NEW BERLIN – Local author Ginnah Howard has written and released her latest work of literary fiction which deals with an upstate New York family’s struggle with addiction, mental illness and incarceration. She is slated to hold a special author reading and question and answer session at 7 p.m., Sept. 18 at the New Berlin Library, 15 S. Main St.
Howard will be at the library to read excerpts from “Doing Time Outside” and answering questions posed by those in attendance. As for the title of the novel, Howard said when someone’s family member, significant other, or friend is incarcerated in a correctional facility, the life of the person who is not detained is altered in many ways and - in a sense - those people are doing time too, simply outside of the facility.
This time can be difficult or painful, and the dynamics of the relationships may change with time.
In her novel, there are four main voices: Carla, Angela, Tess and Rudy. Readers may be able to identify with one or more of the characters in the novel, or may know someone who does.
“There may be one small thing that inspires a story, and then it just goes from there and is mostly made up,” said Howard. “There is a connection to the core of the story even though it is not about my own experience.”
“Doing Time Outside” has been described as compelling, gritty ... and funny. It “travels the back roads of family life to better understand what it means to be tied by blood and love to the world of mental illness, addiction and incarceration.”
This is the second novel she has released; her first, titled “Night Navigation” (Standing Stone Books), garnered her a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.
Other stories written by Howard have appeared in Water-Stone Review, Permafrost, Portland Review, Descant 145, Eleven Eleven Journal, and Stone Canoe.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York State gave Howard their Media Award for work on behalf of those with mental illness and their families.
Howard resides in Gilbertsville, NY and spent 22 years as a school teacher in New Berlin. It was during her late 40s when she began her writing career - by chance, she said.
“The New York State English Bureau began to press all teachers to actively write with their students; how could you teach something that you didn’t do yourself? I remember writing my first short story as part of an assignment I’d given one of my senior classes. After a weekend of struggling to put into fictional scenes the experience of seeing a boy have an epileptic seizure on the playground when I was a sixth grader, I said to my class, ‘Wow, writing a story is hard isn’t it?’” added Howard.
The author also explained when both of her children left home, she was left with more time alone, an opportunity to pursue her art.
Howard stated, “Being able to spend time alone, to mull, to enter the fictional world, is especially helpful in writing a novel.” She added reading aloud as a teacher helped her to foster her art.
New Berlin Library Director Darlene LaBrie hopes many turn out to the event. The novel addresses important issues and is locally based. She added, “She used to be a teacher here locally, so it is of special interest for many local residents.”
“This will be fun,” added Howard. “I hope to see some of my former students and maybe teachers I worked with too.”
For further information, visit Ginnahhoward.com or call the New Berlin Library at 847-8564.