With her new novel, The Nine, just days away from release, we were fortunate enough to have a few minutes of time with Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg. The Nine is her second novel, after winning the Beverly Hills Book award in New Fiction and in Women’s Fiction in 2017, with her debut novel Eden.
Blasberg provided us with some insight into her background, what she has in common with some of her characters, and what advice she has for someone who wants to be a writer. She also recounts some of the concepts she has embraced after her recent trip to Japan, and how these ideas might affect her approach to writing.
Hi Jeanne! Would you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a writer living half the year in Boston and half the year in Westerly, Rhode Island. When I’m not writing, I love to be outdoors in nature and my guilty pleasure is travel. My husband and children and I lived in Switzerland between 2009-2012 and that’s when I really caught the bug. I am a squash player who competes in national and world competitions in my age group however my greatest joy is being on court with my adult children. I am also an avid skier. My family lived in Newport Beach, CA before I left at age 17 for Smith College in Northampton, MA. I have lived in many cities which I think has turned me into an observer of people, appreciating how different our situations might be, but basically how we all want the same things. I am an only child, an introvert, and sometimes terribly shy.
What are you going through right now, knowing your new novel is just days away from publication? Is this a stressful time, or a relaxed time for you?
It’s a time of nerves and excitement. I am looking forward to my launch and the celebration, but also working hard on my presentation. It’s more important than ever for me to get enough sleep (spoken like a true mom!!) Being rested is usually the key for me staying relaxed.
Did you always want to be a writer?
I have always been a writer in some sense, but I did not always think about publishing novels. It wasn’t until I was struck by some themes in my memoir writing, that I wanted to connect with readers. Specifically, I am intrigued by mother / child relationships and intra-family dynamics. I love to read, and about fifteen years ago it struck me that I would like to write the type of book I would enjoy reading.
What do you have in common with Hannah Webber in The Nine? Did you go to boarding school, or send your children to boarding school?
Haha – a very touchy subject as Hannah Webber, as a mother, is over the top. However, her observations and reactions do come from my personal experience. I am a product of public high school, whereas my husband and three children went to four different boarding schools. I wanted to create a fictional parent who got snarled up in a boarding school mess alongside her child. That didn’t ever happen to me, but such a scenario wasn’t hard to imagine!
Do you have a favorite character in The Nine?
Besides the obvious, I really liked writing Shawn Willis. He was initially modelled after a person I didn’t care for, but as wrote about him, Shawn’s his desire to transform became apparent. He was like another child who just needed to find a way to grow up.
When Angeline, the librarian, describes what she loves about books and working around books, would you say she speaking for you? (Because she is DEFINITELY speaking for me!)
Absolutely! When I was in my early thirties, I was a research associate at Harvard Business School and my office was in the library. This was back before internet! I spent hours in the stacks. When I was in college, I had a carrel in the Art Library and one of my favorite places to this day is the antique stacks in the Boston Athenaeum. I absolutely love being surrounded by bookshelves.
Where do you see Hannah, Edward, and Sam 5 years from now? What about Shawn Willis? How are they? Where are they?
Edward and Sam are happy, or should I say getting satisfaction from life already. In five years, Hannah will as be as well. I think she will be making a difference in the lives of young people coming through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Boston clubhouse. She really has a lot of love to give. Shawn and Angeline as young professionals, will be creating a life together in Wisconsin, maybe exploring cities like Chicago or Toronto on the weekends. They will visit Angeline’s family from time to time in Dunning and shake their heads as they drive through campus.
I have become a fan of your blog, and I know you went on a trip to Japan recently. What is something you took away from that experience? Anything that affected your writing process?
My biggest takeaway from our trip to Japan was the generous hospitality afforded us by our hosts. The Japanese greet every get together with great intention, with the philosophy that every moment is a once in a lifetime occasion. Yet, despite all the planning around our visit, every setting, every meal, every day was conceived with simplicity in mind. I learned that it is not always what you add that makes a meal or an event or a piece of writing, it is what you omit. After that trip, I vowed to be more gracious and hospitable. I have always been a person who aims to be generous, but the Japanese took it to a whole new level.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a published author?
Spend every day adding to your story, making it an authentic work that only you can tell. Be strong and don’t quit even in the face of doubters and rejection.
What’s next for you? A book tour, your next book, something different?
The next few months will be busy as I speak to readers about THE NINE. I will continue to write every day. I am currently working on a novel that ties together the imaginary worlds of EDEN (my debut) and THE NINE. Summer homes, boarding schools…. Stay tuned for Wall Street.
