Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/262375
riters, more than most creative souls, have to face the blank page daily. For some, a great editor provides the kind of support, perspective, and focus necessary to produce a unique story—a story so compelling that the reader would never know what kind of literary collaboration contributed to its success. Award winning author Edwidge Danticat and Knopf editorial director and vice president Robin Desser have such a collaboration. On the occasion of the publication of Danticat's most recent novel, "Claire of the Sea Light," the author and her editor talk about what it takes to bring a story to literary life. Kate Betts: Where did the idea for this novel come from? Edwidge Danticat: I started writing "Claire of the Sea Light" in 2005. I had seen a documentary about children who are in orphanages in Haiti, children whose parents had placed them there even though they were obviously not orphans, and while watching that documentary, Claire's character suddenly came to me. I had the first chapter, in which Claire, age seven, goes missing; then I put it away for a while. It was during that period that my father died of pulmonary fibrosis, my uncle died in immigration custody, and my daughter Mira was born. I wrote a memoir about all that called "Brother, I'm Dying," which Robin also edited. I went back to Claire after the memoir was published and was able to see it with fresh eyes. After working on it for some time, I showed Robin a draft. (I only show her finished manuscripts, not pieces). KB: What is the difference between writing fiction and writing nonfiction? ED: There is a lot more freedom in fiction. You get to make things up. With nonfiction, you have to be a lot more careful. The facts 128 BAL HARBOUR Following the publication of her most recent novel, "Claire of the Sea Light," award winning author Edwidge Danticat talks with her editor, Robin Desser about writing, where ideas come from, and what it takes to break through writer's block. BY KATE BETTS LITERARY CIRCLE W