Inlet Interviews

Here at the Inlet a handful of published writers have joined us over the past few years. Many are authors I’ve been fortunate enough to coach at some point in their careers, whether early in their studies, or closer to their publication dates. Others I’ve befriended on my own writer’s journey. I’m excited to have a chance to not only talk with them but share their work with others.

April 2024 Interview with Kate Fletemeyer (pen name Evelyn Ann Casey)

I was delighted to receive an email from Kate exclaiming “News!” in early 2024. I LOVE opening those kinds of emails. Yes, it was the best of news: Her novel Candlewood is forthcoming from HenschelHAUS in the summer of 2024, under the pen name Evelyn Ann Casey. The book follows devout Meg Joyce whose parish job means more than a hallowed paycheck: she must confront the “boys club” of her Church, survive the advances of a predatory priest, and when she falls in love with salt of the earth Father Andy, reckon with her deepest desires.

Kate’s award-winning poetry as well as book reviews, short stories and essays appear in Midwest Review, Potato Soup Journal, Medium.com and elsewhere. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Find out more about Kate and her work here: Evelyn Ann Casey

(video coming this fall)

May 2023 Interview with Katey Schultz and Des Cooper

In May of 2023 I interviewed two award-winning writers I’m proud to call my friends, Katey Schultz and Des Cooper.

Daily Beast praised Katey Schultz’ story collection Flashes of War as “ambitious and fearless.” It won Foreword’s Book of the Year Award and the Military Writers’ Society of America Book the Year award for literary fiction, among others. And Schultz’ first novel Still Come Home was lauded by Library Thing as “taut, moving, explosive, gut-wrenching—this is simply one helluva read…” Indeed! It garnered a heap of honors, including a Book of the Year award from the Chicago Writers’ Association and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award from the Historical Book Club of North Carolina. Katey is also a mentor extraordinaire, and the founder of Maximum Impact, a transformative mentoring service for creative writers that has been recognized by both CNBC and the What Works Network. Find out more about Katey here: http://www.kateyschultz.com/

Flashes of War

Katey Schultz

Published by Apprentice House 2013

Still Come Home

Katey Schultz

Published by Apprentice House 2019

Shelf Awareness called Des Cooper’s stories “exquisite miniatures” that provide “a mural’s worth of life.” Her first book, the flash collection Know the Mother, was honored as a Michigan Notable Book. And Booklist’s starred review called Cooper’s Nothing Special “an evocative picture book celebrating simple pleasures and family ties.” It was one of the New York Public Library’s 10 Best Children’s Books of 2022, and won the 2023 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. I know my mom would have loved reading it to the kids she worked with in the Shawano County library programs. Find out more about Des here: http://www.descooper.com/

Nothing Special

Desiree Cooper & Bec Sloane

Published by Wayne State University Press 2022

Know the Mother

Desiree Cooper

Published by Wayne State University Press 2016

January 2022 Inlet Interview with Matthew Duffus

In January of 2022 I interviewed Matthew Duffus, who amassed an embarrassment of riches recently when publishing three wonderful books nearly back to back: the short fiction collection Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories (which you can listen to on Audible), the novel Swapping Purples for Yellows, and the poetry chapbook Problems of the Soul and Otherwise.

Fall/winter 2021 Interviews

In October 2021, I talked with Jessica Vitalis, whose debut middle grade novel, The Wolf’s Curse, narrated by the grim reaper, came out in September of 2021. (And her second book, The Rabbit’s Gift, came out in October 2022. Yes, she is a busy writer!)

She wrote five unpublished novels over thirteen years and was not daunted. She kept honing her revision skills, and those techniques helped produce her sixth book, which landed her a publishing contract with Harper Collins. When we met on Zoom she shared her tricks and tips with us–and you can watch the interview here, too:

In November of 2021, I talked with Kimberly Behre Kenna, whose first book, Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade came out 2/2/2023 Regal House/Fitzroy Books. Each of her three books features a brave girl protagonist whose love of nature helps her find her voice and stand up for her beliefs.

And in December of 2021, I talked with Maggie Smith as she prepared to launch her first book and get it into the hands of eager readers in March (2022). If you’re looking for a well-plotted & paced novel with thought-provoking character dilemmas leading to a well-earned ending, you’re in good hands.

Summer 2021 interviews

During the Deep Revision Mines Retreat the last week of July, 2021, I interviewed authors I coached on their way to publication, and asked them to share deep revision tips.