Episode 58: Joyce Yarrow, author of Sandstorm and Pushcart Prize Nominee

How her latest novel Sandstorm was inspired by Joyce’s childhood in the Bronx, the shaky line between law-abiding and not, and her writing advice.

Interview Notes:

Joyce shares how the book was inspired by her youth in the South East Bronx, and many of her friends were on the edge of this line between law abiding or not. And a desire to write a character-driven crime story. She starts with a character whose moral compass is shaky and follows her through to trying to establish herself in adult-hood.

The big “what if?” in the book is can the key character use the skills she’s learned and cross back into mainstream society?

Joyce chats about how the book changed in revisions, and shares how her inspiration started with a particular memory of a school bully who used to pick on her.

Her writing advice is don’t be afraid to learn from doing and from your own mistakes. People will give you advice but eventually your passion and belief in yourself is what will get on the page.

Joyce’s book recommendation for us is THE WILDERNESS BETWEEN US by Penny Haw a South African based writer, releasing on July 31. This noel is also about a sensitive subject; a main character on a camping trip who struggles with anorexia and is a thoughtful study of how she begins to triumph over her illness in her own way. A delicate subject that Joyce felt Penny handled beautifully.