CAROL J. CHUMNEY: ON WRITING

CAROL J. CHUMNEY: ON WRITING

Author of The Arena: One Woman’s Story

Over the years, my dreams were of public service. Serving as a Tennessee state legislator and Memphis City Councilwoman, I achieved that dream in some respects. I never dreamed of writing a book.

Yet, during an election for higher office in 2012, a newly met evangelist prophesied that I would write a book. In the heat of the campaign, I brushed it off. Yet, afterward, while regrouping from the defeat and embarking on a mission trip to Kenya, the prospect resonated with me. Maybe I should.

And I did, naively thinking it would be done in a couple of years. Nine years later, it hit the bookshelves. Had I known the true effort required, would I have embarked on this endeavor? But I am so glad I did.

I first began just writing. I quickly realized that my book about actual events and people still alive would need credible sources. So, I stopped writing and spent a few years taking notes from thousands of newspaper and media clippings I had kept over the years. Then, I made a timeline of the key events with references.

Next was the book’s outline. My key goal was to show the disparity as to female politicians seeking higher office commonly referred to as the glass ceiling. As I say, “You first have to see it to defeat it.” So, to shatter that glass ceiling, it had to become visible. Instead of simply saying there is a double standard for women seeking higher office, I aimed to do a show and tell with actual statements, actions, and newspaper reports to make the case for change irrefutable.

Once the outline was complete, I fleshed it out with the newspaper references. Next, I began the actual writing. I wrote, rewrote, rephrased…you get the picture! It was hard deciding what to keep and what to delete.

Also, I read and reread the manuscript many times to ensure my statements were truthful, fair, and not violative of any defamation or copyright laws. I also did additional research to verify newspaper factual statements and further expand upon various passages in the book, including reviewing court documents.

One time, during the early days of the isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic, I fell asleep on the living room couch with newspaper clippings. They had become my new best friends!

With the manuscript ready, the challenge was to seek an agent, an editor, and a publisher. I started with a former newspaper reporter (now turned book copyright editor). I also asked my older sister, Mary Strench, to make comments. Both did a commendable job. Among other things, my sister recommended dividing the chapters into sections to make it easier to read since it is a substantial book.

Since the book dealt more with Memphis and Tennessee politics, I decided to get a content editor who did not live in the area to ensure it would interest those elsewhere. I was pleased that the renowned late Bill Thompson (former publisher for John Grisham and editor for Stephen King) took the job. In his one-and-a-half page of comments, it was interesting that many mirrored what my sister had said. So, I took them to heart and made more revisions.

I could not secure an agent for a pitch to the Big Five publishers. I didn’t want to publish with a hybrid press because it might give someone else partial ownership or royalty rights to my book. After researching the publishing process, I decided to self-publish and set up a limited liability company for that purpose.

Talented photographer Jack Kenner shot the photo for the book cover at the county courthouse. Then, I hired a company based in England to format and design the book. Imagine my shock when the first proof came back over 900 pages in length! After discussion, the book designers were able to double-stack the footnotes, remove unnecessary blank space, narrow the margins a – bit-and voila -the final page count of 481 (sans footnotes) came into fruition.

After research, I decided to publish my hardback through Ingram Sparks to be able to have it sold worldwide through more than one venue. The paperback and Kindle are through Amazon. I was able to get several digital bookstore platforms to sell the book. Also, Walmart and Barnes & Noble offer the hardback online. For months, it was fun to wake up and see what new independent online bookstores were offering the book around the world! I would post a snapshot of the bookstore profiles in different languages online for my social media friends.

I am pleased that my story won some awards, including from the National Federation of Press Women. And, since the book’s publication, I also have been elected a county circuit court judge! Moreover, as of late, I have gotten a wild hair to possibly write another… if so, I’m sure it will only take a few years–!

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The Arena: One Woman’s Story, (Lady Justice Publishing), www.carolchumney.com, shares author Carol J. Chumney’s experiences as a woman in the political arena. In 1991, she gained election to the Tennessee state legislature at the age of 29. She passed landmark childcare reform, as reported in TIME magazine and the New York Times. As a veteran state legislator, experienced trial attorney, and Memphis city councilwoman, in 2007, she came within seven points of being elected the first woman mayor of Memphis.

The glass ceiling is the invisible barrier that keeps women from attaining higher positions despite their qualifications or achievements. Chumney’s story is an inside look at local and state politics that exposes this barrier and calls for a movement to shatter it once and for all!

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers