Writer Norma Watkins helps me wind up the week by chatting about her literary fiction, In Common.
Norma is doing a virtual book tour with WOW! Women on Writing, The Muffin. Tour details are below.
Bio:
Norma Watkins grew up during the civil rights struggles in Mississippi. She is the author of three books: two memoirs. The Last Resort (2011), which won a gold medal for the best book published in the South by an independent press; That Woman from Mississippi (2017), a sequel; and a novel, In Common (2022). Watkins has a Ph.D. in English and an MFA in Creative Writing. She is Professor Emerita at Miami Dade College where she held an endowed chair. She taught creative writing at College of the Redwoods and Mendocino College. She lives on the northern California coast with her woodworker husband and three cats.
Welcome, Norma. Please tell us about your current release.
In Common tells the story of women willing to give up everything for love.
What inspired you to write this book?
Most of my books are about women and power: not having any, getting it, and giving it away. In Common, set during the middle of the last century, tells the story of two (three by the end) talented women who make choices that kill them.
Excerpt from In Common:
In this scene, Lillian Creekmore meets her undoing: Will Hughes.
Hilda’s husband Troy introduced Lillian to a man she’d never seen before, Will something-she-didn’t-catch, good-looking, blond, blue eyes twinkling down into hers. Marty Lyons led her onto the dance floor before Lillian had a chance to make a proper impression. Carter O’Ferrall tapped Marty’s shoulder and whirled her into a foxtrot. Lillian loved to dance. For the first time in months, she felt truly alive. The new man, Will, tapped Carter on the shoulder.
“Hello again,” he said.
Lillian tried to keep the eagerness out of her voice. “We didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves.”
“You’re too popular. I’m Will Hughes. I haven’t seen you at one of these dances before.”
“Because I don’t live in Jackson. I’m Lillian Creekmore and I’m an import.” Looking up into his blue eyes made her feel slightly dizzy. He was the handsomest man in the room.
“Imported from not too far away, I hope.”
“I live,” she stretched the truth, not wanting to sound inaccessible, “out from Canton.” Canton was twenty-five miles north and the hotel eleven miles north of that, plus another mile up a country road.
“That’s not so far, Lillian Creekmore. Did I get it right?” She nodded. “What do you do, Will Hughes?”
“I just finished law school.”
“Do you plan on lawyering with someone local?”
“I’m an associate here in my father’s firm.”
His father has a law firm. Lillian’s heart thudded uncomfortably. He sounded rich. She touched her pearls, worrying about the frayed neckline. “Which is—?”
“Hughes & Blair.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“Because you’re not from here.”
“But I’ve traveled widely.”
He gave her a teasing look. “Have you now?”
They were broken in on by Vaughan McRae, whom Lillian could have cheerfully strangled. Did she catch a flicker of disappointment in Will Hughes’ eyes? She hoped so. Seeing Will watching from the sideline, Lillian gazed at Vaughan with such a brilliant smile, the poor man turned red and stumbled. When the band took a break, Lillian wandered close enough to make sure Will Hughes found her.
“Do you want to go outside for a cigarette?” She felt his warm hand on her elbow, guiding her through the French doors onto a veranda overlooking the golf course.
What exciting project are you working on next?
In my next novel, Old Testament Eyes, April Ainsworth, an unhappy and unstable wife, decides to abandon her marriage. She will move in with her crippled father and heal them both. Chaos ensues.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
As a child, I loved to read, but I never thought about who wrote the books. In undergraduate school, I studied creative writing with Eudora Welty. As a beginner, I wrote terrible stories (Welty’s biographer told me they laughed about them), but I persevered.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Before I retired, I used to get up at five a.m. and write until seven, then get ready to go teach. Since retirement, except for ten years of teaching creative writing, I devote myself to my own work.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I am an obsessive editor. I belong to a writing group, and my pen will not stop line editing the other members’ work. When I was a judge of a national writing contest, I had to fight my hand to keep from marking up the entries.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a movie star or a famous artist, then I got boy crazy and wanted only to be married. I got married early and educated late.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
The secret to good writing is finding a few trusted people to critique your work, and to persevere. Don’t let anyone discourage you, especially not the demons in your head. The only difference between a writer and a non-writer is—the non-writer quits.
Blog Tour Calendar
February 13th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book. https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
February 15th @ Michelle Cornish’s blog
Visit Michelle’s blog to read about good food as reward and vengeance by Norma Watkins. https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
February 18th @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra as she features In Common and shares a guest post from Norma Watkins about writing truths about people who might be hurt by them. https://www.astorybookworld.com/
February 20th @ Lisa Buske’s blog
Stop by Lisa’s blog to read a guest post by Norma about civil rights and growing up in the South during Jim Crow. https://www.lisambuske.com/
February 22nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join us today for author Anthony Avina’s review of In Common. http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
February 24th @ Fiona Ingram’s author blog
Stop by Fiona’s blog to read a guest post by Norma Watkins featuring a look at how women were treated in the South pre-feminism. https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com
February 25th @ The Book Diva’s Reads
Visit Vivian’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an excerpt too! https://thebookdivasreads.com/
February 27th @ Mindy McGinnis’s blog
Stop by Mindy’s blog to read a guest post about bad sex. https://www.mindymcginnis.com/blog
February 28th @ Seaside Book Nook
Join Jilleen for a spotlight of an excerpt of In Common by Norma Watkins. http://www.seasidebooknook.com/
March 1st @ The Mommies Reviews
Join Glenda as she reviews In Common and shares a guest post from the author about sharing the hard stuff. http://TheMommiesReviews.com
March 2nd @ The Frugalista Mom
Join us for a guest post from Norma Watkins on how you are unique and irreplaceable. https://thefrugalistamom.com
March 4th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole’s blog where Norma Watkins is a guest for “Three Things on a Saturday Night.” https://worldofmyimagination.com
March 5th @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins. https://joyffree.blogspot.com/
March 6th @ Life According to Jamie
Join us as Jamie reviews In Common. http://www.lifeaccordingtojamie.com
March 8th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Revisit author Anthony Avina’s blog to read “What are Women Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom?” by Norma Watkins. http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
March 9th @ The Knotty Needle
Stop by for Judy’s review of In Common. http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
March 10th HERE!
March 11th @ Reading in the Wildwood Reviews
Join us today for Megan’s review of In Common. https://www.wildwoodreads.com
March 12th @ Jill Sheets’s blog
Stop by Jill’s blog to read her interview with Norma Watkins. https://jillsheets.blogspot.com/