Memoir Armoire

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Catherine Ryan Howard

Catherine Ryan Howard is a Twitter success story. Not only did she use social media to promote her first book, Mousetrapped, a memoir about her 18 months working for Disney (which I reviewed here) but it’s how she met her agent. And (surely the most exciting thing) it’s how she met me.

Here Catherine (right) talks about all things memoir, and a couple of novel things…

We’re all about keeping things short and sweet here at Memoir Armoire, so could you describe your book in five words?

How about “Dreams really do come true?” Although if I was allowed six words, I’d add “sorta” on there at the end.

What are some of your favourite memoirs?

I was blown away by The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, but I also loved Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (although I fear that borders on true crime!) and anything that involves Apollo astronauts or NASA, but especially Apollo 11’s Michael Collins’ memoir, Carrying the Fire.

What’s your top tip for aspiring memoir writers?

Make your peace with the fact that not every single little thing that happened can go in. You have to find the story within the events, and use it as a clothesline to hang your chapters off of. Or something…

What are you working on now and/or releasing next?

I’ve just started my second novel. My first hasn’t sold (yet?) and is still doing the rounds, which is distracting somewhat. Not so much the waiting itself, but the obsessive checking of voicemail, e-mail and postbox every 15 minutes that the waiting requires. I’m also toying with the idea of a dieting memoir, but that would require me to actually go on a diet first. So, we’ll see.

Please plug your website(s) and any other non-book projects we should know about:

I sure will, thank you. For occasional caffeinated musings, see my blog at www.catherineryanhoward.com. It’s all pink and stuff. [It also contains some fabulous advice and info on getting your writing noticed. You should visit! — Diane]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Shauna Reid

The fact that I haven’t yet reviewed Shauna Reid’s The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl shouldn’t be taken to mean that I didn’t read and love it, because I did, and I do. While some weight loss stories never really touch on the important stuff — like the feelings underneath over-eating — Shauna faces the truth about herself and her (for want of a better word) issues whilst remaining humble, funny, and inspiring. Her book’s not just about a young woman losing weight, but a woman learning to live. (I know, this is a bit of a gushfest, but you should read it.)

I’m so pleased Shauna (left) agreed to answer my probing questions:

We’re all about keeping things short and sweet here at Memoir Armoire, so could you describe your book in five words?

Lard lost, fun found… hilarity! (Dude that’s really hard!)

What are some of your favourite memoirs (apart from your own)?

Bit of Blur by Alex James (it’s OTT but irresistable if you’re a fan), A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, This is Paradise! by Hyok Kang

What’s your top tip for aspiring memoir writers?

Ransack your life with a sense of humour and a big machete — be ruthless about cutting scenes and people who may be lovely but not good for the story.

What are you working on now and/or releasing next?

Working on a novel that is so rubbish right now it may never see the light of day. Help!

Please plug your website(s) and any other non-book projects we should know about:

Dietgirl [the blog that begat the book].

My non-fat blog.

Podcast: Two Fit Chicks