biography
Susanna Moodie Q&A by Anne Cimon
Anne Cimon, author of Susanna Moodie: Pioneer Author, one of the Canadian biographies in our Quest Library series, recently told us about her inspiration and writing life.
Tell us about your book.
My book is entitled Susanna Moodie and it is a biography of the nineteenth century Canadian writer Susanna Moodie.
How did you come up with the idea for this work?
I have been interested in Susanna Moodie’s works and her life since reading Margaret Atwood’s collection of poetry The Journals of Susanna Moodie in the early seventies. When I was asked to write a biography of a famous Canadian for the Quest Library Series I eagerly chose Susanna Moodie as my subject.
Tell us a little about the overarching theme of your work, and why you felt compelled to explore it.
I wanted to focus on Susanna Moodie’s extraordinary life as an author. She survived being a writer in a colony which had little interest in writing or publishing and she pioneered Canadian literature.
Did you have a specific readership in mind when you wrote your book?
The books in the Quest Library Series is aimed at a general audience and students.
What was the creative process like for you?
It was a very intense, all-encompassing experience to dedicate myself to a biography of such a strong and autobiographical writer who has the power to inspire me as a writer today.
Describe your ideal writing environment.
Often, it is the kitchen table in the evening after supper, when the bustle of the day has quietened.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The double and triple and endless checking of dates and facts was hardest for me as I am used to writing poetry which is not based on fact (or rarely).
What was your first publication?
My first book, A Skin of Snow, is a novella with poems published in 1981.
Has a review or profile ever changed your perspective on your work?
A positive review really motivates me to keep writing and not look back.
Who did you read as a young adult?
I remember reading plays by Tenessee Williams, and novels by Paul Gallico
and Taylor Caldwell.
What are you reading right now?
A biography entitled Nightingales by Gillian Gill about Florence Nightingale.
What is your next project?
My next project is a novel set in contemporary Montreal.
For those interested in learning more about Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill, Library and Archives Canada has a comprehensive website.
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About the author
Margaret is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Dundurn Press. A resident of the inner city, she's really a lover of regional history, country fairs and canoe trips.
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