SL_Spotlight_Kelly_Simmons_0121_Spotlight 1 / 20 / 21 2 : 20 PM Page 1 s three days in a row of [ working S P O T L I G H T with the kids ] on math and sci - ence ? ” … For a long time , I Q & A worked full time , and I learned something from John Grisham , who got up an hour early every day to work on his novel . I fol - Not My Boy revolves around lowed that advice . two sisters who realize their childhood dream of living next In addition to a command door to each other in adult - of the English language , I hood . Of course , something imagine two essential goes horribly wrong . Tell me ingredients for any fiction about the story and what you writer would be imagination like most about it . That’s what I like to do : smash and life experience . As a people’s dreams with a hammer . novelist , what do you consider That’s the genre I write in . … important arrows the most What I like most about the story in your quiver ? is the relationships between the I was an A + English student , so I grandmother and the grandchil - have the basic tools . I didn’t dren , which are interesting and finish college , and I didn’t do any complicated , and the relationship deep study of literature , so I’m Character between the two sisters , Hannah not as well read [ as some novel - and Hillary , who have history and ists ] . I do have a rich imagina - secrets between them . tion — I always have — and I’ve All or most of my books been writing since I was a child . I Driven have one thing in common : have had an unusual life for a They focus on the darkness in writer . I did not follow the whole Much like her novels , Kelly Simmons people’s souls . I am “ study literature , get your MFA , ig a b took a few unexpected twists and go work at a magazine ” path . I believer in people having bur - intended to major in journalism , dens you can’t see . I also believe turns on her way to literary success . and I would have enjoyed that in redemption . … I don’t believe trajectory had I had the money in books that are all happiness BY BILL DONAHUE and understanding that that was and light . I like to read books Kelly Simmons is happy to have turned the page on the path to take . that are a little dark . 2020 . She has started the new year on the right foot with the I grew up in a really modest publication of Not My Boy , her sixth novel . Like her previous books , town and a modest neighbor - For many novelists , even Not My Boy takes place in the Philadelphia area . hood , ot surrounded by n those who make a living as “ I’ve lived in a bunch of places — too many to talk about — but I scholars . My parents were won - full - time fiction writers , find the Philadelphia area interesting , beautiful , and blessed with derful and interesting , but they completing a novel and then a lot of variety , ” says Simmons , who grew up in Waukegan , Illinois . weren’t readers . I had the classic going about the task of “ I like the history , the attachment to history , and the old - fash - ’ 60s and ’ 70s childhood , where getting it published requires ioned - ness of the area . There’s a properness to a lot of people no one knew where you were a lot of stolen moments and here that cuts across wealth , and a politeness most parts of the day ; some - sacrifices . Has that been and an appreciation of fun . ” times I felt like I was part of a your experience , too ? Simmons , who now lives in Delaware dirty little pirate gang . That kind I know a lot of working moms County , has worked as a journalist , a screen - of life builds the imagination , who would be writers , but they writer , and a creative director . She still has because you’re left to your own struggle to find pockets of time hy her hand in the advertising business , but devices . I was also driven to the that are long enough to sustain rap she devotes most of her time and energy to library every Saturday , so I was their novels . Short fiction is otog the written word . In fact , she’s already well well read as a child . Having that easier to tuck into the corners , Ph into her next novel , which is set in Chestnut past made it harder for me to and that’s why I hink these t lund Hill . In addition to her own work , she enjoys get published , but it did build writing retreats and fellowships Eck helping fledgling writers hone their skills , in resilience . I’ve been working are so appealing . There are many Bill part by teaching students in Drexel University’s since I was 15 , and that does working moms and writer moms by MFA program . build character . That’s important home schooling their kids , and aph We spoke with her about Not My Boy , her circuitous path to for a writer , because getting they have had to almost give up togr literary success , and her childhood memories of being in a “ dirty [ from a finished novel ] their writing time and beg their to publi - Pho little pirate gang . ” husbands , “ Please , can you take ? cation takes forever . SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM JANUARY 2021 64 |