A lyrical and heartfelt collection by an award-winning writer that connects the lives of young people from small towns in Alaska and the American west. Each story is unique, yet universal.
We chat with author Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock about her new release Everyone Dies Famous In A Small Town, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Bonnie-Sue! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Sure, I’m a lifelong Alaskan. I’ve spent a lot of time commercial fishing, doing radio journalism and recently worked as a contact tracer for the state during the pandemic. I have a dog named Demelza.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
My goal for the past year was basically just protecting my 101 year old Grandma from getting covid. Now that she’s doing well and Alaska is doing a great job with the vaccine roll out, I’m hoping to be able to see my kids again. (They both live really far away) My goals are pretty small, I guess, but like everyone, I’d love to hug people. Which is both small and huge. (I’m also working on a new book)
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading was JOHNNY TREMAIN. (or that’s what popped into my head) The one that made me want to become a writer was MRS. DALLOWAY. And the one I can’t stop thinking about is a nonfiction book about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe called SAY NOTHING.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I honestly have no idea. I was so quiet and shy as a kid but I kept a journal from the time I could write, it was the only place I felt I could be honest and also a way to document details. I loved writing about details in my family that nobody else seemed to notice.
Your short story collection, Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, is out April 20th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Weird, honest, gritty, humorous, quiet.
What can readers expect?
I think it’s best not to expect anything and just go in for the experience. (My general rule about most things) It’s sort of like that candy that you think is candy and then you get to the middle and it’s really chewing gum. If I can be so vague.
Where did the inspiration for Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town come from?
I spent so many years of my life as a radio journalist documenting ordinary small town events; trying to make them universally interesting for a listening audience. These stories basically come from that same idea that ordinary things can be extraordinary and that everyone is connected. But mostly, preconceived ideas about people and places are almost always wrong.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
I think the main thing is that short stories are deceivingly simple while also being extraordinarily hard to do well. You have to have all of the same elements that you would for a novel. So, if you think of 10 stories in a collection as 10 novels, with all the back story and thematic arcs, etc. it can be really overwhelming. This took four years to write because for the first two years I thought it was a novel. Once I realized it needed to be a collection of stories, it came together much more easily because my brain stopped trying to make it something that it wasn’t. (I also had to discuss with my editors that this is what it needed to be) It’s a long process, at least for me, because I never want to just have a book out in the world. I want it to be the right book.
If it’s not too spoilery, do you have a favourite story that you really enjoyed writing?
I really loved writing most of them. The last one, THERE’S GAS IN THE TANK, LOUISE, is my favourite but it would be really spoilery to say anything. BASKETBALL TOWN was fun as well, because I was obsessed with basketball as a teenager. My dad was a coach and a referee and he passed away years ago, so it was fun to sort of imagine him as the dad in the story and get to spend time with him again.
Is there anything you hope readers will take away from reading Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town?
I know that many people don’t love short stories so if someone who sees themselves in that category has a change of heart after reading these, I’d take that as a win.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The worst advice was “write 1000 words every day.” I tried that and for me, it was rubbish. (although I know fabulous writers who swear by this) The best advice was “read everything.” That’s what inspires me to write, when I read brilliant words that other people have created. I’m not sure why, but it’s true. It makes me want to be better.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully another book. But since it’s still in the early stages it may not be what I think it is, so I’m still waiting for it to reveal itself. I hope what’s most immediately next for me is getting to hug my people again.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I always recommend books by my fellow Alaskan writer Eowyn Ivey. She has two gorgeous books out in the world that will not disappoint. THE SNOW CHILD and TO THE BRIGHT EDGE OF THE WORLD.
