Paulette Jiles: You Never Know What Readers Are Going to Get Out of a Book
Paulette Jiles is a novelist, poet, and memoirist. She is the author of Cousins, a memoir, and the novels Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightning, Lighthouse Island, Simon the Fiddler, and News of the World, which was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award. She lives on a ranch near San Antonio, Texas.
In this post, Jiles shares what inspired her latest novel, what surprised her about the publication process, and more.
Paulette Jiles
Name: Paulette Jiles
Literary agent: Liz Darhansoff of Darhansoff and Verrill
Book title: Chenneville
Publisher: William Morrow/Harper Collins
Release date: September 5, 2023
Genre/category: Historical Fiction
Previous titles: News of the World
Elevator pitch for the book: A revenge drama.
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What prompted you to write this book?
An actual murder during the Civil War that took place in the Missouri Ozarks. Also the French presence in and near St. Louis, the history of the old French families. This story is strongly in the tradition of the tale, and takes a great deal from folk-tale plots. It does not follow the structure of contemporary novels. It’s different in that respect.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication?
Three years.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
In the midst of the publication process Harper Collins went through a strike. I learned about the Auto Workers Union.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
You never know what readers are going to get out of a book.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
There are a lot of really good websites online about writing novels. Very few of them talk about the folk tale and its structures, but whatever.