In this episode, it was such a joy to talk with Mimi Herman about her debut novel, The Kudzu Queen. It was a book I just could not put down and found myself thinking of the characters in between reading sessions.

She shared so much wisdom and practical advice including:

How she came to write this historical fiction novel.

The way that poetry has influenced her prose and the different reasons she has for writing poetry and fiction.

How she first fell in love with writing and knew she wanted to be a writer.

How to find your way back to writing after you’ve gotten away from it.

I think you’ll really enjoy hearing about her writing process and what she does with any writing she takes out of a book or poem. She also shared some great insights about how to make a scene or a character or a setting really come to life.

Once you’ve listened, you may feel inspired to make progress on your own book! If that’s the case, sign up for my brand-new program Your Book Roadmap. We start on June 5th, and by the end of the summer, you'll have a clear book outline and your first chapter DONE. Plus, you'll have created a habit of writing consistently that feels easy and joyful, rather than stressful or overwhelming. Register at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com/news-blog/your-book-roadmap

About Mimi:

Mimi Herman is a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist, director of the United Arts Council Arts Integration Institute and co-director of Writeaways writing workshops in France, Italy and New Mexico. She has taught in the Masters of Education programs at Lesley University, served as the 2017 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate and has been an associate editor for Teaching Artists Journal since 1990. She has engaged over 25,000 students and teachers with her warm and intuitive teaching style. Mimi holds a BA from the University of North Carolina and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson. She's the author of the beautiful novel The Kudzu Queen, as well as A Field Guide to Human Emotions, Logophilia and The Art of Learning. Her writing has appeared in many journals, and she has also performed her fiction and poetry at numerous venues, including Why There Are Words in Sausalito, Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh and Symphony Space in New York City. Find her at www.mimiherman.com.

Episode 51: Interview with JD Spero

Thriving Authors PodcastBy Dallas WoodburnMar 11, 2022