Our August author is Jean Perry.

Jean Perry has a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from New York University and a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), a retired elementary school teacher, and former reporter for the New York Daily News. Mozay of Pepperwick is historical fiction, loosely based on the story her aunt told her about her grandfather.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Mozay of Pepperwick, you can find it here.

Tell us a little about your writing journey.

My writing journey began when, at age 9, I wrote a poem titled “My Rosary.” My sister said she didn’t believe I wrote it. But my mother, a secretary, typed it up. I gave it to a nun who was beyond pleased and shared with her Sisters.

Your book, Mozay of Pepperwick, is based loosely on the story your aunt told you about your grandfather – wow! How did you decide to take that story and turn it into a book?

After Alex Haley’s book and the television version of ROOTS, there was a mad dash to learn one’s ancestry. I questioned my Aunt Ann who told me my grandfather was chosen to be a valet and companion to a planter’s son and so received seven years of schooling.

She said, “He said he often knew the answers when his charge did not.”

The story grew from there. Attending a family reunion in South Carolina led me to return to do research in the University of South Carolina’s Caroliniana Library. If you go to my Mozay of Pepperwick page on Facebook, you will see the man upon whom I based the Mozay character - my grandfather, Moses Perry.

An aside – how thrilling it was to find his name mentioned in a book on the very first day I visited that library. Elloree Home I Love is also on my Mozay of Pepperwick page. A photograph shows many of my relatives including my father Nathaniel when he was about age two.

Kind of in that same vein, I’m curious: when you began writing, how did it feel knowing that much of it was true? Especially that someone in your not-too-distant family experienced the (or similar) people and places, and being a slave?

I admire my ancestors for living the best lives they could during slavery and segregation – doing the best they could with what they had.

Mozay’s voice is defined and articulate, but still relatable as you hear what he’s thinking. His voice is one of the reasons you want to know more about his life! How did you develop his voice?

I grew up in the ‘40’s and 50’s, eras where children did not speak unless spoken to. That gave me a high degree of listening comprehension. So my ear linked to the part of my brain that writes down what my own voice says. I did not consciously aim to develop a voice.

I listen to myself and write down what God delivers. I experience this process as a download. I have to write fast and sloppy to get it down. I can compose on the computer but for more difficult, personal content I go long-hand.

Slavery and freedom are two main themes throughout the novel. How did you balance talking about some of the darker realities of slavery Mozay (and the other characters) experienced with the novel being middle grade?

It’s in the Middle Grade category, but to me its upper Middle Grade and up. I’ve had many positive responses from adults who’ve read the book.

Since the advent of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games many adults started reading Young Adult books, and I just read somewhere that adults are choosing to listen to Middle Grade audio books. They are relatively short and easy to follow which, I guess, makes good company in the car.

What was your research process for the book? Since it’s based on real people and places, did that help your research?

I went to Columbia, South Carolina to the Caroliniana Library, the UCLA Library, and the USC Library. I researched online. One prompt led to another and I realized I could research forever, so I started confining my research to material I would use in the story.

If readers want to know more about Mozay, Pepperwick Plantation, or the other people and places in the book, do you have a good starting point of where they can look?

The book is historical fiction so there’s no Mozay and no Pepperwick. Readers interested in the life of slaves in 1850s South Carolina can use the resources in the References section of the book.

For those who want to visit plantations, South Carolina and other southern states offer tours. Research the state of your choice, using the prompt “tour plantations.”

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

Sit down and write. Buy a journal, keep it in the same place so you can find it, and jot down thoughts when they come to you. You don’t need complete sentences, or perfect grammar or spelling – just jot down whatever comes to mind.

Also use clippings or print outs from online research. Dissect books you like to learn about setting, timeline, protagonist, and antagonist. Figure out who wants what. Why? And who’s blocking them from reaching their goal? What happens at the climax? At the crisis? At the resolution?

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

Procrastination was a big block for me. Once you start to write regularly, you build up a momentum that overcomes, or at least challenges, procrastination.

What is the part of your published work or writing process you’re most proud of?

Perseverance and momentum got me over the finish line. Oh, and saying no to perfection. That comes when you delete your “darlings” those beautiful sentences that add nothing to plot.

Do you have any new writing projects in the works? If so, would you tell us a little about them?

Yes, I have a draft, but I learned so much in writing and finishing Mozay of Pepperwick, that it isn’t very useful. Instead, I’m getting to know my lead character better and paying more attention to writing a plot outline that’s true to the story, while leaving room for my surprise downloads that occur without warning.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Read! These books have helped me tremendously:

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Plot Whisperer & The Plot Whisperer Workbook by Martha Alderson
On Writing by Stephen King
This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Moseley
Second Sight by Cheryl B. Klein

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about telling a story that’s near and dear to them, but isn’t quite sure they can do it?

You will never know your strengths and limitations until you try. So go forward and don’t stop until you have a fist draft. Do not keep returning to the beginning and fixing it.

It’s likely you won’t know what you’re writing until you finish. Once you have a draft, then read, consider joining a writers group, and take writing classes.

If you would like to purchase Jean Perry’s book, Mozay of Pepperwick, you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com or submit a suggestion here.

Historical Fiction Author Jean Perry Discusses Research, Writing, & Perseverance