It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Beth Duke onto the website today. Beth is a bestselling Amazon author who resides in the mountains of her native Alabama. Of her writing, the legendary country singer Randy Owen has said, "Beth Duke's works are as real as grits and gravy in The South, and her usage of her Southern English has the taste of Mama's biscuits."
Alex: Tell us a bit about yourself, Beth.
Beth: I was born in Anniston, Alabama, and lived near there until I was eleven. We relocated to Pennsylvania for a couple of years—long enough for me to teach them a sorghum-syrup-drawl-accent—and then moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida. I have always been a reader, and Scholastic Book Fair Day was a major event for me. I loved making up stories of my own as a kid, and though I’m a dedicated logophile, I didn’t formally write fiction until much later.
I studied marketing and mass communications in college. That was my career, writing to engage people... but I didn’t begin engaging them with short stories and books until sometime around 2005.
My fiction writing really took off after I returned to my native Alabama about fourteen years ago. There is much here that inspires me.
Alex: Tell us a bit about yourself, Beth.
Beth: I was born in Anniston, Alabama, and lived near there until I was eleven. We relocated to Pennsylvania for a couple of years—long enough for me to teach them a sorghum-syrup-drawl-accent—and then moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida. I have always been a reader, and Scholastic Book Fair Day was a major event for me. I loved making up stories of my own as a kid, and though I’m a dedicated logophile, I didn’t formally write fiction until much later.
I studied marketing and mass communications in college. That was my career, writing to engage people... but I didn’t begin engaging them with short stories and books until sometime around 2005.
My fiction writing really took off after I returned to my native Alabama about fourteen years ago. There is much here that inspires me.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Beth: I think we all tend to write in a format we love to read. For me, that’s often multiple perspectives and alternating chapters. I adore a good surprise in a book, just when I think I’ve figured it all out. The theme you will find running through my books is how we all impact one another, often without ever knowing. I believe we enter each others’ lives for a reason.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Beth: My stories come to me partially formed. I can practically see the scenes as they unfold, and that’s a delight when I’m in writing mode. Detailed synopses and a rigid format are anathema to me.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Beth: Tapestry is set in Alabama (I dare you to find a book of mine that’s not), and is partially a coming-of-age story. This novel allowed me to incorporate important history, particularly African-American history, that we should all learn and remember. It has been a joy to discuss it with book clubs, and I was the keynote speaker at the Alabama Historical Society’s Annual Meeting last month because of Tapestry. That was a tremendous honor, and I am very grateful.
Beth: I think we all tend to write in a format we love to read. For me, that’s often multiple perspectives and alternating chapters. I adore a good surprise in a book, just when I think I’ve figured it all out. The theme you will find running through my books is how we all impact one another, often without ever knowing. I believe we enter each others’ lives for a reason.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Beth: My stories come to me partially formed. I can practically see the scenes as they unfold, and that’s a delight when I’m in writing mode. Detailed synopses and a rigid format are anathema to me.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Beth: Tapestry is set in Alabama (I dare you to find a book of mine that’s not), and is partially a coming-of-age story. This novel allowed me to incorporate important history, particularly African-American history, that we should all learn and remember. It has been a joy to discuss it with book clubs, and I was the keynote speaker at the Alabama Historical Society’s Annual Meeting last month because of Tapestry. That was a tremendous honor, and I am very grateful.
Alex: What was the first book you ever read?
Beth: My mom read to me constantly, from Winnie the Pooh to Hiawatha. I’m not sure which book I read first on my own. I just know from that point on, I was often found nestled in the branches of an oak tree with a book in hand.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Beth: I do tons of research, much of it online. I travel to actual locations in my books to get the exact “feel” of the places. Of course, I rely on library books and research materials as well.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Beth: I’d be lying if I said no. Many of my characters are an amalgamation of people I’ve known. Authors are thieves, and I’m often tucking away phrases or facial expressions or a great name for later use.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Beth: It’s a little-known work called Kiss of the Jewel Bird, by Dale Cramer. There’s a bit of magical realism and that is NOT my usual genre—but I walked around for days thinking about that book and have forced several friends and relatives to read it. They loved it, too.
Beth: My mom read to me constantly, from Winnie the Pooh to Hiawatha. I’m not sure which book I read first on my own. I just know from that point on, I was often found nestled in the branches of an oak tree with a book in hand.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Beth: I do tons of research, much of it online. I travel to actual locations in my books to get the exact “feel” of the places. Of course, I rely on library books and research materials as well.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Beth: I’d be lying if I said no. Many of my characters are an amalgamation of people I’ve known. Authors are thieves, and I’m often tucking away phrases or facial expressions or a great name for later use.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Beth: It’s a little-known work called Kiss of the Jewel Bird, by Dale Cramer. There’s a bit of magical realism and that is NOT my usual genre—but I walked around for days thinking about that book and have forced several friends and relatives to read it. They loved it, too.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Beth: I am fortunate that book clubs have embraced my work, especially It All Comes Back to You. The best marketing in the world is word-of-mouth. That’s been a huge boon. I will occasionally promote an Instagram post, but don’t do much in the way of traditional marketing. Instagram allows me to share reviews of my books and connect with readers in a lovely way, and I get a lot of exposure there.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing?
Beth: I am a pretty darn good cupcake baker, though I love decorating them more than baking. I also bake macarons and Southern buttermilk biscuits—but once I’ve mastered a baked good, I usually move on to a new challenge. I’m trying to learn to be a decent chess player, but don’t get nearly the time I need to practice. (Or maybe the spatial gifts that help win, as well.)
I love travel. It’s my favorite thing, making memories with people I love and exploring new places and cultures. I have very itchy travel feet after a year of Covid restrictions. I sincerely hope to be going to Iceland soon.
Alex: And what do you do to unwind?
Beth: Of course, a great book is my refuge and number one choice to relax and unwind.
Beth: I am fortunate that book clubs have embraced my work, especially It All Comes Back to You. The best marketing in the world is word-of-mouth. That’s been a huge boon. I will occasionally promote an Instagram post, but don’t do much in the way of traditional marketing. Instagram allows me to share reviews of my books and connect with readers in a lovely way, and I get a lot of exposure there.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing?
Beth: I am a pretty darn good cupcake baker, though I love decorating them more than baking. I also bake macarons and Southern buttermilk biscuits—but once I’ve mastered a baked good, I usually move on to a new challenge. I’m trying to learn to be a decent chess player, but don’t get nearly the time I need to practice. (Or maybe the spatial gifts that help win, as well.)
I love travel. It’s my favorite thing, making memories with people I love and exploring new places and cultures. I have very itchy travel feet after a year of Covid restrictions. I sincerely hope to be going to Iceland soon.
Alex: And what do you do to unwind?
Beth: Of course, a great book is my refuge and number one choice to relax and unwind.
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Beth: I am awed by the creativity of John Irving, the sheer genius of Stephen King, the delightful historical fiction of Ken Follett and Edward Rutherfurd. Barbara Kingsolver is in my pantheon of writing stars, too.
Now, I’ve just failed to mention at least a thousand authors I love. It’s just impossible!
Alex: I know. It's always a bit of an impossible question to answer. But thanks for doing so. And thank you so much for coming onto the website, Beth and sharing your writing journey with us. It's been fascinating to hear you talk. And I'm so pleased you mentioned John Irving. Surprisingly, it's the first time his name has come up; and I am a big fan. And I'm certainly going to grab a copy of Kiss of the Jewel Bird.
Beth: Well, thank you Alex for asking me on. It's been a lot of fun.
Beth: I am awed by the creativity of John Irving, the sheer genius of Stephen King, the delightful historical fiction of Ken Follett and Edward Rutherfurd. Barbara Kingsolver is in my pantheon of writing stars, too.
Now, I’ve just failed to mention at least a thousand authors I love. It’s just impossible!
Alex: I know. It's always a bit of an impossible question to answer. But thanks for doing so. And thank you so much for coming onto the website, Beth and sharing your writing journey with us. It's been fascinating to hear you talk. And I'm so pleased you mentioned John Irving. Surprisingly, it's the first time his name has come up; and I am a big fan. And I'm certainly going to grab a copy of Kiss of the Jewel Bird.
Beth: Well, thank you Alex for asking me on. It's been a lot of fun.