Writer Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais chats with me today about his new literary fiction, Saving KC.
Bio:
Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais is the author of the historical fiction novel Saving KC, a profound exploration of addiction, recovery, and the timelessness of love and forgiveness, set against the backdrop of post-Vietnam America. His debut novel weaves these powerful themes into a story that resonates deeply with readers, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and redemptions of life.
Born on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana, also known as the Chippewa Cree Reservation, Buzz comes from a lineage steeped in creativity and cultural preservation. His father famously represented their native culture in the 1939 classic film Susannah of the Mounties alongside Shirley Temple, while his great-grandfather, Mountain Chief, was a revered figure in their community.
Beyond his writing, Buzz is an activist dedicated to supporting Native American communities. He co-founded the NATIVE Project, a non-profit organization that initially served as an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center for Native youth, using a combination of traditional Native American healing practices and twelve-step programs. Recognizing the growing substance abuse issues among urban Native youth disconnected from reservation life, the NATIVE Project has since expanded into a full-service clinic under the Indian Health Service (IHS), providing comprehensive care to the urban Indigenous population of eastern Washington. Buzz also brought twelve-step meetings to the Washington State prison system for nearly a decade.
Buzz’s life has been filled with diverse experiences, including his service in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. He has lived in various parts of the world, including California, and now resides south of Seattle with his wife, Loni. His daughter, McKenzie, and her family, including grandsons Cowen and Kaplin who live nearby.
For more information about Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, to purchase a print copy of Saving KC, or to listen to the soundtrack, visit www.savingkcthestory.com.
What do you enjoy most about writing short stories/children’s books/novellas?
I like putting the images I create within my mind onto paper, the sounds, the smells, what I feel. My short stories are usually very intense. They are related to my life experiences but written as fictional, set in the early 60s.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?
“Eternal” the scene is staged in Vietnam, a soldier who is in a firefight, on a pitch-black night in six-foot-high elephant grass. He gets into a hand-to-hand battle with the enemy. A fight to the death, it is brutal, personal, and terrifying. Does he survive?
“The Blue Plymouth” A small boy and his three younger brothers and sisters are forced to ride in an old blue Plymouth while their mother is extremely intoxicated. She passes out while driving on the highway and the boy must get to the steering wheel and bring the car under control.
What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
Fictional novel. I am a BS artist, and I tell stories. I like the freedom of moving wherever I want in the creative process.
What exciting story are you working on next?
Thinking of a story of a troubled soul who arrives in the in-between place after his premature death (suicide). He has the experience of meeting his soul group and his advisors while being decompressed from his latest earthly visit. He must develop a plan to return to earth (reincarnate) and experience another life as a different person than last time. However he must still learn the same lessons that he had originally intended to do in his prior existence before he ended his life.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Only after my first published book became something I could hold. Even at that rate I would tell people that “I am not a writer” My publisher finally squared me up and said, “You wrote a book, you’re and author!”
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
If we are talking in terms of market salability, I always notice what is being written for movies and series. I keep an eye on industry periodicals and pay attention to what written materials are selling and what the counts are (Publishers Weekly). In the end that does not motivate me. If I have an idea for a novel, I will write it. I usually write for me anyway.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I am OCD to some extent. It can be a very bad thing in some ways. How many times can one sharpen pencils, so they are all the same exact length…but not too short?
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An architect. We were very poor on our little Indian reservation. I used any piece of paper I could find that had some empty space and drew endless versions of building. Weird huh?
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I will write about me a lot, my experiences. I just don’t want you to know that.
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Congratulations, Grinnell! What a wealth of experiences! Yes, we must write about them. That’s the most interesting, authentic side of our stories. At least that’s what attracts me as a reader. I hope you check back in when your book about the in-between is out. Best wishes.