NONFICTION NINJAS
  • Home
  • Meet the Ninjas
    • Michelle Medlock Adams
    • Lisa Amstutz
    • Stephanie Bearce
    • Nancy Churnin
    • Susie Kralovansky
    • Wendy Hinote Lanier
    • Pat Miller
    • Christine Liu Perkins
    • Peggy Thomas
  • Ninja Notebook
  • Contact

An Interview with Peggy Thomas

12/8/2020

5 Comments

 
PictureLincoln Clears a Path: Abraham Lincoln's Agricultural Legacy by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Stacy Innerst (coming January 19, 2021)
by Christine Liu-Perkins

Peggy Thomas is the author of dozens of NF titles, but might be best known for her biographies published by Calkins Creek.  The other day I asked her  about her  newest book coming out in January.
 
Q. What inspired you to write Lincoln Clears a Path?
 
A.  I had written two other books about presidents and their agricultural legacies –Farmer George Plants a Nation, and Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation. It seemed logical to create one more to make a trilogy.  I chose Lincoln because his legislation had the largest impact on American farming. Unfortunately, legislation sounds really boring. So, I had my work cut out for me.
 
 
Q.  You went through different approaches in writing this book. What was your process like  finding the approach that worked?
 
A. My process was trial and error because I had a goal -- to connect Lincoln’s personal farming experiences with his greatest achievements as a president – but no idea how to get there. I normally don’t work like that, but I wanted the book to be similar in structure to Washington and Jefferson. For example: Washington made his farm self-sufficient which mirrored his efforts to create an independent nation. Jefferson’s legacy revolved around growing. He grew crops, grew American farm trade, and literally grew the country with the Louisiana Purchase. These were my critical connections, my narrative threads, my “so whats?”
 
I usually start with a title. Playing off the other books I started with “Lincoln Cultivates a Union.” Then I dove into research looking for every word, thought, and deed of Lincoln’s that had anything to do with agriculture, and how it might connect to holding the Union together and writing the Emancipation Proclamation.
 
My first approach was chronological-- showing young Abe on the farm and progressing through his life as an attorney representing farmers and inventors of farm machinery, etc…. That didn’t work. There was a lot of content, but nothing connecting it all together – kind of like a layer cake without the orange curd filling and caramel chocolate ganache (Great British Bake Off anyone?)
 
For my second attempt, I zoomed in on the one short period of time during the summer of 1862 when Lincoln’s legislative acts took place. It was also the time he was drafting the Emancipation Proclamation. I loved this approach because it hummed with life in Civil War era D.C.—the smell of the bakery in the basement of the Capitol, the lowing of cows grazing on the mall, etc. But the connection was still not there. It was mostly fluff; all sprinkles and fondant roses without the cake. I had to go back to my research. 
 
 
Q. How did you finally identify the narrative thread for the book?
 
After a bit of panic and binge-watching the soul-soothing GBBO, I went back to my research and this time really listened to what Lincoln was telling me.  That’s when I noticed that he used the phrase, clearing a path, several times in his writing. Sometimes he meant it literally to clear a path to walk on. Other times it referred to clearing a figurative path to make life easier for others. That’s when the light bulb clicked on and all the pieces fit. That’s what Lincoln’s whole life was about. As a child he cleared a path in the woods for his father.  As a young man he helped neighbors and other farmers. As an attorney he aided his clients. As a politician he cleared a path for his constituents.  And with the creation of the USDA, the Homestead Act, Morrill Land Grant Act, Railroad Act, and the Emancipation Proclamation, he cleared a path for the future of America.
 
 
Q. Did you discover anything during your research that surprised you?
 
I discovered (or rediscovered) the importance of taking a step back and really listening to what my characters have to tell me. It's not about what I want to say.  As a biographer, I can only write what is true to my subject, and to find that, I have to let them lead the way, and in this case Lincoln really did clear a path for me to tell his story.
 
Thank you, Peggy! I can't wait to see Lincoln Clears a Path!
 
 
To learn more, visit peggythomaswrites.com
​

Picture
Peggy and Abe at Lincoln's Cottage, Washington, D.C.
5 Comments
Melissa Miles link
12/9/2020 04:19:41 am

This was so helpful. I have two PB biographies I'm working on right now, and I am struggling to find the "aha" moment. Glad you found it with Honest Abe! Congrats on the new book.

Reply
Peggy Thomas link
12/14/2020 07:21:54 am

I'm glad you found it helpful, Melissa. Best of luck on your PB bio projects.

Reply
Rosi Hollinbeck link
12/9/2020 07:15:14 pm

What a wonderful interview. Thanks for that. This is really helpful for a PB manuscript I'm working on now.

Reply
Peggy Thomas link
12/14/2020 07:23:19 am

Hi Rosi,
I'm glad this was helpful. Good luck on your PB!

Reply
Patricia Holloway link
12/15/2020 12:12:15 pm

Wow! I learned so much about changing direction and looking for a common thread. Good to know! Thank you for sharing your journey!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    We are nonfiction authors who support readers and writers through our writing, author visits, and workshops.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Disclaimer

    The Nonfiction Ninjas are a group of writers with diverse ideas and a strong belief in The First Amendment. The views expressed in each post are those of the author and may differ from others in the group.​

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    Agent
    Andrea Somberg
    Back Matter
    Bibliography
    Biographies
    Book Dummy
    Bookstore
    Breaking Writers Block
    Deadlines
    Editing
    Ghostwriting
    Holidays
    Holiday Stories
    Humor
    Inspiration
    Magazines
    Market Analysis
    Mentoring
    Mentor Texts
    Middle Grade NF
    Nonfiction
    Organization
    Picture Books
    Primary-sources
    Questions
    Reluctant Writer
    Research
    Rhyme
    Seasonal Stories
    Twitter Pitches
    Word Count
    Work For Hire
    Writing In Sprints
    Writing Protocol
    Writing Strengths
    Writing Tips

Copyright @2021
  • Home
  • Meet the Ninjas
    • Michelle Medlock Adams
    • Lisa Amstutz
    • Stephanie Bearce
    • Nancy Churnin
    • Susie Kralovansky
    • Wendy Hinote Lanier
    • Pat Miller
    • Christine Liu Perkins
    • Peggy Thomas
  • Ninja Notebook
  • Contact