My turn at The Next Big Thing: TOGETHER WE CAN BURY IT

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Huge thanks to my friend, Susan Tepper, for tagging me on this…is the word “meme”?…for writers. You can read her response to it on Jules Archer’s blog, Jules Just Write. Susan’s answers are fascinating and so is her book, FROM THE UMBERPLATZEN, and Jules’ blog is the coolest.

Aaaanyway, the questions for this seem better fitted for novels and I’m promoting a short story collection, but what the hell.

Here’s the cover of my book. It was designed by the amazingly talented Jana Vukovic:

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I love it.

And here is the Goodreads page for the book with some early reviews: Goodreads.

And now, to the questions:

1) What is the title of your book?

TOGETHER WE CAN BURY IT (The Lit Pub)

2) Where did the idea for the book come from?

Well, it’s stories, so the ideas came from everywhere, from life and living and people and love and strife and things I’ve done and the odd contents of my brain & heart.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

Literary Short Fiction

4) Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I’d want all ordinary looking unknowns. Like me.

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s a book of Kathy Fish stories.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Neither.

7) How long did it take you to write a first draft of your manuscript?

See? This is really for novels. But the stories were written over a period of ten years.
I’m slow.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I don’t think I can compare it to other books specifically.

9) Who or what inspired you to write the book?

I’m going to say Molly Gaudry inspired me to make the collection (of already written work) because she asked me to and her faith and belief in my work was, and is, a huge inspiration.

10) What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

You really have to be a fan of short fiction to like this book. On Goodreads, all the time, I see these reviews of short fiction collections that start out with, “I don’t really like short stories” and I shake my head in despair. And you have to be open to odd, experimental forms, prose poetry type things, etc. And I’m laughing because now I sound like I’m trying to talk you out of reading this book! No, no, you should read this book. It represents the best 20% of the stories I’ve written. In my opinion. If I threw in all the stories I’ve ever written, it would be a bigger book, but there would be stories in there that are just so so. There’s no reason to make a collection of so so stories.

It’s a small, good book and I’m proud of it.

UP NEXT: Two writers I’ve known for many years and who have terrific books to promote. Tiff Holland will be talking about her chapbook from Rose Metal Press, BETTY SUPERMAN and Eric Bosse will be discussing his collection from Ravenna Press, MAGNIFICENT MISTAKES.

13 thoughts on “My turn at The Next Big Thing: TOGETHER WE CAN BURY IT”

  1. Pingback: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop Database « Write, Juggle, Run

  3. susan tepper

    I became a big Kathy Fish fan from the moment I read her for the first time on Fictionaut. Kathy’s stories are so specifically ‘hers’, and this is a wonderful candid short interview. Cannot wait to read the new book when it is available!!!

  4. susan tepper

    I tried posting but it seems to have disappeared. Because I love Kathy’s stories so much, and because she is a dear heart, I am of course going to try again. Here goes: I became a big Kathy Fish fan from the first story of hers I read on Fictionaut. Kathy’s writer voice and heart are distinctive. Hers is a quirky voice that is big on empathy but also says: no bullshit here. I love that! Cannot wait to read the new book!!!

    1. kathydfish

      Aw, Susan, thanks! I saw your other post, had to “approve” it, but don’t see it here? Not sure what happened. Anyway, appreciate your kind words, always!

  5. julesjustwrite

    Love me some Kathy Fish! And I love the cover. So pretty. I cannot wait to read. You are one of my most favorite flash/short fiction writers. I so look up to your words.

  7. jenknox

    I look so forward to more Kathy Fish stories. I see those reviews, too, about collections… Personally, I think the short story collection is where it’s at. I mean, what could be better? Multiple worlds, each in easily digestible form, even for those that have to budget time. Good short stories are for real (people) readers… Kathy, I’m a big fan. I’ll be buying the book. Also, it looks beautiful.

    1. kathydfish

      Hi Jen! Thanks for stopping by. I have to say, I’ve not had this unlucky experience (yet) but I find it so frustrating. The Goodreads review will be negative, giving a short story collection a low rating, and based on the reviewer’s comments it seems to be almost entirely due to the person not “understanding” short stories. But they seem to believe this is the problem of the short stories and not their own taste!
      Having said that, I have to admit, I was a latecomer to short stories myself, but man, once I read the really good ones I was hooked. I agree with everything you say here re: what could be better?
      I have loved your stories on Fictionaut and look forward to your new book, Jen! And thanks for the kind words.

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