Interview with Nadine Laman

Kathryn’s Beach
Nadine Laman
Infinity Publishing (2006)
ISBN 0741428326
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (11/06)

Reader Views talks with Nadine Laman, author of “Kathryn’s Beach.” Nadine is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views.

Juanita:  Thanks for talking with us today, Nadine.  We are very excited to hear more about your novel, “Kathryn’s Beach.”  Would you start off by telling us the storyline?

Nadine: Thank you, Juanita. Kathryn’s Beach is about an emotionally fragile woman’s return home after spending five years in a self-imposed exile.  Kathryn, a social worker with an idealist heart, blamed herself when her last child abuse case went terribly wrong, resulting in the murder of her young client. The day comes when Kathryn has to return to her home in Los Angeles, to reclaim her life and set right the past. She doesn’t have an exact plan of how to do this, which makes it all the easier for her friends to push her into things she hasn’t planned and doesn’t want to face. Her past begins to catch up with her when a cryptic letter from the judge in the case, lands in her hands.  Even though this is the last thing she wants, she’s forced to accept it. All of these things turn the events of Kathryn’s Beach into a personal journey where Kathryn discovers much more than she bargained for in the beginning.

Juanita:  This is your first novel, Nadine.  What inspired you to write this book?

Nadine: Until Kathryn’s Beach, I was a diehard short story writer. Kathryn’s Beach was set in motion when I was talking with a friend during an ice storm. My friend, Terrie Berg, was out of anything new to read. I told her I’d send a long email to tide her over until the roads were open. It never occurred to me that Terrie didn’t know about my writing. It wasn’t something I ever thought about telling people–it’s like breathing.

I wrote a short story and emailed it to Terrie. She responded with, “Then what happens?”

“Well, it’s a short story, that is all there is.”

I’ll leave it at Terrie won. I wrote a couple of hours a night, then emailed the chapters to her. In twenty-one days Kathryn’s Beach was written, so Terrie gets the credit for inspiring the creation of Kathryn!

Juanita: Would you tell us more about your lead character, Kathryn.  What internal struggle/s is she facing, her desire to be a social worker, etc?

Nadine: Kathryn was the quintessential social worker–energetic, bright, flawless, devoted, and she wore it well for quite a while. Then one of her clients was murdered because she lost a court case that should have been a routine waltz through the judicial system. Kathryn began to question her ability as a child abuse investigative social worker, as well as, the system that was a major part of her life. Kathryn began to second guess everything she had done in the case. She felt tremendously guilty for letting this happen, and it weighed on her until she was emotionally bankrupt. That is where we find Kathryn at the beginning of Kathryn’s Beach. From there she sets out on a quest to find herself and to figure out what went wrong with the abuse case.

Juanita:  How did she unfold as a character in your writing process?

Nadine: *Laughs* Kathryn is a headstrong character to work with. She brings to mind the song, “What are we going to do with Maria?” from Sound of Music. She isn’t at all like I imagined! Kathryn is introspective, sensitive, funny, lost, indecisive, intelligent, witty... Readers say Kathryn has an ability to linger in their thoughts long after the book is finished.

Looking back, I am amazed with Kathryn’s development over the course of three books. Her judgment in matters of love is terribly flawed, yet her compassion for the homeless families and her satirical view of society makes up for her flaws. She’s Velveteen-Rabbit-real. I think if I were to meet her, I would genuinely like her.

Juanita: Would you elaborate on the child abuse aspect of the “Kathryn’s Beach,” and your thoughts on using such a socially conscious theme to backdrop your story?

Nadine: I believe we have the world we agree to have. Child abuse is dismissed in society. It isn’t anything new, but one would think we would do more about it in a modern society than was done historically. In that respect, Kathryn’s Beach nudges complacency. The same applies to the homeless issue that I added to the mix. The realities of child abuse greatly impact the characters’ lives. However, the story is about Kathryn and her friends, relationships, hope, resilience, vulnerability...all the dramas of being alive.

Juanita: What is the significance, or statement, of the little girl that slipped through the cracks of the judicial system?  And, what does this little girl represent for Kathryn?

Nadine: The vulnerable members in society often slip through the cracks. I deliberately did not name the child; she represents the “every man” character. It seemed to me it is easier for people to dismiss a defined (individual) abused child, but less easy to do so if she is universal. For Kathryn, the little girl represents the flaws in the system as well as in the people who make up the system. The child’s murder transforms Kathryn from a superhero character to a real human. It was Kathryn’s mistake to take the system’s failure personally, but I don’t think she is detached from anything she does, especially not social work.

Juanita: Kathryn ran from L.A. in the hopes of lessening the pain and guilt of the shocking events, then after 5 years, she returned.  Why did she return to the beach, and how do the events of the past begin to catch up with her?

Nadine: Kathryn grew up at the beach in Orange County, so she returned “home” to a safe place from which to venture back into her former life. She fully planned to ease into this ‘project’ by taking baby steps, but that never works. It certainly didn’t work for Kathryn. Her friends pushed her to seek the truth of what led to the little girl’s death. Her friend, Maggie, is especially instrumental in pushing Kathryn much faster than she would like, but at the same time, Maggie is a very nurturing friend.

Juanita:  The ocean and the beach are timeless themes.  What does the beach signify in your story, and does this come from a personal love of yours for the ocean?

Nadine: The ocean lends itself quite easily to personification and use in metaphors. At times, the moods of the ocean reflect the emotions in the story; at other times, it represents the healing power of being in nature and out of the surreal world humans create en mass. Most certainly, my ability to write about the ocean, as I do, comes from my love of the beach, particularly Seal Beach, CA. I love to shoot lots of photographs, spend time walking the beach, or sitting and watching the ocean change throughout the day. Then, I use all of these experiences and energy in my writing.

Juanita:  Nadine, what are your thoughts on personal demons as one aspect of being human?

Nadine: Personal demons push people to face their human frailties and develop their inner strength. So, as maddening as they are, personal demons force us to reach out to each other and to bring out our own human wealth, which is exactly what happens to Kathryn as she faces the demons of her past.

Juanita:  Nadine, you seem to have an optimistic point of view that comes through in your book.  Would you tell us a little more about your philosophy of life, and overcoming the hard times?

Nadine:  As Kathryn’s best friend, Maggie, says: “Life is good; not always easy, but good.” I think that philosophy came from my grandmother and mother, and other women I admire, with each of us putting our own spin on it. Add in my grandfather’s and uncles’ sense of humor, and it gets a person through most things. I do believe that one person can make a difference. Of course, I aim for a positive difference. I expect people, and myself, to put forth their best effort–whatever the best is at that moment. Elizabeth, a character, says, “I plan to get my money’s worth out of each day.” Which leads to another quote from Kathryn’s Beach, “It isn’t how long one lives, it is how wide that really matters.” That about sums it all up.

Juanita:  You mix drama, suspense, romance, social issues, and self-discovery into “Kathryn’s Beach.”  What genre would you categorize your book, and what would you consider the prevailing themes?

Nadine: Kathryn’s Beach is contemporary women’s literature. The title of the first chapter is “Enigma”, and that sums up what Kathryn’s Beach is; something unique for each reader. Women often tell me the part of Kathryn that rings true with their own life, and the sections are rarely the same from person-to-person. Much to my surprise quite a few men have read it and seem to like it. The point A to point B story line is meant to be entertaining, but if someone wants more, it is there for them to discover and interpret as they need to or want to for themselves. It is a story of relationships, acceptance, discovery, reconciliation, and facing demons. It is very much an intimate and emotional story. Over all, it is a story of hope–hope in ourselves and each other to go beyond our last measure of strength.

Juanita:  What is the underlying message/s of “Kathryn’s Beach”?

Nadine: *Laughs* I guess I would have to say, “If you have to face the music, you might as well start dancing!”

Juanita:  You’ve turned “Kathryn’s Beach” into a trilogy.  Was this the original plan, and what can readers expect from your two upcoming offerings?

Nadine: Kathryn’s Beach was totally unplanned; a spur of the moment project. Writing Kathryn’s Beach in first person, present tense really brought the project to life in a way I hadn’t expected. In the second book, Kathryn’s reclusive world expands. The secondary and background characters take on much more dimension. Other social issues are added to the mix, and Kathryn is considerably stronger and more willing to take risks in relationships. In the third book, Kathryn faces the challenge of her life. She is much more confident and proactive and willing to risk compassion beyond a small circle of friends.  She has a global view of her ability to trigger change and meet challenges. She ends up in the line of fire in more ways than one. Life gets hard sometimes. Have I made it too hard for Kathryn this time? The question is, “Will these challenges be too much for our Kathryn and her friends?” Incidently, I should add, the reason this is a trilogy is because Terrie, my friend, kept asking, “Then what happened?” Juanita, you can be the first to know this; I have a surprise for Terrie at the end of the third book. *Laughs*

Juanita:  I’ve read reviews that all suggest that you are a very gifted writer.  Somehow, you have a way of creatively weaving themes and genres into a highly engaging and captivating story.  Would you comment on your particular writing style and your love of writing?

Nadine: Thank you. You’re very kind. I was caught unprepared for the amount of affection readers have toward Kathryn. I’m very touched by it. I have the best fans in the world.

My style? *Laughs* Being dyslexic helps! Seriously, I think my style may be an acquired taste. Some readers take to it immediately; most warm up to it over several pages. So, it must not be a typical writing style. I often call my style “meandering” because I like to slow down speed readers and give them pause to enjoy the word choices I make, the literary devices I use, and the story I’m telling. I like to take my readers’ hand and gently lead them into the story in a way they can experience it more fully than simply reading about it at a breakneck pace.

I am a very organic writer. I never write from an outline, so sometimes I get surprised by something like the judge’s letter to Kathryn. When I find something in the story that I want to explore through my characters, like the mural in the playroom, I take the time to experience it, and bring the readers into my mind to share that experience. Ultimately, I write to entertain, but to some degree my readers get to see life from my perspective.

Juanita:  How can readers find out more about you and your endeavors?

Nadine: My website is a good place to start. Joyce, my web designer, and I spend a lot of time developing and renewing the site with my readers in mind. We hide things, like the Santa picture that is in book two, and do other special treats for my readers. I have a monthly newsletter on my website, which is part fan based and part writer based.

I love my fans. They humble me with their enthusiasm. Some of them helped select the cover for the second book; they name characters; they tell me where they would like me to take future stories. There is always something new for them on my website. I have contests planned for another book that is in the works which will allow a lot of fan interaction. When readers email me, we get into long discussions about the story and the characters, especially Kathryn. I love to hear from readers. All the contact information is on my website: www.NadineLamanBooks.com. I have the best job in the world, and I love it!

Juanita: We certainly have enjoyed hearing from you today, Nadine. Your book “Kathryn’s Beach” is getting high regards from readers, and we certainly hope you have many successes in the future. Do you have any last thoughts for your readers today?

Nadine: Thank you, Juanita. I have had a wonderful time talking about Kathryn and about writing Kathryn’s Beach. I would tell my readers that High Tide is out now, so they can find out what happens next to our Katey. And, thank you for enjoying “Kathryn’s Beach” – I adore you.

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