Get ready to learn more about the book THEY in this discussion with sapphic author Janet Mason.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Janet Mason about THEY, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Time Travel category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write THEY?
I had always wanted to read the Bible — since I was in high school and my English teacher described it “as the best book of fiction I’ve ever read.” Then much later in life, I was becoming a Unitarian and as part of a group I was in, I decided it was time to read the Bible. (It wasn’t required.) As I was reading, I thought “Uh, oh, this needs to be rewritten.” Specifically, I wondered what it was like to be a marginalized person — like a strong feminist woman, a lesbian, a trans person, or a nonbinary person. So, I wrote these characters into the story.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I think the main character, Tamar, (who is in the Hebrew Bible starting in Genesis) and who is reborn as Thomas in book two, is my favorite character. The story is told through her eyes, and she took me to some interesting places.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
The biggest challenge in writing the book was reading the Bible. It was challenging because there is so much misogyny in the Bible — both in the Hebrew Bible and The New Testament.
What part of THEY was the most fun to write?
However, it was great fun to imagine the stories that were partially told or not told at all. I also had a great deal of fun writing about Aziz, Tamar’s pet camel who slept in the tent to me. Aziz really spoke to me.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I did a fair amount of research for the book and read that a rabbi found that the word “they” existed in The Hebrew Bible as a singular pronoun that described both sexes and none. So the title — THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders — describes the contents of the book.
What is your favorite line from your book?
My favorite line is from the beginning of the book where the thoughts (from the perspective of Tamar) say: “She didn’t fear God, but she did fear the wrath of the villagers.”
What is your writing process like?
I guess I’m more of a pantser but I don’t think of it as that. I think of it as the muse bubble descending on me and then I am off and running. Then the precise information I need presents itself and filters through my imagination as I daydream and write.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I am naturally focused but sometimes I need caffeine, usually green tea or coffee. I do have sacred objects in my office including photographs of my late mother and my late aunt who were sisters. Later, when I was editing THEY, I realized that my characters Tamar and her twin sister Tabitha clashed just like my mother and aunt did.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I think it would be Sappho.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
My partner and I usually go out and have a nice meal somewhere. But I think I am finished many times and then I end going back and revising. This means we have plenty of nice meals.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I usually have a cat. The cat we have now adopted us a year ago when she showed up (very thin, and probably abandoned) in our backyard on Mother’s Day. My partner named her Peanut because when she first came to us, she was painfully thin. Since coming inside, she has become obsessed with food and as a result is rather rotund. Sometimes she sits in front of her empty food bowl and purrs. This is a signal that she is waiting for food. She was around one years old when we took her in, so she is around two now. Before then, about four years ago, our beloved cat Felix died. Several years before that his sister Sappho died. Sappho and I were very close.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
I’ve heard multiple authors give the advice to write the book you need to read. I agree.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
I think the thing I need to do — which usually isn’t a problem — is to write every day.
If you could be mentored by a famous author (living or not), who would it be?
After Sappho, my most influential author is the novelist Willa Cather. I became aware of both after I came out in my twenties (in the 1980s) and began to read widely, especially focusing on lesbian authors in history.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
I cry when I’m writing all the time. When writing THEY, I felt very sad when Tamar had to send her lover Judith back to her husband because she feared what would happen to both of them if anyone found out they were lovers.
Have you ever hated one of your characters?
You should always love something about each of your characters — even villains.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
I review books for Book Tube, and I usually prefer novels with Queer characters.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
There are so many authors who were and are important to me, including Sappho, Willa Cather, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
One of the places I read books, is in the car while running errands with my partner. I find books at the little libraries that are all around us in different neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
