Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by Tamarind:
[qb] How extensive was your research for this book? I get the feeling that a lot of it may be personal events/tragedies/emotions. No?

By the way, enjoyed it thoroughly! [/qb]

MCT -I did quite a bit of research, not because I needed to find out things (my o'level and a-level in West Indian history had given me a solid foundation) but because I wanted to be thorough, accurate. And also to enrich the story with authentic details, for instance, when looking up the history of Chinese immigration to Jamaica, I came across the name of a ship, The Prince Alexander, and used it in the novel. Things like that. And yes, there's a lot of my own memories, and stories I heard. Like Jean in the novel, I grew up doing a lot of listening.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the book.
By the way -- are you my cousin, D.T?

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by SistahD:
[qb] ((Margaret)) thanks again for coming to discuss The True History of Paradise.


How readily was the use of Patois accepted as an integral part of the book (by publishers, by readers)? [/qb]

MCT It was happily accepted and encouraged, and I'm delighted when non-Jamaicans tell me how well they were able to understand it. I'm also happy that Jamaicans take pleasure in this aspect of the novel. How could I write a novel about Jamaica without patois? It would be impossible. It's our language.

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by Tropicana:
[qb] Hi:

Welcome to the board. I do some writing myself. At times, it's a challenge to fit in time to write given all the demands of life plus the need for some downtime.

- How do you do it?
- Do you write every day?
- Do you block off a certain time every day or a few times a week to write?
- Do you set up a project plan of any kind and reward yourself for reaching certain milestones?
- How do you stay on track when you are working on something new? [/qb]

MCT- How do I do it? As I tell my students, writing is a big leap of faith. The self-discipline isn't easy. My first child was born the same year the book came out, and things have changed, so let me just say that how I used to write (my routines etc.)was a method I'd call "total immersion." It was kind of insane. I'm talking about the stage after taking notes and jotting things down etc, when I really meant to get the thing finished.This was how I finished a dissertation, a screenplay, and "True History." I would do this in summer when I was off from teaching and I'd do nothing else.Really: wake up, write, eat lunch, write, go for a walk, eat supper, write. I would also section off days & times during the teaching months -- but this I find harder to do. Now I have a child and I'm also working full time (except summer).Like many writers that have a second job, plus all the usual responsibilities of life, finding the time to write is always the big quest. It's not easy. These days it's taking a bit longer to get things finished, but I'm still persevering, slowly but steadily. The short answer to all this is that I find I do need big blocks of uninterrupted time. One thing that helps -- for those times when you don't have time -- is keeping a notebook for the project. You can jot down ideas, "talk" to yourself about the project for a few minutes every day, and this keeps you in contact with the writer in you; all those little notes also do finally amount to something.

[SistahD]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Hi (((Margaret))) nice to see you! I see you've met Tropicana... she's full of excellent questions!


...and for our other interested Members who may be sleeping at the moment -PLEASE TAKE NOTE and spread the word... Slight change to schedule:

Margaret will be here on line Thursday from 12:15 to 1 pm in the ja.com Book Club

....... AND ....... returns on Friday around 12 noon for approx 30 minutes

[SistahD]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

The short answer to all this is that I find I do need big blocks of uninterrupted time. One thing that helps -- for those times when you don't have time -- is keeping a notebook for the project. You can jot down ideas, "talk" to yourself about the project for a few minutes every day, and this keeps you in contact with the writer in you; all those little notes also do finally amount to something.

((Margaret)) I know these are important points for Mountaingal, MissPortmore and a few other avid fans and up and coming writers!

[evanovitch]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

oooh,....welcome, welcome, welcome....looking forward to a great chat....

[ColeS]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Welcome again Ms Thompson!

Looking forward to it

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]ray: Praying and hoping that she go back and see my questions [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]ray:

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by SistahD:
[qb] Who was responsible for selecting the 'cover' of the book? I find it to add a romantic attraction to the concept of 'paradise'. [/qb]

MCT-I was given two or three choices by the publisher (who employs cover artists), and that was the one I chose. I'm glad you like it. I do too.

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by evanovitch:
[qb] additionally, would 'stream of consciousness' be the correct term for the story within the story ...the voice of the ancestor....why the decision to utilise and include this voice in the book in the manner u used.... [/qb]

MCT - May I just pause to say that these are some of the best author's questions I've ever had.
About stream of consciousnesss and the voices. I suppose you could call it stream of consciousness except that the term, often used to describe Virgina Woolf's writing, connotes internal, unspoken thoughts. In my book I mean those ancestors to speak, to be audible -- at least to Jean. Now don't ask me how or why. It just made sense to me. She's "clairaudient" as distinct from "clairvoyant."

[Ochigal]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Hi Margaret, Welcome to Jamaicans.com.

Can you tell us about your next book, the one you are working on now? Is it also based in Jamaica?

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by Pepper:
[qb] Ms Thompson, Welcome to Jamaicans.com. It is a pleasure to have you joining us.


I read your book a couple of years ago, and I would like to thank you for composing a fictional book with all that history woven in the story.

How long did it take you to complete the book?
MCT - a long time. But that was because I stopped to do things like complete my doctorate. However, once I had the whole framework and outline I worked consistently for about 3 years (teaching full time except in summer) and then it was done.

Did you compose each story seperately, or did you write it in the order it appears in the book?
I wrote the end first - that piece came even before I knew I was writing a novel, and it hung around inside my head for a long time. I also had been writing and re-writing what I thought was a short story about those two sisters and Paul. Then at some point it all came together in my brain. After that I did an outline and made many notes, and wrote more or less in the order that it's in now.

How did you come up with the matriarch character?
She was inspired by several different women I know, complex strong Jamaican women. After a while she -- Monica -- just took over and I let her be herself.
Did you make the heroine of the story weak to emphasize the matriarch's strength?
Is she weak? Or is it that her strength manifests itself in a different way than say her mother's? She's quiet.

Thanks for your replies. [/qb]

Thanks for the questions & for reading my book.

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by ColeS:
[qb] Ms. Cezair-Thompson,

Welcome to the Jamaicans.com Bulletin Board, and a warm welcome to the Book Club Section

We appreciate you taking the time to stop by and chat with us.

Now, these are my questions.

Do you see any of yourself in the Main Character?

The short answer would be: yes.

How many drafts did you do before you had the finished product?
I tried to write it as a short story first, silly me (the voices of the ancestors weren't there yet) Once it was in the novel form, it took three drafts.
Did you know the ending from the get-go, if not, then how did it come together, and were other endings you considered? [/qb]

The ending was always there. There was no other ending. I'm talking about content. But when it came to point of view-voice, that was a development. The only thing that became more defined as I wrote was that Jean should speak, like the ancestors, at the end, that after all that listening, she would find her own voice.

[MCT]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Originally posted by Ochigal:
[qb] Hi Margaret, Welcome to Jamaicans.com.

Can you tell us about your next book, the one you are working on now? Is it also based in Jamaica? [/qb]

I can't tell you much about it while I'm still in the process. But yes, it's set in Jamaica too, and much of it takes place in the 1950's. I also have a sequel to "The True HIstory of Paradise" brewing, but that will come after the one that I'm doing now.

[loops]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Greetings Ms. Cezair-Thompson,

I really don't have a questions....but want you to know I thoroughly enjoyed your book. You set the stage so well, I felt I was traveling in Jean's shoes. I recommend your book to people all the time.

You've got me all excited thinking about a sequel...nevermind another book set in Jamaica. Heck, just reading these questions prompt me to read True History again....unfortunately, I sent mine to a friend.

Looking forward to your next masterpiece! And thanks for visiting with us on Jamaicans.com!

[SistahD]

Re: Feature Guest: Margaret Cezair-Thompson, May 2004

Part 2... today at 12:15.... enjoy your lunch (or dinner) with Margaret! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]