We had the pleasure of chatting to author Krista Driver about her new novel, Mani/Pedi: A True-Life Rags-To-Riches Story, including how it came to be and its challenges, along with book recommendations and more!
Hi Krista! Tell us a little about yourself!
I could start with the usual, “I’m the CEO of a nonprofit called Mariposa Women and Family Center, I have a Doctorate in Psychology and have been in the clinical world my entire career”. But that feels so sterile… So, let me begin with I am that small child who lived in foster care until I as adopted and I have spent my entire life trying to figure who I am and chasing that “thing” that would define me. What I’ve concluded is that everything I am = the sum total of my experiences and that I am “enough”.
Your new book, Mani/Pedi: A True-Life Rags-To-Riches Story, is out now! If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Immigrant, Entrepreneur, and Women’s empowerment
What can readers expect?
This book provokes us to think below the surface and struggle with Charlie as she fights for a better life for her children. Then as Charlie rises up in America, we root for her and cheer her enormous success and sheer grit.
What made you want to sit down and tell Charlie’s story?
This really began as an anthology. I interviewed several nail technicians and intended to write their stories. I found their stories to be as varied as the number of nail polish on the shelves and yet there were common themes to each story. It was an agent that suggested writing one woman’s story, rather than an anthology.
So, when I re-grouped on the concept of one person’s story and pursued that, Charlie was introduced to me from a friend of a friend. And the moment I met her… I knew I wanted to write her story. She’s this tiny, beautiful woman with this big presence; she’s brave and courageous and kind ~ very sweet. My soul instantly connected to hers… And wait until you meet Olivett (Charlie’s business partner).
What was the process like when it came to writing this story?
I conducted only 2 formal interviews with Charlie. I built the broad strokes of Charlie’s life during those interviews, but my favorite was sitting with Charlie and Olivett (in Olivett’s living room) and just watching those two interact. They have this really special bond and to be included in their circle and hearing some funny and some heartbreaking stories… impacted me in ways I can’t explain. Their laughter washed over me and I didn’t realize it at the time ~ but it was healing broken parts of me that I didn’t even know I had.
Thankfully, I had the recorder running during those informal conversations, because I pulled a lot of content from those hours of reminiscing.
Those two gave me the courage to be bold and write this book. The writing was the easy part. It was the editing and trimming out stories that was challenging. If I could have, I would have included all of it ~ because there were a lot of stories that didn’t make it into the book.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing Mani/Pedi?
Yes! I had a partner on this project from the start. We were sort of working with this agent, who wasn’t very confident that this book would be viable. She just wasn’t sure people would be interested… Well, she sent us to work with an editor and it was after the first assignment with the editor that my partner and I realized we had two different visions for the book. So, we parted ways… (but we’re still friends). That editor said to me, “Krista, if I would have known she wasn’t going to be doing this project, I never would have taken it. You’re an unknown and inexperienced and I doubt you will be successful”.
That was harsh, don’t you think? It knocked me down for a minute, but just a minute. I was talking to my good friend about this and she said, “Ah! You can do it. You should meet my friend so and so ~ she could probably help you figure this out” and she made a call right then. I met my friend’s friend and she introduced me to her editor/coach Victoria Christopher Murray.
Victoria was a God-send. She worked me, talked me off the ledge a few times and stayed the course with me start to finish. Oh and Victoria flew out to Ca from DC and I took her out to meet Charlie and Olivett. When they told Victoria where their original Mantrap Salon was ~ Victoria almost jumped out of her seat. She exclaimed, “I lived in L.A. then and I went to that salon!”.
That’s six degrees of separation and that’s how this whole process has been for me. Chance meetings and incredible synchronicity! I feel so honored and blessed to have been able to tell Charlie’s story…
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on Olivett’s story. Oh my! This one is powerful too! So, far I’ve had my head down doing a ton of research (which is actually my favorite part of writing a book). I just returned from a expedition in the deep south (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana) gathering information for Olivett’s book. I can’t wait for that one!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
I love to read! Depends on what kind of books you like… Here are a few that I’ve read recently.
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- ANYTHING by Brene Brown
- Jenny Lawson is emerging as one of my favorite authors ~ try “Furiously Happy”. It is so funny!
** I would secretly love to meet any of the above authors ~ just saying ~ if ever the opportunity presents itself.
You can find Krista on her Facebook, Instagram, and then also at her upcoming website. Purchase via Amazon Smile (Select Mariposa Women and Family Center as your charity 😊 We get a donation for every order on Amazon Smile).
