Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us (my book review here) has graciously given us a wonderful interview that you don’t want to miss.  So without further ado, please welcome Tina Ann Forker . . .

Maw Books:  Take a moment to introduce yourself to your readers.

Tina Ann Forkner: Besides writing, I’m a mother, a wife, and a gardener (though not a very good one). I also really enjoy serving on the foundation board of directors for my local library and also spend a good deal of time there with my family.

Maw Books:  What was the ‘spark’ for Ruby Among Us?

Tina Ann Forkner: Back when I was attending college, I lived in Sacramento, California. I loved spending time meandering through the Sonoma Valley on weekends. I knew that one day I would write about that setting, although I wasn’t sure how. The relationship side of the story was inspired by experiences that I either went through or saw others go through. For example, I was a single mom for awhile and it changed my entire world view. That journey definitely sparked the idea for Ruby Among Us.

Maw Books:  How would you classify Ruby Among Us?  Women’s fiction?  Christian fiction?  Neither?  Or do you like to not classify at all?

Tina Ann Forkner: I would classify Ruby Among Us as Women’s Fiction because I write about women’s relationships and the issues and complexities that go with them. The underlying thread in all of my writing so far is the search for hope. The desire for hope that ends up in my novels is probably due to the hopelessness I’ve felt in my own life at times and also because of my Christian beliefs. Like any writer, parts of who I am as a human being will inevitably show up in my stories. I’m fine with that. In the times we are living right now, we can all use a little more hope.

Maw Books:  Each woman in Ruby Among Us has an amazing talent, whether it be music, quilting, literature, etc.  Besides writing, what would your amazing talent be?

Tina Ann Forkner: I am sorry to say I don’t have any amazing talents, which is probably why I made the three women in the novel so remarkably gifted.  My only talent is writing. Maybe with some practice, years, and hopefully some wisdom, it will grow to be amazing. I’m only on my second book, so I still have room to improve.

Maw Books:  I’d say you are off to a great start!  I love, love, love to garden. Did I say love?  It’s apparent from your book that you do as well.  What is it that you love about gardening so much?

Tina Ann Forkner: Me too! I love everything about gardening. I’m not very good at it, so I made Kitty the equivalent of a Master Gardener. That’s one of things I love about creating characters. I can give them qualities I wish I had.

What I love about it most is that even when I live in town, with a garden I still have a little piece of nature in my own back yard. I love digging my hands into the earth and watching a seed that I planted grow into something lovely. It’s just a very small way that I can try to bring nature closer.

Maw Books:  You give me heart palpitations when you say you made her like a Master Gardener.  Whenever I tell somebody that I am a Master Gardener myself, they give me strange looks.  But what am I to say?  I didn’t make the title up!  Sigh . . . can we be best friends?  Can we go dig in the dirt together?  What role does gardening play in Ruby Among Us?

Tina Ann Forkner: To some readers, the gardens represent the start of a new life for the characters as secrets are exposed. Gardening is also the one thing that the primary character, Kitty, can control, or at least try to.

I’ve heard other readers say the thorny vines of the roses as representative of how Kitty’s secrets try to choke out the truth, but like the tender roses that bloom, the beauty and hope of life is still possible.

I think those things are really good explanations, but I see gardening as something that unites the women in the story. It is one of the few things Kitty brings from the past and passes on to Ruby and Lucy.

Maw Books:  What surprised you most about your book and/or characters as you were writing? Did anything turn out radically different than you’d originally thought it would?

Tina Ann Forkner: I was surprised at how Kitty really tried to take over the story. Lucy is telling the story, but Kitty really inhabits the novel. She is the key to everything and I didn’t realize that would happen.

Maw Books:  What is the significance of the names Lucy and Ruby – in general and specifically to each other?  (Okay, so I stole this one from the readers guide, but I really want to know the answer!)

Tina Ann Forkner: One thing I wanted to do was show that Ruby saw herself as sort of hard and cold, but she saw Lucy as her light into the world. Lucy stands for Lucero, the goddess of light in legends, so Ruby chose it purposely.

Lucy’s full name is Maria Lucero DiCamillo. Ruby tried to make Lucy’s name evocative of the Latina side of her heritage by making her first name Maria and then shortening her middle name to Lucy as a sort of nickname.

Maw Books:  That all makes perfect sense.  Thank you!  What do you enjoy most about serving on the foundation board of directors at your local library?  And what role does libraries play in your writing?

Tina Ann Forkner: There are so many things I enjoy about serving on the foundation board, but mostly I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I have contributed to something that brings literacy to the public. The communities in Wyoming really do support their libraries and it’s great to be a part of it. My library, the Laramie County Library, even received the Impact Library of the Year Award from the American Library Association in 2008. The entire community is really excited about that. As for my writing, being around any library is always inspiring. Just being around people who love and support books does a lot for my creativity.

Maw Books:  Do you have a particular writing process or any writing rituals?

Tina Ann Forkner: I have to write the full draft beginning to end before I know where it’s going. My outline always comes after the book is completed, so it’s a very organic process for me. I also love to have music on and something hot to drink. I prefer to write near a sunny window with my laptop, but recently my laptop died, so I’m stuck at my PC.

Maw Books:  What was it like to be a debut author in 2008?

Tina Ann Forkner: Of course it was fun to see my book in stores and at the library, to participate in interviews like this one, etc., but one of the best parts has been seeing the response of my community. Having a community to celebrate with, encourage me, and yes, remind me that I am still just Tina, has been great.

Maw Books:  I ask all authors to share a favorite recipe of theirs, especially if the dish appeared in the book.  I noticed that you had the recipe for Kitty’s Mantecada cookies and would love to share this recipe with my readers.  Is there anything that you’d like to say about this recipe/cookie?

Tina Ann Forkner: I was looking for a recipe that would show that Kitty had not erased her entire heritage, even though she was so intent on doing so. Since Kitty’s dad was from Spain and her mother was of Mexican heritage, Mantecadas were the perfect cookie. I fancy that Kitty would have made Mantecadas with her own mother when she was growing up on the vineyard as a child. 

The recipe I’m giving you was used by some friends of mine to make hundreds of Mantecadas for my launch party. The Mantecadas were a huge hit. There is an actual picture of the ones served at my launch party on my web site. They were as delicious as they look in the photo.

(RECIPE FOUND AT THE END OF INTERVIEW)

Maw Books:  Can you tell us about your next novel, Rose House?  And what are plans going forward?

Tina Ann Forkner: Rose House, also from Waterbrook Press/Random House will be out the end of May. It stands on its own, but it is definitely a thread that started in Ruby Among Us. It definitely helps to read Ruby Among Us first so you can really familiarize yourself with the actual Rose House that was born in my first novel. Here’s a description of it:

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Amid a tangle of rose blooms and thorns, widow Lillian Diamon’s private moment of grief is captured in a painting on display in a present-day, Sonoma Valley, California, art gallery. Her quest to find the artist unravels a greater mystery changing everything about her loss and her future.

Available May 2009

As for future plans, I am working on three other books. One is about the Sonoma Valley and two are about new topics. I plan to keep writing novels for as long as people want to read my books. You can keep up with my books at www.tinaannforkner.com

Maw Books:  Thank you!!  What a wonderful interview!

Tina Ann Forkner: Thank you for the interview. It was fun. I love the blog. Happy Reading!

In Ruby Among Us, by Tina Ann Forkner, Kitty makes Lucy’s favorite cookie. Here is the recipe that the author’s friends Kim, Kathie, and Lynn used to make dozens of these delicious cookies for her launch party. Make them for your book club or just to enjoy. (The picture (above) is of the actual mantecadas at Forkner’s launch party. They used Almond Extract instead of the Anise flavored liquere)

Kitty’s Mantecadas (From the Novel, Ruby Among Us)
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more to sprinkle after baking
Pinch of salt
¾ cup chilled, good quality lard or unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (May also use ½ cup butter and ¼ cup lard)
2/3 cup toasted almonds, ground
1 teaspoon Almond Extract OR 2 Tablespoons anise-flavored liqueur

1. Combine flour, 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, and salt in food processor. Add lard or butter and pulse until the pastry resembles coarse crumbs. Blend in almonds, add liqueur, and process for several pulses more until dough just begins to come together. It should not form into a ball.

2. Place mixture in large bowl; press into ball. (If pastry is still too crumbly to stick together, wait a few minutes until the butter softens a little.) Cover ball with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1½ hours.

3. Line two cookie sheets with parchment. Break off walnut-size pieces of dough; briefly roll dough piece between palms to form 3-inch ropes. Bend ropes into crescent shapes and place on cookie sheets. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

5. Place cookie sheets in middle of oven and bake until crescents are light, golden (12-15 minutes).

6. Cool on wire rack.

To serve, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Makes about Four dozen. Can store in airtight container in cool place for up to one week.

Mmm . .  I’m going to make these soon!  Watch for them here!  Also, don’t forget that I am giving away a copy of Ruby Among Us.  Enter by visiting the book review here. And visit Visit Tina Ann Forkner’s website.

Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!