech, comedy and academic writing. The Simpering, North Dakota Literary Society is his seventh novel, and the second of historical fiction. Dr. Skipworth currently resides in Portland, Oregon, and is a professor at a western college. For additional information, please visit rosslarebooks.com.

Thank you for this interview, George. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, The Simpering, North Dakota Literary Society is all about?

Thank you for speaking with me about Simpering. This is an improbable, tongue-in-cheek tale set against the very serious year of 1919, in which World War I had ended, fascism was rising in Italy, and the suffrage movement reached its height. The plot centers around card shark and ex-nun Farika Zingarella, who wins the town of Simpering, North Dakota in the greatest card game ever played at the Huffy Hussy Billiards & Poker Parlor. Gathering five female geniuses to her side, she establishes a prairie empire that could hold off the world – and it does. This is not another "oppressed women make good against staggering male odds" book. Everyone has to face himself or herself, and life gets everybody (hardly sounds like fiction, does it?).

Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?

I had already sought out a Midwestern setting, but we came upon the movie "Iron-Jawed Angels," a recounting of the suffrage era in America, and the subject touched me. The characters sprang out almost immediately, and my enjoyment of this cast has caused me to postpone two other projects so that I can complete the prequel, based on the main character´s early years.

Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

Simpering is my seventh published book, and I have stayed with the same publisher throughout. It is the literary wing of a thirty year old company I helped form decades ago, specializing in large domestic and overseas classical concert events. This spared me a lot of trouble that both big houses and stacks of books in the attic can bring. It also gives me more artistic access than I would have ever been granted.

How has Rosslare Press been to work with?

Although there are many parallels with the classical music industry, at some point the paths diverge, and the company has had to undertake its own learning curve. Whether one is published by a major house or not, those are the houses with which one must compete. The editors are experts in fiction/non-fiction and academic textbooks, and are tolerant of personal writing styles unless there´s a real problem. As new authors are added this year, they remain equally open to most genres. I have published five fantasies and two historical fiction works with Rosslare, and feel that I could move freely between those, or add a new genre.

Do you have an agent?

I´ve learned both sides of the agent coin from my life as a touring musician, and for the time being, I prefer to select specific people and entities to help with individual projects, such as virtual book tours.

Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time Rosslare Press sent the contract and the time it was released?

It´s almost embarrassing to say how quickly the first books were written. They just poured out, with or without me. For The Simpering, North Dakota Literary Society, the whole process took just seven months, and the editing, design phase took longer than the writing. I can go a very long time without a word, but when it hits, it comes all at once.

Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?

If you put your work before the public, you will never escape the variety of responses awaiting you. The weekend armchair critic who gets a rush out of cruelty must be brushed aside in favor of authentic criticism. They´re not true critics, and there´s neither honor nor talent in what they do. The "gusher" can be helpful, but don´t buy into your own hype. Through it all, remember that your imagination is exempt from right and wrong, and you´re just trying to match your ideas with like-minded readers. You can´t win them all over, but there´s no need to pause in your writing over matters of rejection. By exposing your work to the public, you´re the brave one. Be proud of that, and make no apologies to anyone …ever.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in July via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

To list my books was not difficult. They´re available online worldwide. However, I did not have the know-how to lead an audience to the title. Pump Up Your Book has taken me places where I could not ordinarily get in, and have helped me to avoid places where my books don´t fit. They are far more educated to the industry than I am, and specifically target people and forums that hold potential for progress. I chose this organization after a long search. Wherever I went, all roads seemed to return to them, so I took the plunge. Already, Simpering has gained exposure I couldn´t have possibly arranged, and the tour hasn´t even begun yet. As an unexpected bonus, I´m also having a wonderful time doing it.

What´s next for you?

My concert season starts fairly soon, so I am fighting for all the writing time possible. Most of my time now is spent on Simpering´s prequel, The Simpering, North Dakota Sharpshooters. I am well into two others, The Madonna of Dunkirk and The World-Weary String Quartet of Alliance, Nebraska. As a concession to my academic life, I am also working slowly through Mahler´s Fifth Symphony; One Conductor´s Observations.

Thank you for this interview, George. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?

As a musician, I am generally found on the internet under the name George, while G.F. usually brings up the writing activities. This was a feeble attempt to keep it all separate, but I give up. Rosslarebooks.com is entirely devoted at the moment to Simpering, and Pump Up Your Book has put up a very thorough series of descriptions. Thank you so much for giving The Simpering, North Dakota Literary Society a look, and best wishes to all authors and readers.