192: On Writing and Identity - Interview with David Plante

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have David Plante on the show!

David grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, within a French-Canadian parrish, much the same way as Jack Kerouac did in Lowell, Massachusetts, in an area which was known in the 17h century as La Nouvelle France. David has written several books rooted in La Nouvelle France, most notably in The Family, a contender for the National Book Award.

He then went on to live in London for fifty years where he wrote several memoirs including Becoming a Londoner and Worlds Apart. David is also the author of the nonfiction book Difficult Women which has recently been republished by The New York Review of Books Press, and has been a regular contributor to the New Yorker with short stories and profiles of people he knew.

David is calling in to the show today from his home in Lucca, Italy, to discuss his most recent novel American Stranger.

Listen in as we chat about the elements that went into crafting this novel, and how writing can give you a voice and identity belonging to only you.

Also, just a quick heads up if you have not yet read American Stranger. We got so excited talking about the book that we may have disclosed a few spoilers... so SPOILER ALERT!

In this episode David and I discuss:

• How he unboxed Franco-American culture through the eyes of an outsider.
• Why not having identity can actually be liberating, and can also help you find your writing voice.
• Crafting a timeless novel by grounding the story with details.
• The best way to deal with a bad review... (all authors get them!).
• Drawing inspiration from a writer’s day in Italy.

Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/192