BOOKS AND MOVIES

Posted By CarrieK on August 13, 2009

Last month, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark. Here’s part of what I said in my review: “Ms. Newmark has written a marvelously descriptive book, a book that makes me want to travel to Italy to see the sights – and eat the food. The author truly excels at description and setting.”

I also had the opportunity to interview Ms. Newmark via e-mail for her book tour, organized by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Here’s our interview:

Where did you get the idea for The Book of Unholy Mischief?

Elle: “I had just finished writing my first novel (which is still unpublished) and thought my writing career was finished. I had no new ideas. Zip. Nada. So my writing coach asked me to think about what I like, what interests me, and what I know about. I like Venice and I like a good story with an element of mystery. Also, since my father is a chef I know about good food. But that did not a novel make, so I slouched around the house for weeks, reading other people’s novels and watching movies. One evening I watched The Name of The Rose and that night I had a dream. I woke up at 5 a.m. with a broad notion for a book about a chef in Renaissance Venice who mentors to a young man with the intention of grooming him for a larger purpose. The story revolved around a mysterious book, but I did not know what the book contained. I wrote and re-wrote The Book of Unholy Mischief for two years before it became clear what was so important about the chef’s fictional book. I started with a foggy plot idea and two characters; the rest evolved in the writing.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your research process for this book?

Elle: “It’s not difficult to research historical facts—people, places, and events—and with the Internet it’s easier than ever. I remember a time when I went to the library with shopping bags and I could research only as much as I could carry. Researching Venice is fairly easy because it has changed little in 500 years. As a series of islands there is no room to expand or build skyscrapers and most of the buildings and streets that were there in 1500 are still there today. The more difficult thing to research was the little things: Did they use paring knives in the kitchen? Did they wear underwear? What kind of flowers grew in Venetian gardens? Fortunately, I love research, in fact I find it fascinating. I read a stack of books about Renaissance Venice and the papacy of Rodrigo Borgia and when I came across more questions as I was writing I used Google. I used Google a lot.”

What is your writing process like? Do you plot everything out at the beginning or just “go with the flow?”

Elle: “Some genius writers might be able to “go with the flow” but that approach would surely leave me adrift at sea. I need to start with at least some idea of who my characters are, what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it. Of course the characters and story change and evolve in the writing, and some things do pop up seemingly out of nowhere, but when that happens it feels like a rare gift. Going with the flow is a charmingly romantic idea, but for me writing a book is more like starting with an architectural drawing and then decorating the rooms attractively and correctly.”

So much of the book has to do with truly experiencing life. Ferrerro teaches Luciano how to live in this moment, the “now.” This is something I find it very hard to do. Do you have any secrets you can pass on?

Elle: “I don’t know that I’d call it a secret, but one of the things that helps me to stay in the present moment is reminding myself that I have no choice. We are all here now and there’s really nothing we can do about it. I guess we all occasionally drift backward in regret or forward in anxiety from time to time, but it’s a great relief to pull back and remember that all I have is today. No matter what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow, all I ever have to do is get through today. Acknowledging that makes life much simpler.”

Food is another major theme in your book. Did your eating habits during the writing of this book change at all? (As I read, I kept craving cheesecake!)

Elle: “When I’m writing a book my eating habits are awful. I forget to eat and I forget when I ate last. I get too hungry and then eat whatever I can lay my hands on. Dreadful. When I was writing The Book of Unholy Mischief I was more focused on the food metaphors than the actual food. I was always looking for the dish or recipe that would illustrate the point I wanted to make. It was great fun to dream up things like Capon in Mare’s Milk or veal as a symbol of innocence. I did, however, make quite of few batches of Italian cookies called bones of the dead. Very tasty but with a lethal amount of butter.”

Which writers have had the biggest impact on your life and your writing?

Elle: “There are so many I hardly know where to start. I guess the first writer who made me wonder how dry ink on paper could manipulate my emotions was John Steinbeck. I know he’s considered dated now, but I think he was a beautiful writer. John Updike had a way of pulling me completely into his imagined worlds and Kazuo Ishiguro is a master of subtlety. But there are dozens if not hundreds of wonderful writers who have influenced me. One of the things I learned from their various styles is that there is room in literature for many voices. This gave me the freedom to develop my own.”

What is the best book you’ve read this year so far?

Elle: “Again, hard to say because there have been so many. The ones that come to mind immediately are People of the Book, Sarah’s Key, and The Book Thief. ”

If you could recommend one book that everyone should read, what would it be?

Elle: “Only one? That’s tough. Aside from The Book of Unholy Mischief the book that pops up for me is Sophie’s Choice by William Styron. It has everything: Fine writing, fascinating characters who come to life completely, a fully imagined setting, and a heartbreaking comment on the human condition.”

Thank you, Ms. Newmark, for taking the time to answer my questions! I look forward to your next book.

For more information or to learn more about The Book of Unholy Mischief, click over to Elle Newmark’s web site.

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