First Person
The View from Atop the Charts
Christina Baker Kline , No . 1 New York Times bestselling author of OrphanTrain and A Pieceof the World
Christina Baker Kline ’ s world transformed suddenly , and completely , in 2013 , when Orphan Train , her fifth novel , shot to the top of bestseller lists , and hovered there for more than two years ; currently , roughly 3.5 million copies have been sold in 40 countries .
The book brought fame and the invigorating aura of success , even as Kline began aduel with avirulent form of breast cancer . Now in full remission , she is currently promoting APiece of the World , anovel inspired by Andrew Wyeth ’ spainting ,“ Christina ’ sWorld ,” that entered the New York Times Bestseller list at No . 7 . Amarried mother of three sons , she is known amongst the Montclair literary community as one of the hardest-working writers in pen-and-ink-dom . She recently sat down at Manhattan Juice Bar in Montclair to chat .
What is fame like ?
I have to say it changed my life completely . Before , in addition to writing books , I was editing up to 50 manuscripts a year and teaching – just working like a maniac . Then , suddenly , I ’ m doing interviews , dealing with publicity , agents , foreign sales , film rights , which all takes some time away from writing . But it was a relief , after all those years , to focus on my creative work and not worry so much about making a living . I was given the gift of time .
Fame and friendship
I ’ m glad this happened to me , but Idon ’ t feel I “ deserved ” it any more than anyone who ’ s trying to makeart deserves it . I ’ m lucky to be amember of an incredible group of women writers in Montclair who ’ ve been meeting for 20 years . We ’ ve weathered many ups and downs together , and I am inspired by the fact that we all keep working , keep creating , no matter the reward .
Downside to the stratosphere
It is hardnot coming home fordaysand sometimes weeks at atime when I ’ m on a book tour or doing speaking engagements . Luckily , two of our boys are in college , so it ’ s not as complicated as it oncewas . My son in high school and [ husband ] Dave are pretty good at being bachelors together when I ’ m away .
If , poof , it had all been adream …
Here is the truth : Had this wonderful thing not happened , I would still be piecing my life together around writing . No matter what . ■
– AS TOLD TO ANTOINETTE MARTIN
BAKER KLINE : COURTESY OFKARIN DIANA ; BOOKS : COURTESY OFTHE PUBLISHER
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