Sally Whitney
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
Author I draw inspiration from: I draw inspiration from several authors for different reasons. The first is Anthony Doerr for his elegant use of language. The entire time I was reading All the Light We Cannot See, I marveled at the way he puts words together. It’s like poetry. The second is Lee Smith for the way she’s able to capture the essence of southern characters and places in all her stories and novels. The South has an aura all its own, and it’s one thing to feel it, but to be able to convey it the way she does is remarkable. The third is Barbara Kingsolver for her ability to address important issues in her stories and novels so skillfully. Her concern for the environment is palpable in her work but never detracts from the characters or the stories.
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
Favorite place to read a book: In my bed. And a cozy chair near my fireplace is a close second.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Julia Springer from the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. I’m sure she’d tell plenty of stories to keep me entertained while we waited to be released, plus she’s really funny. And if we wanted to discuss politics, we’d have lots to argue about because she’s a fan of Fox News.
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: I think I’ve always known. I’ve loved stories since the first time I heard one, and creating them has always been fun. It’s something I have to do. The hard part is the work it takes to do it right.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Definitely paperback. I like the feel of the book in my hands and the appearance of the words on the page. The light weight and portability of paperbacks make them preferable to hardbacks. They also require less space to store. I’m also a fan of audiobooks, especially when I’m driving. It makes me antsy if I have to drive very far without a book to listen to. One of my favorite narrators is Joshilyn Jackson reading the novels she writes. She totally nails the voice of every character.
The last book I read: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. It’s a terrific psychological thriller that grabbed me on the first page and never let me go. Theo, who’s one of the two narrators, is particularly intriguing. And there’s a twist at the end that I never saw coming.
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
Pen & paper or computer: Computer all the way. I sometimes wonder how people wrote books in the days before cut-and-paste, find, delete, and track changes. Also, my handwriting is terrible.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Dixie Clay Holliver, the bootlegger in The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly. I love that she's tough enough to make her own way in the world in a traditionally male occupation and yet tender enough to take in an abandoned baby to care for.
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
If I wasn’t an author, I’d be a: journalist or an editor. I’ve worked as both and enjoyed what I was doing most of the time. The environment is usually more collaborative than the solitary work of writing a book, and that can be a lot of fun.
Favorite decade in fashion history: The 1920s. I think I could have totally rocked one of those drop-waist flapper dresses with all the fringe and beads. I love long necklaces, and of course, I’d have to have a felt cloche hat that I’d wear with the brim pulled down to my eyebrows. The bright colors were exhilarating and the loose-fitting clothes very freeing. Everything I’d want in an outfit.
Place I’d most like to travel: Florence, Italy, when COVID-19 is no longer a threat. I’ve seen a lot of Europe, but never Italy. I want to see the beautiful architecture of the basilicas and cathedrals, plus the sculpture and paintings in the galleries and museums.
My signature drink: extra dry gin martini straight up with an olive
Favorite artist: Andrew Wyeth. His paintings of friends and familiar places really speak to me. My favorite is “Wind from the Sea.” It’s just an open window with the breeze coming in and lifting the sheer curtains, but it has such energy and wistfulness. I’m lucky to live not too far from the Brandywine River Museum of Art, which houses a large collection of Wyeth’s paintings.
Number one on my bucket list: Win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Anything else you'd like to add: I’m actually borrowing this from Karin Tanabe, who appeared here on April 15, but I feel the same way: There are a lot of books out there, and I’m always very appreciative when someone chooses one of mine.
Find more from the author:
Website: Sallywhitney.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/Sallymwhitney
Twitter: @1SallyWhitney
Instagram: @SMWhitney65
Author Interview - Sally Whitney
