Marriage and Monuments: Writing About Lives in Chaos

In this episode of Why Authors Write, Mary Cronin talks with historical novelist Virginia Pye about why she likes to write about private lives and intimate relationships pressured by public upheaval and change.  Virginia shares her secrets for completing complex storylines, and talks about how she transformed decades of publisher rejection into a series of bestselling books.The conversation moves from the appeal of historical settings and portraying memorable characters surviving in times of crisis  to heartfelt, real-life advice about organizing complex storylines, wrestling with rejection, and wondering how to transform an unpublished manuscript into your first blockbuster book.Here’s what we cover:The real-life events in Richmond, Virginia, in the summer of 2020—protests after the murder of George Floyd and the removal of Confederate monuments—that inspired  her latest novel, Marriage and Other Monuments.Virginia's advice that novelists should research by curiosity, not perfectionism, and avoid getting lost in historical “rabbit holes.”The long road from “aspiring writer” to multi-book author: five unpublished novels completed before her debut best seller finally arrivingHow she “fillets” her unpublished novels—reusing characters, relationships, and scenes from earlier manuscripts to create stronger new books.Why she now feels she can relax into her identity as an author, write and revise with joy, and meet readers and fellow writers without feeling she has something to prove.Encouraging, candid advice for writers with “books in the drawer” aboutassuming you have more than one book in you,maintaining self-respect in a tough marketplace,embracing small presses and literary communities, andstaying connected to the joy of the work itself.Two Big InsightsHistorical settings provide a rich backdrop for exploring societal change and its impact on relationships.Persistence and evolution are key aspects of a writer's journey, leading to growth and success.Chapters00:00 Exploring Historical Settings06:17 The Writing Process and Inspiration15:34 Character-Driven Plot Development22:04 Completion and Publication of a Book