INTERVIEW WITH Rose Beecham

December Newsletter 2005

By Connie Ward, BSB Publicist/Author Liaison

What made you decide to become a fiction writer?

Oh, that's easy: I wanted to be rich and famous. Actually, the truth is, I was fortunate to be brought up without television. If my siblings and I wanted entertainment we had to create it ourselves. I can't remember a time when I didn't write stories; however, it was The Price of Salt that made me decide to write my first lesbian novel.

What type of stories do you write and why?

If I had to identify three elements common to all my writing, regardless of genre, these are theme, setting, and humor. I've never written a novel or screenplay in which humor does not play a part—often irony and dark humor. I suppose this is an aspect of my personality that bleeds into my work. Every one of my novels also has an underlying theme that plays out strongly in both text and subtext.

The type of mystery I most enjoy writing is the "message mystery"—crime fiction that explores social issues. I don't regard my work as a venue to preach personal opinion, but as one in which I can examine an idea that intrigues me. I'm drawn to the terrain of moral ambiguity, ethical dilemma and internal conflict, and to the darker aspects of human nature. In Grave Silence the theme is silence—in the individual and in society— how complicity in a crime includes being silent about it, and how silence can function to distort truth.

Anyone who has read my work knows that setting functions almost as a character in my novels—it has moods, it plays a role in plot, it impacts on the characters in all kinds of ways. Authors often hear that we should write what we know. I find this truism overly simplistic; however, I believe it is true of setting—obviously with the exception of fantasy and science fiction.  I set all my stories in locations I know fairly well. Fortunately, I started traveling at eighteen and never really stopped, so I have plenty of remarkable places to choose from.

I write in different genres because I enjoy the unique creative challenges offered by each. I love writing romances—my romance pen name is Jennifer Fulton. Mine don't attempt to be anything but amusing, romantic escapist entertainment. As for why I write them—I could observe that I've been something of a dud in the real life romance department so they provide vicarious gratification. But, seriously… falling in love and finding happiness with another person is one of life's great adventures, and I want to celebrate that women share this adventure with one another.

What does/do your family/friends think about your writing?

The people most important to me are unfailingly proud of me and supportive of my writing.  I think we all need folks who will applaud us whether a manuscript is crap or not—naturally, for meaningful feedback, I rely on people who do not love me.

Where do you get your ideas?

From that box in my closet with "IDEAS" emblazoned upon it, of course. 

All writers get asked this and I think we can all agree that the process is a peculiar alchemy. I find that my stories and characters already exist in my mind and I summon them.

Sometimes they arrive without being summoned and I develop them up to a point, then "put them to bed." Sometimes characters and stories I've put to bed will sleep in my mind for years, and it's as though my unconscious completes work on them while my conscious is tied up with others. Eventually, when I am ready, I summon them once more and find they come to me almost whole.

I am also very proactive in seeking out material. I compare this with stocking a larder—my shelves are filled with my own experiences and discoveries, the stories of others, and all manner of information I have gathered and filed away. This "larder" supplies many key ingredients I need for each of my novels. For me, everything is material. Nothing is off limits.

A story is often sparked by something that teases my mind. I wrote Grave Silence because I was bemused by the concept of an extremist "religious" cult of some 30,000 members (the FLDS) operating within a religious state (Utah), within a supposedly secular country (the USA). I wanted to explore how a Taliban of sorts could even exist here, let alone thrive, and of course, I wanted to write about the girls and women living in this situation.

How do you write? Do you plan everything out or just write?

I do both. I always know how my stories are going to end, but I don't always know how I will reach that place in a blow by blow sense. When I start a book, I write a plot spine that covers the major beats in the story, and I write the arc(s) for my main character / characters. As I work, many things I didn't think about reveal themselves and I go with the flow.

I always write a first draft without editing as I go. Often I write it longhand in fountain pen. I see this phase as dumping the story onto the page. I then revise the work intensely—I see that second phase as crafting the novel.

How much of yourself and the people you know are in your writing?

Jeanette Winterson was once asked if she was writing herself in a character, and she answered, "But of course and not at all," which, I think, answers this question better than I can.

Which lesbian authors inspired you most?

Katherine V. Forrest was my first editor, and has influenced me more than any other lesbian author. I learned a great deal about writing for our audience from her guidance as an editor and from reading her works. Katherine has remained an inspiration and example to me, for her wisdom, modesty, and dedication to our literature.

I am inspired by so many others! A few that spring to mind are Radclyffe Hall, for the extreme courage it took to do what she did.   Judy Grahn for A Woman is Talking to Death and for the delicious vision of a queer mythology in Another Mother Tongue. Adrienne Rich for Twenty-one Love Poems because these taught me so much about silence and solitude, and about empathy in written expression, and Audre Lorde for Uses of the Erotic: the Erotic As Power, which influences my approach to building characters and creating credible character dynamics.

Do you have any suggestions for new writers?

For every character you write, be able to answer the question, what does this character want? If you don't know, neither will your readers—and characters are driven by what they want.

Relax as you write your first draft. Don't censor yourself. Get all you can down on paper. The real work of crafting a novel happens at the revision stage.

When you’re not writing, what do you do for fun?

I spend time with my partner Fel at our home in Colorado, cook gourmet meals, listen to music, talk on the phone to my twenty-two year old daughter Sophie who attends college in Australia, read, enjoy cinema, walk and play with our five animal companions.

Which is your favorite among the books/stories you've written and why?

 A little while ago, I answered this question on the GCLS message board by saying that's like being asked to pick your favorite child. Of my romances, The Sacred Shore is the one most personal to me—I was grieving when I wrote it, and it truly helped me deal with my loss—but I think Dark Dreamer is actually my favorite story.

Of my crime novels, Grave Silence is my favorite so far, although I am having a blast writing the fifth Rose Beecham novel, Sleep of Reason (2006), which is more of a police procedural—a form I really enjoy.