What:
As a professional writer, I have produced works in multiple genres: I have edited and ghostwritten several nonfiction books. Also, my memoir-based essays have appeared in national publications including Ms., World Vision, Black Child, and Christian Science Sentinel magazines. However, even in the midst of those projects, my primary focus has remained writing works of youth fiction. This includes crafting youth lit passages for a national testing service, creating a four-volume picture storybook and penning historical fiction for middle grade/young adult readers.
In the picture storybooks, the protagonist, a ten-year-old boy, learns life lessons when he reads about heroes in African American history. Currently, I am completing the third volume in my historical fiction series which is based upon my maternal family history. The first two books delved into the racial dynamics that affected this African American family in Detroit, Michigan during the mid-1930s in a manner appropriate for readers ages eight and older. The third volume in this trilogy explores race relations, miscegenation and class by focusing on three generations of African American woman beginning in post-Reconstruction Tennessee and ending in post-World War II Detroit. This book is geared toward young adult readers and older.
Why:
Within the core of every fiction plot I write, the youth or young adult protagonist addresses the question, “What kind of world have I inherited, and how do I navigate within that world?” That, of necessity, means that I write either historical fiction or I write works that contain a strong base of historical content: to understand what kind of world has been inherited means discovering what happened previously in a historical context. How the protagonist navigates within that world drives the plot as well as motivates me to create works for youth and young adult readers who are, themselves, trying to figure out their place in this world.
In addition, I am personally fascinated with the period of African American history that takes place during the turn of the twentieth century (late 1800s and early 1900s), and I enjoy working into the plot something related to that period in each book of fiction that I write. I do this because of the nature of that time period: To quote Charles Dickens and the first line of his A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” It was the best of times for African Americans because educational and economic opportunities were opening up and creating expanded life options. However, it was the worst of times because there was still rampant segregation both in the North and in the South as well as violence against blacks, especially lynchings in the South, as well as efforts to curtail voting rights, particularly in the South.
How:
My best plot development ideas come in the morning. Creative thoughts—generally about whatever manuscript I am currently working on—will pop into my head while I am standing in the shower or during my devotional time. I develop those thoughts and work them into the manuscript at night when I write. My most productive writing time occurs just before and a few hours after midnight. The world is different then: there are no life distractions, the sounds of the city are muted and I feel as if time exists just so that I can write.
I am fortunate to be married to a historian. My husband offers a great deal of support and expertise as we travel across the country researching aspects of my family history in cemeteries and genealogical libraries. We also take advantage of the Detroit Public Library’s Burton Historical Collection which contains a wealth of information on various aspects of Detroit’s history that are pertinent to my projects.
I also conduct oral histories, particularly at family reunions and holiday gatherings. I embellish and fictionalize the anecdotes and family lore gleaned from these informal chat sessions, and these histories become a central part of the plot development.
Bio:
Formerly an attorney, and a 2017 Kresge Artist Fellow in Literary Arts, Jean Alicia Elster is the author of the following works of fiction: the novel The Colored Car—for ages 8 and older—published by Wayne State University Press and released in September 2013. The Colored Car was selected as a 2014 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. Elster was awarded the 2014 Midwest Book Award in Children’s Fiction for The Colored Car by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. The Colored Car was chosen as an Honor Book for the 2014 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People.Elster is, also, the author of the novel Who’s Jim Hines?—for ages 8 and older—published by Wayne State University Press and released in August 2008. Among other honors, Who’s Jim Hines? was selected as one of the Library of Michigan’s 2009 Michigan Notable Books. In addition, Elster is the author of the children’s book series “Joe Joe in the City,” published by Judson Press. The first volume in that series, Just Call Me Joe Joe, was released in October 2001. The remaining volumes are: I Have A Dream, Too! (May, 2002), I’ll Fly My Own Plane (September, 2002), and I’ll Do the Right Thing (January, 2003). She was awarded the 2002 Governors’ Emerging Artist Award by ArtServe Michigan in recognition of the series. I’ll Do the Right Thing was awarded the 2004 Atlanta Daily World “Atlanta Choice Award” for children’s books.
Most recently, Elster was selected to be a member of the 2019 Live Coal Collective and was honored with a 2017 Kresge Artist Fellowship in Literary Arts, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit, a program of The Kresge Foundation. In 2012, she was selected as the inaugural visiting author for The Lori Lutz Visiting Artist Series at The Roeper School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She was awarded residencies at the internationally acclaimed Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois, in 2001, 2003, and 2005.
Links:
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of the award-winning novel In the Context of Love, a story about one woman’s need to tell her truth without shame.
2017 New Apple Book Awards Official Selection
2016 Sarton Women’s Fiction Finalist
2016 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2016 Readers’ Favorite Finalist
2016 USA Book News Best Book Finalist
“…at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey.” ~ Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award Finalist, American Salvage, and critically acclaimed Once Upon a River,and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
“With tenderness, but without blinking, Linda K. Sienkiewicz turns her eye on the predator-prey savannah of the young and still somehow hopeful.” ~ Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller, Deep End of the Ocean
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Wow! Ms. Elster has an impressive resume and bibliography. She has touched many lives with her work. I am particularly interested in her reference to the Burton Historical Collection as I am currently doing family research on the roots of my ancestors who came to the Ecorse area in the 18th century from Montreal. Thanks again, Linda for a personally important interview.
You’re welcome. I was impressed with Jean Alicia’s resume as well. And how wonderful that her and her husband’s interests align!
Thanks so much! And, Barbara–I hope your research at the Burton Historical Collection bears much fruit.
Brava, Jean Alicia! I love these questions: “What kind of world have I inherited, and how do I navigate within that world?”
I like the important questions Jean Alicia asks, too. I believe she is doing important work for young readers.
Kristin and Linda–I appreciate your kind sentiments!