Comments on: Writing Memoir, and “Sixtyfive Roses”

By: choman

choman — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:04:40 +0000

[...] to … In this second letter home our new conscript Tolya is starting to settle in to his two …Writing Memoir, and Sixtyfive Roses Memoir WritingIn preparation for the May 22nd Author Conversation live call with memoirist Heather Summerhayes [...]

By: Women’s Memoirs » Blog Archive » Heather Summerhayes Cariou discusses SixtyFive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir

Mon, 25 May 2009 05:28:40 +0000

[...] author Heather Summerhayes Cariou’s blog and writing prompt were previews of the vibrancy and depth of this wonderful woman that Kendra and I had the pleasure [...]

By: Suzy Garrison

Suzy Garrison — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:56:51 +0000

Heather, you are so generous to share your thoughts and writing prompt with us.
Here’s my question: I’ve taken classes with Matilda and Kendra and they often talk about theme (which they define as what the book is about) and message (which they define as what we want the reader to get out of the book). I’ve been struggling to decide on my theme and message, knowing this will help me focus on what to put in and what to leave out. I wonder how you would discuss the theme and message of SixtyFive Roses. Any comments about this would be helpful to me.
I’ll be listening to your response on Friday.
Thank you, Suzy

By: Halle S.

Halle S. — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:47:48 +0000

I bought your book last week, Heather, and couldn’t put it down. I’m a huge fan of the memoir genre, but more a reader than writer although I’m starting to write more. While I don’t have a question for you, I will be listening to the interview. I think your insight into writing journey parallels our life journeys as we strive to understand ourselves, our families and how we fit in. I, too, will be looking for you novel. HS

By: Samantha C.

Samantha C. — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:36:40 +0000

Hi Heather–

I appreciate you writing this book and providing readers like me with such an intimate look at a family coping with illness and loss. I’ve bought the book and am reading a bit every night. It’s most insightful. Reading your blog leads me leads me to ask a question. First, you have laid out your memoir writing process quite graphically. I can really see what I’m in for as I begin the process myself. But here’s my question: You talk about all the drafts that you wrote–the pity party draft, the angry draft, etc. Some of these sound as though you just wrote on emotion. Did they come pouring out or did you face writer’s block from time to time? And as you refined the drafts and came closer to the final manuscript, was writer’s block ever also an issue?

Thank you, and I look forward to your next book, your novel. Sam

By: Katia

Katia — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:44:19 +0000

Heather, I think what moves me most is that there is NO self pity in your story at all. Nor is there fury. All I see is the clarity of human travel over very rough territory, which is perhaps what makes this memoir so useful to me as I go over the same kind of road myself. No one travels the precise same road as another, but our paths are usually parallel for all the major events. I’m glad you wrote this memoir, it makes my own journey a lot less lonely.

By: Marsha Browne

Marsha Browne — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:08:17 +0000

Heather, you know I love your book, and that I feel it’s the best memoir I’ve read, bar none, in the past 10 years. I’ve also recommended your book to everyone I know. It ought to be required reading for prospective memoirists.

You’ve done a masterful job of framing your story–your sister’s story, your family’s story, too, but mostly your story–and my question for you is this: as the story begins and ends in the same place, what helped you decide the structure you used to move the reader through the events? The beautiful symmetry of the embracing circle is just perfect. I’m sure others would like to know how you reached that decision, too.

Love you to bits (and see you soon),
Marsha