Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
I have read many books and authors in my time. However, writing my first book didn’t involve any inspiration from anyone. My muse in this effort was always Karen Carpenter. Originally, it was not my intention to even write a book. I was motivated by the story of a young singer who suffered from Anorexia, bulimia, exhaustion, and music industry abuse. At one point, she was my first celebrity crush in 1970. In recent years, I started listening to the Carpenters’ music, watching their performance videos, and reading all books published about her life, career, and death. I was so moved by this new information about how unfairly she was treated and taken advantage of. I became thoroughly disgusted that no one saw her death as imminent. For reasons I can’t explain, I became hooked by all this ignored destruction and had no outlet for my emotions. I had read many writings online where people wondered how she could have been saved. This germ of an idea got me thinking about writing something, not quite a book, but something. I started writing, and ideas started growing from that. I envisioned a concept similar to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” to tell the story I was beginning to see. It went from there. The process became emotional as I felt driven to create this story.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Since the story revolves around a fictitious Karen Carpenter, the initials KC came into play. Friends of the real Karen called her KC. To make matters more interesting, the male protagonist has the same initials. And in a way, they both might be saved.
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
As indicated in item 2 above, the two main characters need to have the same initials to create similarities. The female protagonist is Kaitlin Chapin. I chose the last name because it’s somewhat of a clue. One might deduce that another female vocalist, Mary Chapin Carpenter, might come to mind.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I envision how I want the story to end or at least a general idea. I look for places in the story where important scenes need to be placed that may move the reader emotionally. I create those vignettes as completely as I can, and they hold key positions within the story to create and move the plot along. I write to these points in the story as I move through the creation. I create supporting roles as I feel a real need to enhance the story, being careful not to add too many unnecessary characters. Each character I create usually serves to be integral to the unfolding of the story. I envision my character as someone famous, or someone I know personally. It helps me give them emotion and depth.
How long did it take you to write this book?
The first complete manuscript was done in about three months once I made up my mind it was going to be a book. I originally fed some portions of the writing to my publisher to get feedback. I wanted to either have validation or destruction, if you will. I needed to know if I was wasting my time and money before I got too far down a road to nowhere. I was tentatively supported by the publisher and the editor. I released the writings in pieces as I created them until about halfway through until the editor told me to complete the story and then send in the final piece. I don’t think this is how many writers start out. Editing took over a year with re-write after re-write.
What characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know?
As I discussed in point 4 I use a combination of well-known, or not so well known actors. In this debut writing there is a male protagonist, and he was created from whole cloth. I didn’t see him as anyone. I just created him and put myself in his skin. I didn’t realize that the character had become me, and I had become him. Not just the way I look but his belief system, his mannerisms and how he behaves. Not until my friends pointed this out did, I realize this.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
I envision the plot in general first, what do I want to create. This drives what sort of characters the story is going to need. I sometimes refer to the Meyers-Briggs personality system to look at what I want out of a character. In that system there are sixteen base personalities. Each of these personalities has a certain set of behavior preferences. When placed in certain situations they usually behave predictably. I use this to stay on track with what each character brings and how they bring it. How they talk, what they wear, how they walk, how they interact, extrovert, introvert. You get the idea. Now, sometimes I will let a character take the lead and pull me through the story. This happens sometimes. We arrive at a place where I must ask the character. “What are we doing here, why did you bring me here?”. Sometimes it works at other times I must pull rank and ask that we walk things back and start again.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
At my age I should be in retirement. However, I continue to work full time. I am an electrical contractor that operates in the Seattle area. We perform on heavy highway, industrial, and public transportation projects. I do cross-fit workouts at least twice a week. I participate in community recovery programs primarily AA. I have been sober forty years. I have new twin boy grandsons that I enjoy.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Some of the writing hits a little close to home. It brushes up against subject matter that is personal and maybe I don’t want to look at or walk through. Recovery, and family of origin issues always gets uncomfortable. I always learn a little more about myself every time I challenge myself with a difficult writing piece.
What was your hardest scene to write, and why?
In Saving KC I wrote the first meeting of Kaitlin and Kelly. It was full of emotion, some emotion was shown, but most of it was unspoken yet deeply held emotion within each character. I wrote this first as it gave me something to write to from the beginning. This scene also gave me a launching pad out to the end of the story.
A confession here, the story was created with a good ending that I liked but in my heart I knew it wasn’t the right ending. I republished the book with an alternate ending that was genuine and heartfelt. I had an extremely difficult time writing this ending. I suppose I am no different than most writers in that we love our characters, and we don’t want to hurt them.
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.