I want us all to recognize that refugees, those forced to leave the lands of their mothers and fathers, are the victims. They should never be made to be the enemy.
Ralph Webster – 3 March 2018
The Back Flap
One More Moon tells the true story of my grandmother’s desperate journey from her life at the Pensione Alexandra in Naples, Italy to America – after Mussolini and the Fascists join with Hitler – and as countries across the world close their doors to Jewish refugees fleeing the spread of Nazi evil. It is a story of happiness, sadness, and survival.
About the Book
When did you start writing the book?
The writing did not take too long – the composing did. I believe all books must start by rattling around within one’s head and my head needed a lot of rattling. I had to compose the words and imagine the melody. I needed to spend hours, days, and, in this case, years, talking to myself. For me, the writing was the final stage – after everything had time to ferment – that’s when I put it all on paper. I took about six months to actually write the book. It took me a lifetime to compose the song and gather my thoughts. Perhaps that is what is required when writing a book about family. Impressions are not formed in one sitting. The complete stories are not always told in their entirety. There may be secrets that are not to be shared and moments that are suppressed or forgotten. There are different opinions to consider. Perspective is not always the same. Neither are emotions. Some things about family we learn as children. Other things are told only when we are old enough to listen – and we don’t always listen. Many questions are answered only after the right questions are asked. And, far too often, and for far too many reasons, sometimes important things are never told. I suppose that is the way life is passed from one generation to the next. It is how history gets rewritten.
Where did you get the idea from?
I want to say that the idea came from the guestbook of the pensione – the register of those who visited. Thinking about their stories and experiences filled my imagination. But, the backdrop was broader. I have always known that I came from a family of immigrants – that I was a first generation American. Growing up in a smallish town in middle America I was quite aware that my parents had accents – that we were ‘foreigners’. My mother liked to say that she never knew she had an accent until she moved to America. From a young age I was taught how difficult it can be for refugees and immigrants.
Politicians across the world have made a mess of this issue. That makes me want to continue to write about my family’s journey and experience. It may have been a different time, a different circumstance, and a different generation. But, I am certain that the feelings are much the same – the anguish, the loss, the confusion, the uncertainty, the isolation, the fears, the unknown, the way others react. I want to do my part to shine a light on this. I want others to understand the personal depth of this humanitarian crisis. Mine is not a plea for money. It is a plea for compassion, respect, and dignity. I want us all to recognize that refugees, those forced to leave the lands of their mothers and fathers, are the victims. They should never be made to be the enemy.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Writing what I do is a labor of love and a struggle only made easier knowing that the people I write about are no longer here to correct me. Too many thoughts crammed into my head makes sleep a continuous issue. When I write, it seems there are never enough hours in the day to get the words onto paper. Often, re-reading (and rewriting), my habit of always going back to the beginning, makes me wonder whether I will ever reach the end.
What came easily?
The personalities of the characters and the storyline. I knew both well.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The people, the places, the events are true and real. Connecting the dots between them often involved some informed speculation and conjecture. Admittedly, like a stage play, sometimes there are moments that need to be more expressive than real life. There are times when fiction is more interesting than fact.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
While I hope everyone will read the book because of the messages I want to convey, the book is written for readers who are interested in compelling family stories of survival. I have had great success with book clubs. My first book prompted good book club discussions. I am confident that this book will too. I enjoy participating in book discussions – in person and via Skype.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
That is a great question – one that I am still struggling with. My first book, A Smile in One Eye, was about my father. I wanted to put myself into my father’s head and tell the story from his perspective. For this book, One More Moon, I needed to get into my grandmother’s head, to see things from her vantage point, and to speak the words she would have said. Trying to write a story from a woman’s perspective and to be authentic for the reader – no question – that was the biggest difference and a significant challenge. Now I wonder how readers will react. Do readers prefer books written from a woman’s perspective versus a man’s? Was I up to the challenge? When put to paper, what does distinguish a man’s voice from a woman’s? These remain interesting questions.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
Every day I learn something new. Probably the three most important things I learned this time were to slow down, be patient, and to take my craft more seriously. This time I did not set artificial deadlines for myself and I didn’t stop rewriting until I was absolutely convinced I was finished and I was satisfied with each and every word. I set my own bar higher. I learned that it is easier to self-edit than it is to write new passages. Editing one’s own prose is a comfortable space but interferes with forward progress. As always humility continues to be a good lesson. The longer I do this the thicker my skin.
I do have one tip to pass along – a quirk from my first book that I will never repeat again. I used to have the word processor count my words so I could monitor my progress. Google once told me to strive for 90,000 words. This is a bad habit and I do not recommend it. I remain afraid that I will either finish with not enough words (which would mean having to find or invent additional things to say) – or, that I will end with too many words (which would mean cutting things out – a very painful exercise.) DON’T DO THIS. IT WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY!
End of Interview:
For more from Ralph visit his website or follow him on Twitter.
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