Do same-sex relationships help to soothe scarred people? Yes & no.
Conversations with author Pauletter Mahurin, who wrote The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, via emails and messages have always been a pleasure. She’s passionate about many facts of life, animal rescue and rehabilitation toping the list. She talks to IBR about her book, the very true-to-real-life plot, her writing inspirations, and more… Read on.
Shana Susan Ninan: I cried when I read your book. I cried ‘cos I could relate to the various characters and the direction of the plot. When you wrote the story did you think of how the reader would react?
Paulette Mahurin: First let me say thank you so much Shana for having me over to your great site, for your time and generosity in reading and reviewing my book, and helping to shine a light on tolerance.
I’ve had feedback from several readers that the story made them cry, the ending in particular which unexpectedly reveals the unintended consequence of acts of hatred. I could relate to the characters as well which may sound odd being that I am the author of the work but in reality they spoke to me and told me their stories, some through people I know and have worked with, one person in particular who committed suicide because he was gay, others from things I read about the history of lesbians, and then the varied emotions I see surrounding me in every day life, inside my head and that of others. We are all shades of the human condition, no one escapes loss and death, and some of us with compassionate hearts, sensitive souls, see these things even in fictionalized stories.
I felt the reader would react as all humans react when faced with anything, through their own subjective personal experience, conditioning, emotions, and knew it’d be all over the place. The reviews reflect this from hating it because it has a lesbian protagonist and it violates their belief system to loving it and finding God through the words of the story. I kid you not; one reader wrote to the book’s Facebook page this story helped her find her God. That floored me. I’m a practical person and don’t hold out a lot of expectations which lends to some lovely surprises as I move along in this journey called life.
SSN: How did this storyline come to you?
PM: I had been working with a person who was in the closet (as a medical provider) here in the United States. The person was tortured and abused as a child and shared this with me in confidence. It weighed on me and was present in my mind while I was in a writing class and came across a photo of two women, dressed circa turn of the twentieth century. We had to do an exercise using a photo and write a ten-minute mystery. The two factors melded together and out came the theme of the story line—a lesbian couple on the frontier afraid of being found out. It continued to haunt me after that class was over, demanding I write about it. Out poured the story, which was published six years later. The time lag was due to my having a chronic illness and limited time to put into writing as well as the amount of research and editing that all went into the book.
To read the rest of the interview click on link below:
The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap 
That’s a really thorough great interview. Really digs in.
She really got me thinking! 🙂
If you reached only one person with the book P, you would have won already.
As it is, you’ve reached many more than just one and that is a great victory.
Bravo!!
Thank you tons! Means a lot to me. I’ll tell you honestly, when I sold my first book and got feedback that the reader actually enjoyed it, I nearly fell off my chair. Going into the process with a lot of insecurity and not expecting much… it’s been quite the ride. The best part is we’ve been getting funds to help furry friends. Now, that makes my heart soar! 🙂
And there’s your victory. We all have our paths to walk, and yours have been blessed 🙂
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you. I do feel very blessed. 🙂
What a great interview. I am glad that you told how it all started for you writing the story. Many have asked me why I wrote what I wrote, and all I can really say is, “It was a story that needed to be told.”
I like your answer, that it was a story that needed to be told. Very compelling. So is reading what you have to say. You’re great with words and I’m fortunate for our connection. Hugs. 🙂
“We are all shades of the human condition” which your book and care for others so clearly suggests. Some of we intended humans, have been granted the good fortune of exchanging ideas and thoughts with you, and I for one will forever be thankful for the privilege. And the beat goes on for your book as it should, so all’s well. JJ
I feel the same about you and am very grateful for our paths connecting. You’re a magnificent poet, so deep and in tune with all that it means to be human. We have a mutual admiration friendship and I thank you deeply for your kind words of support. 🙂
Gulp! Sometimes I do run out of appropriate words… this is definitely one of them. JJ
Fabulous questions by the interviewer and in-depth responses. I enjoyed reading this ‘probe’ about your book. Good for you, Paulette and once again congratulations.
Thanks, Tess! She really got me thinking with those questions. I’m very grateful for this opportunity to reach across countries and continents to connect with this lovely woman from India. It’s really a blessing. 🙂
An awesome opportunity, indeed. Shine, Paulette, shine.
🙂
Reblogged this on tazziesplace and commented:
Deep probing interview between Paulette and Shana Susan Ninan, from India.
🙂
What a great interview! Congrats!
I really ‘liked’ Bryce Courtney’s April Fool’s Day.
Hey thanks, I’ll have to look that one up. His writing is amazing, the detail, story weaving, the fullness of the scenes. It’s a great read while I’m working on book number 2 and is helping me expand on details a bit more. And, as always thank you so much for your supportive kind words. I’m happy to share the interview with you. 🙂
Warning: it is very sad.
Can’t wait for your next book, when is it due?
Hard to tell. It’s been back and forth with the editor now several times. Rewrite rewrite rewrite. But, it’s getting there. Will keep you posted. Smooches from us to ya’ll. Have a happy weekend. 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend, too!
🙂
A great interview and interesting read. Thank you for participating so honestly.
Thank you so much! Not being honest doesn’t sit well with my insides and I often wonder if readers can pick up on that, does it sound contrite? Not always easy to do but then I’m okay with growing pains. 🙂
Paulette, Having been over a year since I read and review you novel, I have been honored by seeing so many other people review this word or engage in a serious conversation about it constantly amazes me the depth of understanding coming from so many different corners. Your book has reached and touched so many people, with so many passions, and still praised by so many. I do so look forward to future books. Thank you Bill
Thank you so much, Bill. I’m humbled by your kind words. I mean that. Honestly, when I started to write the book it was for me, being home with Lyme disease and having a lot of down time on my hands, and never dreamed it would even make it to a cover. Then when it did, I thought if one person (other than supportive family and friends) read and liked it that would be incredible. And, it was. But all this, and that profits are going to animals in the memory of a dog that was with me day in and day out through my illness and kept me alive, keeps my heart so full. I’m truly grateful beyond description that I get to be a small light on tolerance and also able to do a little more good to help animals. To share with wonderful friends like you is the absolute best icing. Please take care of yourself.
That was an interesting interview. it was nice to learn a little more about how the book came to be and its effects on people.
Thank you, Clowie. Yes, the acorn that grew this tree was a collision of several factors that in writing also helped me heal from a tick bite that took my life for many years. (still have some relapses but overall I have my life back). Finding meaning and purpose when ones life is ripped away is a pretty astonishing experience. I love to write and every day give thanks for my vision, that arthritis isn’t preventing my fingers from pounding the keys, and my brain is still lucid enough to pump out the words. Writing is a friend to me. Someone else liking what I have to say-the bonus. You’ve been a great supportive friend in my process here with entering cyberville and I can’t thank you enough. 🙂
Thank you! I’m pleased to have you as a friend.
🙂
Thanks Paulette for this great find! I’ll be going to it this to my Goodreads book List. And I Thank you for taking time to stop by my Little Recovery Blog! 🙂 *Catherine*
Bless your sweet heart, Catherine. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing to visit new cyber sites wearing a book cover. I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful comment that you made to a woman, a mother, who experienced the worst nightmare and is living in so much pain. Your heart moved me.
BTW: I downloaded your book and tweeted that I just bought it. Hope it helps in your wonderful endeavor to help others. And, for anyone else who sees this and needs help with the stigma of mental illness or is suffering with it here’s a book for you: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984478485
Love, Paulette
BLESS YOU back Paulette xxoo
I really appreciate the support. I just wanted others to have Insight into this dark world for some who become addicted to gambling, and other Life Challenges. Hope you enjoy! *CAT*
🙂
You have a way with others. You bring darkness into light and light into darkness. I don’t always agree, based on spiritual foundations, but you have a genuinely kind heart.
Yisraela
I feel the same about your heart, loving and kind it is. I’m grateful when “we” can connect despite differences of color, preferences, faith, beliefs, and embrace our differences with compassion and kindness. You’re welcome at my cyber house any time. Always a pleasure, my friend.
Aren’t we all different in some way? That makes us human and the world a brighter place. It isn’t what we believe so much as what we do with it and how we become from it.
Love always
Yisraela
Agree with the wisdom of what you wrote. Thank you. Love back to you. 🙂
I’m running out of way to say congratulations to you, my awesome friend!
This works for me. Love you! 🙂