JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Boyd Lemon, author of Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages
(Outskirts Press)
Digging Deep is a memoir about Boyd Lemon’s role in the destruction of his three marriages. This is a journey to understand one man’s role in marriages that ended in divorce, confusion, bitterness and blame.
The Pearl in the Oyster has been the journey of the writing, for the writer himself, and the peace that writing has brought him. Lemon lived on the cusp of the moralistic generation that grew up in the 1940s and 50s and the next generation that embraced sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, as well as equality and independence for women. The transition rocked all pretenses of his working class upbringing.
The writer’s hope is that revealing the path of his own struggle to clarity and peace leads others to their own awakening, as so many modern couples and individuals deal with understanding and defining the new order in relationships, as well as facing their own past.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages?
Boyd Lemon: I had finished 15 or so short stories, and I yearned to write a novel. My writing mentor advised me that she didn’t think I was ready to write a novel, but she suggested I write a memoir about my three marriages.
“There’s gold there,” she said. So I started it. I showed her the first draft, and she told me to throw it away and start over. I got inspired during the writing of the second draft when I started digging into my role in the destruction of those marriages.
JP: What sets Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages apart from other books in the same genre?
BL: It is brutally honest, holding nothing back of relevance in complex relationships and can help others understand and face issues in their own relationships. In the process, it is entertaining and in places humorous.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages getting out to the public?
BL: Exposing it to as many people as possible that I think are in my target market.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages?
BL: I wrote nearly every day for two years, but it took me ten drafts to get it as right as I could get it. I also had a lot of help from my mentor and from three editors.
JP: What’s next for Boyd Lemon?
BL: I’m writing another memoir, this one about retirement.
http://www.boydlemon-writer.com/
http://www.facebook.com/boydlemon
http://www.twitter.com/boydlemon
http://www.LinkedIn.com/boydlemon
Writing this book was emotionally excruciating, but in the end, tremendously healing.
[include file=current-advertisers.html]
ONE of the first five people to comment on Boyd Lemon’s author interview will win a free copy of Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages.
(Meaning, each different person who comments on the interview counts as one.)
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of the book.
1) Rick Bylina
2) Brian
3) ???
4) ???
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. ONE of the first FIVE people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.
(Any one can comment, but you must have a mailing addres in the U.S. to recieve physical copies of the book.)
I find it very interesting that Mr. Lemon has a writing coach, and a person that he trusts with his writing career. I know it had to be mixed emotions when he was told to pause the mission to write a novel in lieu of writing a memoir.
I also find it compelling that he threw the first rough draft away and did re-writes 10 times in order to perfect his work. Very commendable.
I’m sre the proof is in the pudding and Digging Deep is a quality work.
I believe everyone should find a strong critique group or a writing mentor with a good critical eye. It is so hard to find one’s own errors whether they be simple grammatical issues or loosing the arc of the story. Writers are often too deeply invested to be able to step back and see the quality of their investment. Mr. Lemon was wise to seek and fortunate to find a quality mentor. So many self-published writers need to follow his lead.
Thank you, Rick, for your insight. It’s true, writers often can’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to their own writing. This is where others come into play.
Rick, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t think I could have ever written my book without a great mentor who critiqued my writing, but also encouraged me to keep going, as well as a professional editor. If you win the free copy of my book, I hope you enjoy it and will consider writing a critique and posting it on Amazon.
critique is essential, especially if you can find the right group and not those just out to make themselves look good…i am intrigued by your ‘brutal honesty’ will check out your book….
Interesting….