James M. Chesbro is the author of A Lion in the Snow: Essays on a Father’s Journey Home, from which essays chosen as notable selections in The Best American Essays series in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. He will read from his work and speak on the panel for “A Night of Nonfiction: Debut Author Readings and Q&A,” along with other fantastic writers. Jamie took a break from writing, teaching, being a dad, and taking care of a new puppy to answer some questions about what’s in store for HippoCamp 2019.
HM: Tell us a little about your involvement this year at HippoCamp. What can attendees expect? And what are you most excited to share?
JC: I’m excited to share the journey of how my publisher and I discovered each other. How does a little-known essayist find a press that enthusiastically champions their collection? It’s nothing like I had envisioned. The match didn’t happen because my eventual editor had read a stand-alone essay I published. Nobody of literary influence sent me to their agent or editor. Don’t @ me for this tease. Come to our event, and I’ll tell you the rest there.
HM: Our motto is “memorable creative nonfiction.” Tell us about one of the more recent memoirs, essay collections, or individual essays you’ve read and why it was memorable.
JC: I’ll tell you about two books that are coming out soon that I can’t wait to read: Once More to the Ghetto: And Other Essays (Outpost 19), by Jerald Walker, and The Virgin of Prince Street: Expeditions into Devotion (University of Nebraska Press) by Sonja Livingston.
HM: What made you decide to participate in HippoCamp this year as a speaker?
JC: Every writer is on their own journey. It’s natural to compare yours to others’, but not only is it useless to do that, it’s a disservice to your own journey. If we idealize the path others are on, we can miss out on the benefits, opportunities, and life-giving relationships that will continue to shape and renew our own quest.
I’m looking forward to participating in the debut authors panel because I’d like to think I might be able to give some attendees some hope. Hope is such an audaciously imperative virtue for writers. There’s no substitute for reading like a writer and keeping your butt in the chair to write. Of course you have to do the work, but after that, you have to relentlessly give your work a chance to live in a magazine, online site, or on the pages of a published book.
HM: What’s going to keep you busy between now and HippoCamp?
JC: We recently became first-time puppy owners. So, the little fur-ball has taken over the house and, unfortunately, my morning writing routine. I’m trying, unsuccessfully, to find a new writing schedule. My oldest child is almost 12, and I’m trying to spend as much time with him this summer as I can before he wants nothing to do with me.
HM: Since you’ll also be attending the conference, when you’re not wearing your “speaker hat,” what are you most looking forward to learning or doing?
JC: Attending other events as well as meeting and talking to other writers. I also like having the chance to say hello to people who I’ve interacted with on social media but have never met in person.
HM: We love introducing Lancaster to attendees. If you live here or have been here before, what would you recommend to other attendees?
JC: If you like beer, skip the Yuengling (so overrated), and see if they serve anything from Yards Brewing Company.
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Thank you, Jamie! We can’t wait to hear your stories of hope, and to feel a little more hopeful ourselves.
And reader, if you also want to hear Jamie’s story at the Debut Author Reading, register here.
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