BookBrowsers ask Beth Ann Fennelly, author of The Irish GoodBye

Ask the Author
42

Ohh that was such a lucky event. I was contacted by a press who saw that my first book was published by Zoo Press, which had gone out of business. They asked if they could reprint it, and I thought that was a great idea, so I asked my editor at Norton, the wise and wonderful Carol Houck Smith of W. W Norton, if she minded. She got back to me and said that Norton could reissue the book! It is so wonderful (and frankly unusual in this day and age) to have been able to remain with one publsiher. My beloved Carol passed away, but I have a new good editor at Norton now!

43

Yes, I published my pieces in journals all along, but with an eye toward collecting them eventually. Then, when I finally decided I had a book, I sent it to my agent, who helped shape the ms. a bit before we sent it to Norton.

44

Is there anything you can share about current projects you have underway?

45

It looks like our time together is wrapping up. Before we say goodbye, is there anything you would have liked for us to discuss that we didnā€™t touch on?

46

Yes! Iā€™m working on that now!

47

I am writing a third book of micro-memoirs! Iā€™m still learning from this form, still having fun, still being surprised by what it can do. But a third book of them? Sheesh. My husband said, ā€œmaybe youā€™re writing a trilogyā€ and I was likeā€”Lord, I hope notā€”that sounds so pretentious! So we wonā€™t call it a trilogy. Just three related books in a row. . . .

48

Nothing that we didnā€™t touch on! But if BookBrowers folks want to stay in touch, I have a free (very occasional) Substack, called The BethAnnigan. (You can also find a sign up on my web page, https://www.bethannfennelly.com/

Iā€™d also like to say THANK YOU to Kim (and Kathleen) for the thoughtful questions! It was such a pleasure to visit with yā€™all. Iā€™m grateful for anyone who stopped by this chat or has looked at my work. :heart::heart::heart:

49

Thanks a bunch, Beth Ann! Itā€™s been a real pleasure having you drop by these last few days. Iā€™m very much looking forward to your next book of micro-memoirs (glad youā€™re continuing with the format!) and I wish you the very best.