Q&A
Tell me a little about No Ordinary Life.
No Ordinary Life is a deceptively easy read for all ages. Stand-alone chapters make fun family bedtime stories and deeper philosophical themes offer varied discussion for families and book groups . . .. Mom wrote vivid first-person descriptions of her family life and of Depression-era Salt Lake City, Utah. I grew up hearing and loving her adventurous stories as much as I did fairy tales. No Ordinary Life covers Mom’s earliest memories up until she was fourteen. It is the first of three books I compiled from Mom’s original 1,000 page manuscript.
Tell me a little about Help Me to Feel.
Help Me to Feel covers Mom’s life from junior high until she is about twenty years old (1928–1936 ). This book is for an older audience than No Ordinary Life—young adult instead of juvenile . . .. Mom is very inquisitive about boys, dating, and sex. She explores these ideas and a few high school experiences in candid detail. But more importantly, fairly early in the book, Mom experiences an unexpected tragedy which causes an extreme course correction to the life she expected to lead. In the process, she deals with more adult and complex questions, although the outrageous adventures continue, just as in No Ordinary Life.
Why should I take the time to read No Ordinary Life or its sequels Help Me to Feel and A Greater Destiny?
For their honesty and compassion . . ..
Because my mother had complete conviction in her writing, she spoke with no filter. Even though she made mistakes, many, and recognized them, she had compassion for herself and for those around her. She grapples with questions about right and wrong, God, social norms, and her role as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon. As she tells her stories, I see myself in her shoes, and she makes me remember my own similar experiences with more understanding. I am a better, stronger, more confident, more loving person for having read my mother’s story. I truly wish everyone had the opportunity to have been her child, and this is a way I can share.
Because mom was the best storyteller, ever . . ..
Reading Mom’s stories are like reading about Ramona Quimby stories, or Pippi Longstocking, or Anne of Green Gables, or Little House in the Big Woods, with the added depth of The Diary of Anne Frank. Mom’s irrepressible sense of adventure creates all sorts of crazy situations, and she has the bravery to share them in gloriously humiliating detail. But it isn’t just the adventures, it is also the compassion and the love she gives to herself and to others in her stories. Her fully developed characters are not stereotypically “bad” or “good” and she loves them all despite their warts.
For the history . . ..
Mom’s attention to detail in her stories brings her era alive for me. I was born in 1957 when my mother was forty-one. The unusual age gap meant my parents were often the age of my peers’ grandparents. Growing up, I sometimes felt I was in a time warp because I was so familiar with the day-to-day living details of World War I, the Great Depression, and later, World War II. As a granddaughter of Joseph F. Smith and a great-granddaughter of Heber C. Kimball, Mom talks frankly about being part of a loving family with polygamous roots and the close kinship she felt with her many, many relatives. Mom’s stories have all the feel of great historical fiction, with the added bonus that they are real. She lived and breathed and told these stories until I felt I lived and breathed them as well.
How real are these books?
They are as “real” as they can possibly be. Anyone who knew Mom personally knew that she was prone to “never letting a fact get in the way of a good story . . ."." I took a class on Writing Narrative History, and the point was made that if ten educated historians could somehow view a scene in history and then write about it, a reader would have ten different viewpoints on what just happened. Mom wrote what she believed, what she saw, and what she loved to tell. This is her totally honest, personal perspective on her life.
How did you research these books?
I inherited more than twenty boxes of written material from my mother when she passed away. For years they sat in my basement . . .. Eventually my niece Michelle and I sorted through the boxes and I collected all 113 (or so) chapters of the book Mom called, The Greatest Gamble, the story of her life until she got married. There were roughly 1,000 pages. She had planned two other books for her middle and later years.
There was no digital copy, so I began retyping the entire manuscript. As I typed, I found duplications, chapters, or events out of chronological order, and other confusing references. Eventually I drew up a timeline comparing genealogical and historical data to keep the story’s progress consistent chapter to chapter.
I sent chapters out to cousins and invited their corroboration on family detail. I did lightweight online research to discover exactly when Mom’s elementary school burned down or when sneakers were invented and other such questions, and to look up terms Mom used that I didn’t understand. I included much of this information in the footnotes of the book because I found the additional detail fascinating.
Overall, my guess would be that at least 95% of the content of the book is still in Mom’s original writing. I have made minor grammatical and word usage changes and have written occasional “bridge” sentences. I have also either combined or divided chapters in a few places to help the story flow. I have reordered a few chapters and moved some content from one chapter to another or deleted repetitions; I hope Mom approves.
Why did you choose to write No Ordinary Life and Help Me to Feel and A Greater Destiny?
Initially, because Mom wanted so badly to have them published . . ..
All my young life Mom shared dreams of getting her history published. She devoted every spare moment to getting her memories on paper, and she shared chapters with anyone who would listen. Amongst her papers, I have a folder of rejection letters from many publishers over many years. I felt driven to fulfill her dream posthumously.
Eventually, because I became convinced they are books that can change hearts . . ..
Mom wanted to change the world, but instead she was too busy wiping little noses, being the mayor’s wife, or irrigating a cherry orchard. And yet the more I read her thoughts, her stories, her insights, her poetry, her passions, I believe she still can change the world, and I want to help her.
Why did it take you so long to publish?
Waiting until after retirement to begin my writing career has been good for me. Now, without paycheck employment, small children, or other traditional demands on my time, I can concentrate without distraction . . .. For me, such a time commitment was not possible until I retired and was financially comfortable. Perhaps, more importantly, I have gained the maturity I believe is essential for good writing, especially when writing about relationships. I am more compassionate and wiser than I was when I was thirty.
When will A Greater Destiny be released?
I hope the third book in Mom’s trilogy, A Greater Destiny, will be released early in 2022 . . .. A Greater Destiny, covers Mom’s continuing adventures with her “kids” (actually her brothers and sisters), a broken engagement, an unexpected and unconventional mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and life up until she marries.
Will there be other books about Helen?
It is my current plan that other books based on Mom’s copious diaries and letters will follow . . ..In the boxes Mom left are thousands of saved letters, notes, and plans for the rest of her story until her story becomes merged with my own. If I am able to complete it, the history will include more books covering Mom's early married life with a ready-made daughter and the births of two more; a move to the top secret Washington Hanford Project for World War II and the frontier life encountered there; my dad becoming mayor for the brand new city of Richland; the birth of another daughter and finally a son; their move to Benton City and transition from city life to a farm; the renovation of an ancient farm house for our family to live in; the births of two bonus babies (me being one of those); and many more adventures. If there seems to be interest, I will also publish Mom’s book of poetry. It is a relatively short but insightful collection.
Will there be other books NOT about Helen?
Hopefully, many...
- Faith in Adversity, the biography of Alice Ann Kimball Smith
Before her death, Mom asked me to write her grandmother’s history. I had this project in mind for my first book, but Mom’s history demanded too loudly to be finished. Now that I’ve worked on Mom’s history, I understand why. Knowing my mother’s perspective about her grandmother will help me complete Alice’s history more compassionately. I don’t have as much information about Alice as I do my mother, but I have many source documents written by Alice and other resources. As the daughter of Heber C. Kimball and wife to Joseph F. Smith, and prominent in her own achievements, Alice was well-known in the early days of Salt Lake City. - One Ringy Dinghy (working title)
This is the first novel I wrote (many years ago). It is a murder mystery written in the style of Agatha Christie, and unlike most of my other books, is not based on actual family history. It is possible I will eventually dust it off and publish it. I thought it was clever! - Love Letters
A romantic novel, mostly in my head, but a story wanting to be told. - A Friend in My Lap
Mom had always planned to write a book about all the animals she grew to love throughout her life. If I find enough of her notes, I might try finishing this one for her as well. It would be a collection of short stories in the style of James Herriot. I have quite a few of my own recollections to add.
Possible Children’s Books
I have always wanted to try my hand at writing high interest, low vocabulary (HI-LO) books for the reluctant reader. All of the following would fit into that category.
- First Voyage
An interactive, short, ‘true’ story about Columbus and America. It is already written, but not yet published. I might also do others of a similar type if there is interest. (seven- to ten-year-olds) - Scary Stories for a Stormy Night
Mostly in my head, but who doesn’t like a good ghost story? This will be a collection of short stories. (eight and up) - The Christmas Book
An advent book including music, poetry, stories, and scripture building up to the night of our Savior’s birth. (family) - Redneck Games (working title)
Historical fiction roughly based on my youth growing up in rural Washington State in the ’60s. (eight and up