My Writing anchor

A few weeks ago I interviewed well known Wisconsin author, Jerry Apps, on my show – My World and Welcome To It broadcast on 103.5 FM The Sun Radio. 

Over the years 85 year old Apps has done enough media interviews to make him the perfect guest.  He is relaxed, a natural storyteller, and brutally honest.  He recently completed a non-fiction book on the history of the Civilian Conservation Corp in Wisconsin.  He admitted on air that he didn’t enjoy writing the book, didn’t find the topic particularly interesting but had been convinced by his publisher (University of Wisconsin Press) that the book needed to be written.
​
During our conversation I asked Jerry what one thread linked all his writing in various genres.  Jerry writes fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, memoir, memoir and articles for two agricultural magazines and posts a blog on his website every week.  Without hesitation he explained that all of his writing focus in some manner on rural issues and how rural life has changed.  I was surprised and asked him to give examples from his children books and fiction.  Again, without hesitation, he shared several examples.
 
I reflected on his answer and decided the core of his success as an author was that he had an anchor – rural America.  I thought my writing would have more depth and meaning if I too had an anchor.  While my first three novels all take place in Ireland, Ireland is not the anchor.  I thought back to when I developed my web page eleven years ago and wrote a brief statement on why I write.