The Interview: Author Jesmyn Ward | Fox10tv.com

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Jesmyn Ward is a creative writing assistant professor at the University of South Alabama.

Ward said when she heard people around the country say terrible things about the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, it made her angry.

She said she wrote a book to hopefully better inform them about the people and life on the Gulf Coast.?

The book, titled "Salvage the Bones?,is her second book and won the National Book Award.? It?s called the Oscar of the publishing industry. Past winners of this award include literary giants like William Faulkner, Alice Walker and Eudora Welty.

HURRICANE KATRINA?S INFLUENCE

In August 2005, Ward said Hurricane Katrina made lasting impressions on her writing and her life.

According to Ward, she couldn?t recall it ever flooding in her hometown of Delisle, Mississippi before Hurricane Katrina.

"The water came up pretty high. I don't know if we would have drowned in the attic of my grandparent?s home if we had stayed there to ride out the storm,? Ward said.

Ward and her family fled her grandparent?s home and headed to a church for shelter; but Ward said flood waters and debris forced them to detour to a neighbor's home nearby.?

"We weren't able to find shelter. We spent the bulk of the storm in our trucks and cars, piled up on top of each other scared to death,? Ward said. "I still feel a certain sense of disbelief that they could see people in need, and then refuse to let us take shelter in their house just until the storm passed. ?

Although Ward said she doesn?t understand the lack of humanity she encountered by some, she said she?s lucky to be alive.

?I do feel blessed and lucky to be alive, because things could have gone horribly wrong,? Ward said.

WRITING ?SALVAGE THE BONES?

Ward said the views she encountered about the Gulf Coast post Hurricane Katrina compelled her to write ?Salvage the Bones?.

Although she didn?t use her own experiences to pen the book, she said she hopes it will give people a better understanding of the Gulf Coast.

"I was angry, I kept encountering people who had really backwards views about people from the Gulf Coast,? Ward said. "I heard really awful things from people saying it was something we deserved. I felt a certain sense of responsibility that I needed to write about that. ?

Ward said the hurricane occurs in the book, but is not the main focus.

?It?s about family, loyalty; about love. It?s about attempting to find your way in the world,? she said.

?Salvage the Bones? took her a year to write and then nearly two more years to revise it.?

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

Ward said she had a vision for the story, but she had to manage her expectations as most authors.?She said she had no idea her vision would become an award winning book.

?I just wanted to write the best book that I could,? Ward said. "I didn't think that it was going to affect as many people and resonate with as many people as it did. ?

Ward received an email from the award officials and did not want to get her expectations up.

"I was in total disbelief and shock, and I didn't believe it until I heard it officially announced,? she said.

Ward said the award is also very humbling.

"Everyone on that list, they're amazing writers. These are people that I have read my entire life,? she said. "I'm so in awe. I can't believe that at least on that list; that I?m in their company. It?s very humbling. ?

EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER

Ward has earned a bachelor?s and master?s degree from Stanford University and a master?s degree of Fine Arts from Michigan University.

She worked briefly at a New York publishing company. Before arriving at USA in 2011, Ward taught at the University of New Orleans and at Ole Miss.?

Ward credits much of her success to teachers and peers she has met along the way.

?They taught me discipline, and they also allowed me to work with really great writers who taught me a lot,? Ward said.

PRESSURE FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

Ward said there is pressure to write another award winning book.

"Yes, there's an expectation and excitement about what else; what's coming next,? Ward said."People are going to look at it through this lens of me having won the National Book Award. They'll have higher expectations.? And so yes, I do feel that pressure. ?

Ward is working on another book right now, but she said it?s too early to share anything about it.??

She said that another National Book Award winner gave her some advice-?To forget about the award when she's writing. ??

CONTINUING TO TEACH

Even with the success of her book, Ward said she enjoys her time in the classroom and that she?s helping develop another generation of great writers from the South.

"I like to teach because I like interacting with students; helping them develop their own voice and produce new work. I will continue teaching,? Ward said.

Source: http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/the-interview-author-jesmyn-ward

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