I'm excited to announce the blog tour for Trespassers and Other Stories by Áine Greaney. This book is perfect for readers who like contemporary fiction that spans cultures (Ireland and America) and character age groups (characters ages 16 – 76). You'll especially enjoy it if you love reading women characters facing issues of identity, family disruption, and displacement.
Today, we're sharing an interview with author and giving you a chance to win a copy of the novel!
Before we interview the author, here's a bit more about the book:
From coastal Massachusetts to rural Ireland, the characters in Trespassers struggle to reconcile past and present, place and displacement, loss and hope.
A woman travels from her Massachusetts home to her native Irish village to care for her estranged and sick father. Back in her childhood home, she comes face-to-face with previously unspoken losses.
A wealthy couple travels to Cape Cod to spend their 52nd summer on the wife's ancestral estate. On their private beach above Nantucket Sound, the husband must confront the realities of their long marriage and its social-class tensions.
An Irish immigrant takes her American-born teen to a raucous Boston house party. At that party, the teenager discovers that her mother had lied about her child's birth father—a lie that will permanently divide the mother and daughter.
PUBLISHER: Sea Crow Press
ISBN-10: 1961864207
ISBN-13 978-1961864207
Print Length: 130 pages
You can purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author, Áine Greaney
An Irish native, Áine Greaney now lives and writes in the Boston area. In addition to her five published books, her short works have appeared in Creative Nonfiction, Salon, Another Chicago Magazine, The Boston Globe Magazine, The New York Times, Books Ireland, NPR/WBUR and other publications.
As well as being an author, Greaney is a trained teacher who has designed and led fiction and non-fiction workshops, presentations and keynotes for regional, national and international organizations.
Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, cited in Best American Essays and named a ‘Great Group Read’ by the Women’s National Book Association.
You can find her online at:
WOW: It's like you found your literary community! Drifting away from your short story collection a bit, your book Writer With a Day Job spoke to me. How do you balance your day job with writing?
Website: https://www.ainegreaney.com
Instagram: ainegreaney
Bluesky: ainegreaney.bsky
Facebook: Aine Greaney, Writer
Threads: ainegreaney
- Interview by Nicole Pyles
WOW: First of all, congrats on your short story collection. What inspired you to put this collection together?
Áine: Thank you. I got the idea for this collection when, during a rare bout of house cleaning, I came across some of my old short stories in print literary magazines. As I stood next to my bookshelves, it felt like I was reading a stranger’s work. Also, I noticed a recurring pattern: Across these stories, the main characters (mostly women and ranging in age from 17 to 77) all found themselves in uncomfortable or misfit places.
When I switched on my laptop to read through some stories in progress, here was that same theme of displacement. So I knew that I had to roll up my sleeves to edit and finish the stories and that this collection would be about places (Ireland and Massachusetts).
WOW: I love finding an ongoing theme in my work. It tells me so much about my writing. You have some incredible successes under your belt. What have you learned that you can share with us about how to make a short story capture a reader?
Áine: I learned the opening scenes or pages have to draw the reader in, while also subtly orienting the reader to the story’s place, era and characters. Also, the opening scenes must present or hint at the story’s central conflict. Through vivid language and precise word choices, we are inviting the reader to come on board and join us for this virtual and immersive reality tour through our fictional world.
Recently, I read that this is about more than a literary journey or entertainment. Neuroscience says that, as a scene unfolds on the page or screen, our brains and nervous systems can react accordingly. But these neuro-responses won’t happen unless our opening scenes are meticulously crafted—which means some wild writing but careful editing.
WOW: How interesting! I never knew that. Did you have to go back and do any extensive revisions to your stories?
Áine: Oh, gosh, yes! On that house-cleaning day, when I read those old stories, I realized just how much we change as readers and as writers. In some cases, I saw how overwritten the stories were.
Meanwhile, those unfinished stories in my laptop needed what I call “macro editing.” In one story, the opening scene became the closing scene. Another opening scene got moved to half way into the story. Once I had made these architectural changes, I reached for my red pen to do multiple rounds of micro-editing. And I mean, “multiple rounds!”
WOW: That must have been such a rewarding process. I loved reading more about you in your author Q&A on your website. How did moving to America change your writing career and direction?
Áine: I’m an almost lifelong reader, so once I settled into my first landing place in upstate New York, I scouted out the town’s local library and independent book shop. In that main street shop, I found “The Middleman and Other Stories,” a fiction collection by the late and wonderful author Bharati Mukherjee. As well as her writing style, Mukherjee’s stories about immigrants in America really, really spoke to me.
A few years later, mostly on a lark, I decided to apply for a fiction-intensive fellowship at the local state university. As part of the application, I had to write, finish and submit a short story. I got accepted, and, on the first night there, the teacher-author said that he’d assumed from my submitted story that I was (a) male and (b) British and (c) at least 75 years old.
This was over three decades ago now, but looking back, I think that Mukherjee’s stories about the experience of straddling countries and cultures—coupled with being in a community of fiction writers in that class—gave me the courage to get and keep writing.
WOW: Ha, I can't help but laugh about what your teacher said at the time. I'm so glad you kept going with your writing. You describe yourself as being an immigrant author. How does that guide the stories you write and the readers you interact with?
Áine: Especially in the early years or decade here in America, I lived my life in a kind of liminal space between my new and native countries and cultures. Now, there are days when I see or hear nothing to remind me of my past life in Ireland. Other days, a sight or sound or an extra vivid night dream will instantly transport me back to childhood. This juxtaposition between past and present and between native and adopted countries keeps me writing.
When I read other immigrant writers, the authors’ words and stories often mirror my own dual-realities. The literature of displacement makes me feel less displaced.
Áine: I’ve written all of my books, stories and essays while working a day job—which is what inspired me to write my instructional book! I’m a morning writer, so I get up an hour or more before I have to get ready for work. I also keep my day job and my creative work very separate—both in my mind and in daily life. Since our pandemic, I’ve been working two part-time jobs—as a communications specialist for a non-profit health organization and as a writing-workshop instructor. Both are (mostly) work from home roles, which is wonderful. Deleting the commute time gives us back a big slice of creative time. Finally, it helps to keep what I call “a writers mission,” and to keep reminding ourselves that writing is who we are.
WOW: As someone who used to have an hour commute to and from work, and now works from home, gaining those two hours back is a life changer. That brings me to one of my favorite questions to ask writers: what does your writing space like?
Áine: For the generative work such as journaling, first drafts, or general scribbling, I use an attic room in my house where I’ve placed a small writing table. An American friend told me it’s an old vanity table, but trust me, early in the morning before work, there’s nothing beautiful or vain about what gets written there! For my second drafts and those macro and micro edits, I print up the manuscript and walk to a local café or our local public library. Getting out of the house helps with the switcheroo from day-job to writer. It also helps me to switch from writer mode into critical reader mode.
WOW: I think that's a wonderful balance for your writing routines. Thank you so much Áine for taking the time to talk with us today. Best of luck on your tour!
-- Blog Tour Calendar
March 24 @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Áine Greaney's blog tour for her short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories. Read an interview with the author and enter a giveaway for the book.
March 27 @ Bookroom Reviews
Visit Dick's blog for a guest post by about the origins of stories: where fictional ideas and inspirations come from.
April 1 @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog again for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 2 @ Create Write Now
Join Mari for a blog post by Áine Greaney about how to set up and stick to a writing schedule.
April 2 @ The Mommies Reviews
Join Glenda for a guest post by Áine Greaney about Willie Nelson's three rules and how they apply to writing.
April 5 @ Renee Roberson's blog
Visit Renee's blog for her response to the author's prompt about when she was in an uncomfortable, misfit place or setting or a place or setting where she could never be her true self.
April 8 @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for a guest post by Áine Greaney about how she got started as a writer.
April 9 @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Stop by Beverley's blog for a guest post by Áine Greaney about being a dual-genre writer.
April 10 @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for her interview with author, Áine Greaney.
April 11 @ Renee Roberson's blog
Join Renee for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 12 @ Boys' Moms Reads!
Visit Karen's blog today for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 13 @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan's blog for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 14 @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy's blog for an excerpt from Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 16 @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Visit Beverley for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 16 @ The Mommies Reviews
Visit Glenda's blog again for her review of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 17 @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra's blog for a spotlight of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 19 @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Join Linda's blog for an in-depth interview with Áine Greaney about her short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 20 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for a guest post by Áine Greaney about being a writer with a day job.
April 21 @ StoreyBook Reviews
Visit Leslie's blog for an excerpt from Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 22 @ Frugal Freelancer
Sara joins in the tour by responding to our tour-themed prompt of a time when she was in an uncomfortable, misfit place or setting or a place or setting where she could never be her true self.
April 23 @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole when she shares her response to a tour-themed prompt of a time when she was a misfit. Plus, she shares her thoughts of Áine Greaney's short story collection, Trespassers and Other Stories.
April 25 @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post from Áine Greaney on finding and keeping the joy in writing.
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to win a print copy of Trespassers and Other Stories by Áine Greaney! Fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends April 6th at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!
7 comments:
Wonderful interview! I love it when I find my old writing and it feels like a stranger's work! That's great advice to make sure our opening scenes include the story's central conflict, and I'm going to revisit all my unpublished stories and make sure they do. I love the idea of getting out of the house and editing to reset your brain. Thanks for all the great advice, Áine! Congratulations on your book, and good luck on your tour!
Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
Thanks so much, Angela. Glad you enjoyed it. It's easier when you have such a thoughtful interviewer! Hope your writing is going well.
Thank you, Heather. I've kept a journal for many years. I don't write in it every day, but at least twice per week. I also keep a little list journal for those days when I just don't want to do any personal writing. Do you keep a journal?
l have wrote in a journal every day for 52 years.
Sounds like a great read. Will definitely be adding it to my list.
Thank you, Ashley. I hope you enjoy it.
Post a Comment