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Peanut butter cups, friendship and Madeline Island
Jay Gilbertson brings to life world of Eve, Ruby and their neighbors in series of novels set in Wisconsin By Erica Hanson, Correspondent Author Jay Gilbertson describes his books as “a little bit of mystery, a little bit of magic, and a whole lot of humor.” Gilbertson, who opened the 2006-07 season of the Lake Menomin Writers Series at the Menomonie Public Library on Sept. 19, provided the attentive audience with his insights into writing, publishing and career choices. His second book, Back to Madeline Island, continues the witty blend of wisdom that attracted readers of his first book, Moon over Madeline Island. His books are written in first person, as if Eve is talking directly to you while she deftly covers the gray in your roots, or pours you a cup of coffee laced with chocolate. From the start of each novel, readers are immediately drawn into the characters. Gilbertson culled his insights from his observations throughout a varied career that has ranged from managing a resort hotel on Key Largo to operating beauty salons in the Twin Cities. “I started writing what I know,” he said. After styling women’s hair for 15 years and listening to what his customers told him, Gilbertson realized, “I had all these stories in me. I’m always listening.” As Eve says in Moon over Madeline Island, “I love to do hair, but the true joy lies in what each person leaves with me. Their truths, worries, regrets and hilarious everyday stuff.” One of the first things Gilbertson had to do when he began writing was to “find the voice I wanted to write in.” That ended up being writing in the first person as a woman, using the words “I” and “me” as if the reader is inside the character’s head. “I like a challenge,” he said with a laugh. When Gilbertson first started sharing his manuscript at workshops and with agents, people meeting him would be surprised. “I was always saying, ‘yes, I am a man,’” he said. Lady lit Gilbertson’s main characters, Eve (who speaks to us throughout the novels) and Ruby as well as their neighbors and friends both male and female in Eau Claire and Madeline Island, are “bits and pieces of people I know.” Who hasn’t known someone (maybe yourself) who had a stash of something fattening in a drawer — whether like Eve and you crave peanut butter cups (the full-sized ones, not the bite- sized) or something else? Doesn’t everyone know someone like Watts with her constant boyfriend troubles? It is through Eve’s voice, and the conversations she has, that Gilbertson expands on his main themes. One is the concept of friends as family. Another is that single women are not at all the former cliché of old maids to be pitied. “My books are support for women being single. I don’t write about ‘Sex in the City,’” he said. Gilbertson describes his books as being in the category of “Lady Lit.” The books are written for women who are older than the audiences for “Chick Lit.” “They [his readers] are more confident, more comfortable with themselves,” he said. And he appears to have captured what many of his readers are thinking and hoping. Gilbertson receives e-mails from readers all over the nation, telling him they can’t wait to learn what will happen next to his characters. Gilbertson plans a full series of 10 books all revolving around Eve, Ruby and their world. “My books are happy. You read the books and chuckle,” he said. Advice for writers For writers, readers and people interested in the book industry in the audience, Gilbertson shared what he has learned in this difficult business. And he’s learned a lot as his first book goes into its second printing — a praiseworthy feat for any first novel. His advice includes that “you have to keep writing.” He works three days at his Twin Cities salon, and on the other days writes from early morning until he feels he has written all he could that day. Another key piece of advice he has is that “you have to have a New York agent.” Once Gilbertson had his first manuscript completed, he looked for names of agents in the acknowledgements and in the dedications sections of books he admired. He also suggested checking in publications, such as Writers Digest. “I sent out five to 10 query packages a week to agents,” he said. “I got 300 rejections, but I kept trying.” He said that a query package should contain a cover letter and the first three chapters (about 50 pages). If an agent is interested, he or she will request the rest of the novel. Because this should be sent out immediately, Gilbertson advised writers to already have the novel completed before querying an agent. Whenever agents offered advice in the rejection letters, Gilbertson heeded it. He said, “I listened and did whatever they wanted. I am open to feedback.” “Be persistent,” he added. “Be respectful of what agents want.” One of the things he did was to edit his books down to 75,000-85,000 words, which is currently the optimal length for Lady Lit novels. One of the quirks Gilbertson noted of the contemporary publishing industry is the selection of cover art. “Cover art is a whole interesting world,” he said. Dismayed at first when he saw the photo used for Moon over Madeline Island, he soon realized that it was perfect for the book despite the fact that the woman in the picture looked nothing like either Eve or Ruby, nor was there a scene that matched it. “I learned that cover art is not necessarily what the book is about. Covers do not represent the actual book. Instead the covers represent the spirit of the book,” Gilbertson said. The cover picture of a woman joyfully soaking up the sun and the water while standing in a kiddie pool is a visual depiction of the spirit of Eve, Ruby and the book. Islands, friends and communities Catching the spirit of people and places is something Gilbertson feels is a strong part of his writing. He noted, for example, that island life — whether on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior or in the Florida Keys — is different from life as it is lived on the main land. “You see everyone who works for you wherever you go. You form a sense of community and of relationships,” he said. It is this sense of community, and of friends as family, that is the common thread throughout Gilbertson’s novels, one that is weaving him a strong following of male and female readers of all ages. Rockin’ and readin’at Library Fest A multi-talented Kayden Fennell simultaneously balanced a teddy bear and danced to some rockin’ tunes during the Sept. 17 Library Fest celebration. Peanut butter cups, friendship and Madeline Island Jay Gilbertson brings to life world of Eve, Ruby and their neighbors in series of novels set in Wisconsin |
