Hello all,
Welcome to the 36th edition of Women Writing! Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the mothers and mother figures out there. I’ve written a lot about my dad over the years, inspired by my interviews with him for Surviving Stutthof, but my mom and her life experiences have inspired so many of my short stories and my next novel, Like Water for Weary Souls. Her memories of life in the farming community of Wanup, part of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, during the Depression, and stories of her father’s escape from Finland during the Civil War, find their way into my fiction. She’s told me about life on the farm, the local bootlegger, the one-room schoolhouse, and boarding as a student in Sudbury to finish high school. Now, at 90, she has an incredible memory for the people she’s known over the years, and is an invaluable resource to me as a writer. Sometimes I’m asked whether I’ll write something other than historical fiction, or a book not centered around the Finnish Canadian experience. Yes, I probably will, but there are just so many interesting stories out there that I want to explore, and it’s my mom’s support, encouragement, and stories that spur me on. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
Now, prepare to be inspired by this week’s featured author, fellow historical fiction writer and book coach, Janet Fox.
About the author…
Janet Fox’s books, picture book through young adult, have won numerous awards and received starred reviews and appeared on state awards lists. Her popular books include the study skills guide GET ORGANIZED WITHOUT LOSING IT (Free Spirit 2017) and her two middle grade historical fantasies set during World War 2. Her contemporary middle grade novel, CARRY ME HOME (Simon & Schuster 2021), and her picture books WINTERGARDEN (Neal Porter Books, illustrated by Jasu Hu, 2023) and VOLCANO DREAMS (Web of Life Children’s Books, illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy, 2018) have received widespread acclaim. Upcoming books include THE MYSTERY OF MYSTIC MOUNTAIN (Simon & Schuster 2024) and THE REAL ROSALIND: The Truth about Rosalind Franklin’s DNA Discovery and How It Was Erased (Lerner, 2025, co-authored with Debbie Loren Dunn). Janet is the mother of a writer son. She lives in the mountains of Montana with her husband and their lively yellow Lab.
“Make time for yourself, regardless of whether it's for writing or just being. Women tend to be sacrificial when it comes to making personal ‘space.’”
On a writing routine …
My routine has been a bit upside down since I launched my new course program last fall; nevertheless in the last 2 months I've been able to write a new picture book and 1/3 of a novel by squeezing time in most days. My best time is first thing in the morning, though I often think about my stories before bed and I think that feeds my subconscious.
On writing spaces …
I can't listen to anything when I write, but other than that, as long as I have my computer, I can write anywhere.
On writing communities …
Yes, I belong to SCBWI, which I credit with getting me started. But my current go-to is my critique partner, who gives me feedback whenever I need it.
On challenges …
Mainly balancing my new course programs with my writing. But I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, as I plan to make myself more independent of my coaching and courses by making them evergreen, so I can get back to writing more regularly, as I have for 25 years before this.
On the best writing advice …
That there are no perfect first drafts, and that it takes only a few words a day to write a novel over time. So, just keep writing.
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On the worst writing advice …
That there's one way to write, and if I didn't write with that process, I'd fail. But there is no one perfect process. And in fact my process is different with every single book.
On advice from personal experiences …
Make time for yourself, regardless of whether it's for writing or just being. Women tend to be sacrificial when it comes to making personal "space". Lucky me, I have a supportive family that forgives my obsession with writing and working.
Janet’s online spaces …
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Happy writing!
Women Writing is a weekly newsletter featuring women who are doing the difficult work of writing. If you enjoyed reading the newsletter, please share it with a fellow writer. Let’s inspire each other!
Liisa Kovala is an Author Accelerator certified book coach. She is the author of Sisu’s Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017). Her short stories and creative non-fiction have been published in a variety of anthologies and literary magazines. Liisa is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Canadian Authors Association, and past-president of Sudbury Writers’ Guild. Visit liisakovala.com.
Thank you, Liisa!!