Get ready to learn more about the book Hope for Spring in this discussion with sapphic author S.E. Smyth.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz S.E. Smyth about Hope for Spring, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Road Trip category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Hope for Spring?
I believe it is reparative to reimagine. In my late teens and early twenties, I faced trial after trial trying to find my way. It was empowering to take hold of that sense of myself and rethink it, good and bad, in a new way. I allowed myself to see a slew of volatile events in a new light. I took some true events and twisted, morphed, and stretched them. I grew as my decades-old history, the story I reserved time to contemplate, became fiction.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Alex is, of course, my favorite character. She basically was me in the late 1990s. Yup. She was me.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
The biggest challenge I faced with this book was writing about mental health. It humbled me. The research was particularly gut wrenching, and I took long periods off between drafts. The close writing was really a test, but an author must dig deep to give an authentic experience. In some places I needed to translate a manic mental state. Balancing the experience of the reader and ensuring authenticity is a delicate affair.
What is your favorite line from your book?
“To all the people in all the places hoping for spring.” It’s the dedication. It was almost the title, but was just too long. It’s really about how many people are out there, stuck in a bad situation, and looking for help. It’s also about all those people out there who are looking to help others.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I write all over the place. I have a desk I’ve been working at recently because of my back. But that good old Poang chair is nice. Whatever couch is available when my wife and I go on vacation usually works. Mostly, I’m thrown to whatever corner of the house or vacation house where there is some sense of quiet. I’m up at 5:00 a.m. most days to get some words down. I guess you could say, while I write all over the house, I usually don’t write anything decent past 11:00 a.m.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
Princess Pussypants. American bobtail, lynx point rescue. She was beautiful when we got her but had some health problems. A lot of love and her anxiety cleared up. If you have talked to me, I’ve mentioned her before. I really just like to say her name. She is currently practicing to be a show cat, taking trips around the block in a bubble backpack, and resting in the warmest spot in the house on a 93 degree days.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
“Eyes on your own page.” It just simply means to me that no matter how successful someone else is, don’t let it bother you. You need to work on your own unique writing. The story you must tell is entirely different and it needs focus. We are all on our own journeys. This saying has helped me focus and develop my own style, whether the masses like it or not. Most importantly, it helps me celebrate other writer’s successes while knowing that my time will come.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
I’d like to say coffee. Coffee helped for sure helps. But also, knowing that I’m doing something that might resonate with someone else or help someone else on their journey. Reader feedback and community are so important to the process for me. It’s ten times over why I write.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
My favorite reading spot is near a window in a Poang Ikea chair. A warm breeze from the heat in late spring is comforting and can make the moment. I know that so many people would rather be outside, but I find myself inside curled up with a book. If I’m rested, I won’t get drowsy or close my eyes. If I do, it’s up out of the chair and on to doing housework with an audiobook. I follow this strictly, because I’m a writer and you need to read to write. I’ve got quotas.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I’m a genre hopper. I write like I read, whatever I’m feeling at a particular moment in time. Right now, I’m on to dystopian, post-Apocalyptic kick. There is so much out in the world now, and it’s all so good: Station 11 series, Carol and the End of the World, the Last of Us, etc. I loved Tank Girl and Mad Max as a kid, so I’ve been revisiting that too. I guess I’m behind the curve a little, but when I catch a feeling, an air of a genre, I’m all in.
