Memoir
Date Published: April 22nd
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Sarah Vosburgh has often felt misunderstood by her mother, a woman who lived a quintessential suburban life. But when her mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Sarah’s world unravels, and she must confront a disease that will only worsen. As roles reverse between mother and daughter, Sarah faces the guilt of making decisions she hopes are the right ones while also carrying the grief of losing her mom bit by bit everyday. She navigates a labyrinth of health services amid the heartbreaking, and at times darkly humorous, realities of caregiving.
There are the white lies and midnight phone calls, the misbuttoned blouses, and the second slice of chocolate pie that tastes just as good as it did the first time. And then there’s the quiet awe at the persistence of connection even when language falters and names are forgotten.
Interview with Sarah Vosburgh
Do you have a routine or something you do to get you in the mood to write?
It never occurred to me to write – though many of the stories in my memoir have been told over and over – it was always oral tradition. After my mother died, I found the stories, or more details associated with them, waking me up at night – and keeping me up at night going over them in my head – that’s when I decided to write them down.
Do you have a special song, drink, or food you enjoy while you are writing?
LOL! Coffee!! I can’t listen to music when I write – it’s too distracting – I always want to engage with it, and I lose what I’m doing. Same with food – it’s just too distracting – coffee I can drink and keep going ‘til I’m done – sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s iced, its not dependent on the season.
How do you know what to write?
I know it’s a bad habit – and most writers or those that work with them recommend against it – but I write when I’m inspired. When it wakes me in the middle of the night – I quickly write down what I need to get me going in the morning, and I go back to sleep knowing I won’t lose it. Sometimes I can’t write in the morning – heading to work or other responsibilities, but it’s always on the back burner in my brain, and if I think of phrases or concepts or words I want to use, I write them down in a little notebook I keep with me so they don’t get lost. Below is one of my favorite poems and speaks to why I keep a notebook with me – or send myself notes on my phone.
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I feel like I’m disappointing you – I don’t have good habits – there are no typical writing days – well I guess there’s one thing – a deadline – that has a typical pattern – I was part of the memoir writing class at San Diego Writers, Ink – and class was at noon – we usually had a five page assignment – I would get up when I woke – grab my laptop, get back in bed with coffee – and write those five pages. Then I’d get up, take care of morning ablutions, and head to class.
Do you do anything special to celebrate after writing “the end”?
I feel a sense of accomplishment – that’s good enough for me.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It took me a year to write my debut memoir – once a week – five pages at a time. Thank you Marni Freedman and Tracy Jean Jones.
What is the most difficult part of writing a book?
I don’t know if I have another book in me – so I’m not sure I can answer that – but off the top of my head, I would say, for me, worrying that the inspiration won’t come. Or being vulnerable and putting it “out there.”
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