Liberian Literary Magazine
4) How do you approach
your work?
I start to write after my half
hour morning meditation. I
have a topic I want to
explore and write to see
where it takes me. It is not
even a rough draft, but
could
become
one.
Sometimes I am able to
have an outline by the time
I finish. Coffee, an hour’s
hike in the wilderness with
my dog, and then read
pieces I wrote previously to
work further on them. I also
spend time researching the
topic I’m writing about. As I
live alone, the hours are
mine to make the best of…
or not.
5) What themes do you
find yourself continuously
exploring in your work?
After the success of Split at
the Root, I began blogging
about issues I presented in
the book. Readers also had
questions;
primarily,
as
could be expected were
parents who had adopted
internationally. As a result, I
started
a
coaching
program. In all cases I
suggested they first work
with a therapist specializing
in early childhood trauma:
who would not talk about
the
adoption,
but
understood the sadness
and grief the child lived with
after the separation from
the birthmother. That is
essential,
and
most
therapists don’t go there,
and adoptive parents don’t
want to go there either as
they feel their love being
threatened.
Another topic I discuss
often has to do with
complex identity issues. And
March Issue 0315
I also write about the more
spiritual approach to life
that comes with age. I no
longer have to know it all or
be right all the time. I’m a
good
listener
and
discussion
leader
and
always learn from others,
regardless.
6) Tell us a little about your
book- storyline, characters,
themes, inspiration etc.
I have only written one
book: Split at the Root: A
Memoir of Love and Lost
Identity. It is my story, written
(after
six
drafts)
in
chronological order. I let
the reader see the process
of being culturally seduced
by German language and
culture.
The
chapter
relating
to
my
first
encounter with dark people
in Belize and later Jamaica
shows the confusion and
racist attitudes I displayed.
They are quite obvious, and
are real and true. The
primary characters are my
German
mother,
her
daughter who was older
than my birthmother, my
husband Fred and my son
Patrick. Later in the story
enters my birthfather, and
my siblings on my mother’s
side. Split at the Root deals
with a great many things,
primarily, however, it is a
story about finding oneself
and learning to love oneself
without adhering to the
values the White world
imposes.
7) What inspired you to
write this title or how did you
come up with the storyline?
Adrienne Rich, some 30
years ago, wrote an essay
28
with that tile. It fit perfectly
to my subject matter. The
subtitle explains the title: A
Memoir of Love and Lost
Identity. I have recently
finished
the
German
translation of the book and
anticipate its release this
year. The title in German is
slightly different, of course.
8) Is there a message in
your book that you want
your readers to grasp?
Absolutely: the importance
of honoring the mother who
gave us life, regardless of
who she was; also, the
importance of honoring
ones
family,
culture,
community. To be
a
beloved child is wonderful,
but love cannot dispel the
negative
subliminal
messages absorbed as a
child when there are no
racial or cultural role
models to correct the
negative picture in the
child’s mind. A culture,
centuries in the making, has
value and honor. There is a
good chance that an
adopted child lives with a
colonized mind.
9) Do you have any
advice for other writers?
A writer needs to read. I
could tell which of my
students were readers: it
showed in their writing.
Good writers are avid
readers. It’s quite simple.
Beyond
writing
words,
sentences,
paragraphs,
writing is editing, and
rewriting, and rewriting, and
rewriting again. It’s work, it’s
a process that is daunting
and can be discouraging.
In the end, however, it is
incredibly rewarding.