Releasing Humanity’s Grace: Creating Stories, Selecting Genre
I was recently asked which genre I prefer to write. My answer? Memoir when writing memoir, fiction while writing fiction, non-fiction in the midst of blogging, and now? Crafting the linked short stories that comprise Humanity’s Grace. While I may never develop full expertise in any single genre, unlike other writers who find themselves solidly within one, learning to write different styles and types of work keeps me challenged. I write primarily to satisfy my creative passion, something even more important as I begin to find my day job and 35+ year career less exciting. Who knows; although it seems unlikely to me now, maybe someday I’ll even attempt to pen fantasy!
Shortly before the pandemic interrupted life as we know it, our community was impacted by a disturbing event. I began wondering: does good ever come from bad? I do not believe things are “meant to happen” in order for good to surface; when bad or sad things happen we grieve and it is not “for the better.” Yet, silver linings can open up into our complicated lives, allowing us to bear witness to beauty, often accompanied by kindness. Soon after publishing my novel, Beyond the Ripples, I lazily drafted short paragraphs of its sequel, yet I was left uninspired. Instead, they lay abandoned and I would instead blog, a format that continues to be easy for me to begin and complete. But as I wrestled thinking about bad things and silver linings those months later, I felt ready to begin to write another book, while even then my Ripples’ characters continued to speak to me.
The title Humanity’s Grace popped up early in my first drafting phase. Always an avid reader, It is my love of stories that led me to craft the fifteen stories that comprise Humanity’s Grace: each story stands alone, but together weave and connect into an emotionally-laden book. One of the stories did have its earliest beginnings as a drafted-but-tossed Ripples sequel idea, now updated with new characters holding their own stories in this linked short story collection.
Crafting short stories is challenging and exciting, requiring its author to be creative and succinct. As a reader I pay attention to form and function, and ask myself: what suits me? What do I like? During the past two years I have read many short story collections, including those by Alice Munro, Andrea Barrett, and Rick Bass, along with linking novels such as those of Elizabeth Strout. No matter what I read, I prefer books that don’t over-tell: requiring me to formulate my own conclusions about what happens next, what characters might be feeling. As authors we know it is impossible to satisfy all readers. We are drawn to what best fits our interests, and in the end, literary fiction speaks most to me as a reader.
As Humanity’s Grace is released this month, I’m excited, a tad bit apprehensive, but above all, relieved to be more experienced in knowing what to expect than I did as a first time author. This round I took more time to approve my final proof from my publisher, knowing that this will be the final form readers see! I better expected the challenge of securing blurbs, but also understand it isn’t worth getting uptight over the ones that don’t surface. I feel bolder in repeating and updating messages to my followers, old and new: yet remind myself not to get too worked up over whether others “like” or “share” or even notice them.
Perhaps, above all, I have mellowed out on my hopes, dreams and expectations for the traditionally viewed “success” of this book. How many books might I sell, how much money will I make? Probably fewer and less than I’d like: yet my view of success is no longer hinged on that. I too know that each author offers something different and my niche may not be for everyone. Yet, as I receive feedback from readers, I remind myself of the sheer gift of creating something that gives meaning or enjoyment to another being. As authors, no matter how many books we sell, we must congratulate ourselves on that success: we have put words and sentences together in a way to entertain or educate or, in some cases, encourage readers to drop the cares of their daily lives to join us in a story. And that, is glorious.
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Dede Montgomery is a 6th generation Oregonian. She explores the jumbled path of forgiveness, reconciliation, courage and gratitude in her 2017 memoir, My Music Man (Bedazzled Ink Publishing). Dede’s novel, Beyond the Ripples, was released in 2019. Dede was a 2019 Oregon State Capitol Foundation Speaker Series presenter, sharing My Music Man stories on Oregon’s February 14 Birthday. She released Then, Now, and In-Between: Place, Memories, and Loss in Oregon in 2020. Her newest work, a collection of linked short stories, Humanity’s Grace, is available January 2022. During the day, Dede works at Oregon Health & Science University in worker safety, health and well-being outreach and education.
As to other important stuff? Dede lives with her spouse in West Linn where she explores the banks and ripples of the Willamette River. She grew up with four brothers who both skew and enhance her outlook in life. She was a competitive athlete who now prefers long solo walks and paddles, and sneaks in as many minutes as she can to read and write, and spend time with her grown daughters.
Follow Dede on Twitter and Facebook.
HUMANITY’S GRACE
Salty air, low lying clouds, and crooning of seagulls near the towering Astoria Column and the flowing Columbia River set the scene for Humanity’s Grace, a collection of linked short stories. Frank, Anne, Monica, and Sarah all reappear from the pages of Montgomery’s novel, Beyond the Ripples. New characters: An elderly mother and her son, a police office and spouse, a childhood friend, a counselor, a bystander appear, are all uniquely connected to a murder in downtown Astoria, Oregon.
Frank’s untimely death creates a spectrum of consequences for his loved ones, acquaintances, and strangers. The ensuing murder accusation throws a trio of characters into darkness, as they reassess earlier beliefs, past decisions and actions. Other characters are impacted in unique and unexpected ways. A police officer is haunted by his past. A young woman awakens from a vivid dream of a friend from before. A mother wonders what she did wrong. A son aches for others to be kind. A daughter questions her father’s past, while her mother remembers parts of the man she had forgotten. A stranger ponders the significance of a message she’s received.
The characters in Humanity’s Grace intertwine as they laugh, scream, and cry, do good or create evil. Most of all, they meander through sorrow and sadness, joy and regret, as they remind the reader of the startling and collective beauty of life’s connections.
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Category: On Writing
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