Interview with Amy Smith Linton, Author of “She Taught Me Everything”

Digital Book Nook recently caught up with Amy Smith Linton, author of “She Taught Me Everything.” We are excited to share this insightful interview with our readers today.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE:

When did you first discover that you enjoy writing and wanted to become a published author?

I started writing early — there was a poem telling the story of a murder from the point of view of the victim that got me into hot water in perhaps the fifth grade, so it seemed like a pretty exciting job. As for publishing, I started collection rejection slips in junior high (o cringe!), and then ironically worked in publishing, where I SENT those rejections out.

What is your favorite and the most challenging aspect of writing?

Surprising myself when the people I made up do something unexpected. It’s as if a magical incantation actually works. Most challenging aspect: spending day after day with people I make up and also trying to keep connected with friends and family.

Tell us about your latest release.

She Taught Me Everything is my debut novel. It’s a story about sisters and secrets. 26-year-old artist Nicola Jones is living in Florida when she gets the phone call in the middle of the night: it’s the state police. There’s been a car wreck, and her charismatic older sister Viv has been hurt. Nicola races to her sister’s bedside, where she discovers that Viv –– the only family she has –– has been concealing one secret after another.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

The title is how Nicola sees her sister, as the source of stability and knowledge of how to survive in the world.

What do you hope readers are able to get from reading your story?

I hope readers will get a break from their usual surroundings and situation while taking a deep dive into the unbreakable bond between sisters. And maybe take a step back across any burning bridges they might have crackling in their own lives.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

There are so many! I love the brilliant inventiveness of Kate Atkinson, the amazing voice of Lorrie Moore, the storytelling of Quan Barry. And I love other genre writers: fantasy novelist T. Kingfisher, the kids’ author Kate DiCamillo, science fiction juggler Connie Willis.

Do you have any advice for writers looking to get published?

Advice: do. not. give. up. When in doubt, THIS is the time to take charge of your publishing future. Also, don’t ignore what your readers are telling you, even if they are trying to say it in a way to not hurt your feelings.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Smith Linton – A rural childhood, a lucky streak with standardized testing, and a familiarity with making ends meet helped Amy Smith Linton scramble through her undergraduate years at Cornell University.

After attending the Publishing Institute at the University of Denver, she went to work at Farrar Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers in Manhattan, where she lunched with the likes of Madeleine L’Engle, Jerry Selden, and Satoshi Kitamura. She once carried a portfolio of Maurice Sendak’s original artwork uptown via subway – only belatedly realizing the risk of getting mugged during the midday lull with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of irreplaceable original art tucked under one arm.

After moving to Florida to spend time with her extended family, she took up a whirlwind set of part-time jobs that included hanging wallpaper, serving as first mate on a passenger ferry, sports-writing for the St. Petersburg Times and Sail magazine, and book-reviewing for Publisher’s Weekly and The Tampa Tribune.

A long stint in full-time employment included video-production, adult instructional design, product development, and corporate in-fighting.

Her short fiction has appeared in The Stonecoast Review, Halfway Down the Stairs, 4’33”, The Dead Mule School of Southern Fiction, Rosebud, and more.

When not writing, she races small sailboats with her husband, the redoubtable Jeff Linton. Her team won the World Championships in the Lightning Class twice, as well as earning six North American titles in the Flying Scot class. She takes perhaps too much pride in being featured in an instructional sailing video entitled “Taming the Spinnaker Beast.” She was once short-listed for the US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

She’s currently at work on her next novel.

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