When did you start writing and what inspired you to start?
I began writing in the early 1960’s. I had completed the Famous Writers Correspondence Course on writing fiction. A racial remark heard when I was 15 years old had danced around in my head all those years. To rid myself of it, I started a novel in 1967.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written and published three books, Southern Winds A’ Changing, a novel; Follow Me: The Life and Adventures of a Military Family, a memoir; and Musings, Mutterings, and Aw Shucks, a collection of short stories. Southern Winds A’ Changing is favored.
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“Musings, …,” shares stories with eclectic characters, some of whom embellish true experiences, and show real love, disappointment, friendship.
The current trend in publishing is toward series novels as opposed to stand-alone books. Is your most recent release part of a series? If so, where do you see the story going (ie how many books in the series)? If not, do you have a series you’ve written or plan to write, and if so, what is it?
I have thought of writing a follow up to Southern Winds A’ Changing, showing what happened to two of the characters–one white, one black. However, I have a futuristic book started.
When your latest title is adapted to film, and the producers ask for your dream cast, what will you say?
The latest, a collection of short stories, isn’t adaptable to film; however the novel, Southern Winds A’ Changing, is. I would like a young, redheaded star that can play Allise in her early 20’s, and Meryl Streep to play a strong Allise in her later life. For African American Maizee, a gentle, loving mother sort, such as the star of “Help.” Quent, Allise’s first husband, would need to portray biases and hatefulness. Their son and daughter would pattern themselves after their father. Nate, Maizee’s son by Quent, would be played with tolerance, intelligence, and bravery. Dro, Allise’s second husband, is loving, supportive, and tolerant.
Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
The novel, Southern Winds A’ Changing, conveys the idea that racism and intolerance is still a monumental, relevant problem in our nation, and we had better get a handle on it.
“Follow Me: …,” the memoir, depicts long and many separations of husband and father from wife and children, the children’s experiences of changing schools in midterms, of living in a Third World country. And yet, wife and children conclude that the sum total was a happy life with many wonderful experiences.
Do you have a new book coming out soon?
“Blast Off,” is the working title of a futuristic novel I am just beginning. If it looks like it will fly, a great deal of research will be required. It will not be coming out soon.
Who are some of the authors you particularly admire or who’ve had some influence on your own writing?
Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird), Pat Conroy, John Grisham
List your favorite quotation or words you live by.
Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed. (Constitution of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) [1946]
Literature is the effort of man to indemnify himself for the wrongs of his condition. (The Conservative) [1842]
I believe that reason and not creed defines the search for truth, that God embraces all people equally, which leads me to believe that truth and spiritual meaning can be found in all faiths.
Honesty is praised and starves. (Satires I, l.74)
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I want my readers to think about history, to ponder why a character might think and act as he/she does, to enjoy humorous stories and wonder what was underlying in other stories.
You can purchase “Southern Winds A’ Changing” through our bookstore and connect with Elizabeth Carroll Foster through her author page.