5th Annual San Diego Memoir Showcase Memoir Showcase Winners: Q & A with Suzanne Spector & Susan J. Farese
Bio: Eighty-three year-old Suzanne Spector, took up memoir writing in her late seventies after two successful careers and almost two decades of fulfilling retirement. She was formerly the Director of the Center for the Studies of the Person, a humanistic psychology organization founded by world famous psychologist Carl Rogers. Before moving to California, she was the Director of the Center for Open Education, an innovative independent school, nursery through senior high that she founded in (Bergen County, New Jersey) in 1968.
Suzanne expected to end the memoir she is working on with her 80th Birthday celebration, but six months after her birthday, life called with a surprising, delightful new chapter. After forty plus years as a happy, independent single woman, a wrong number phone call delivered a wonderful, loving, hot romance to her life. She “Didn’t See That One Coming,” her Memoir Showcase story.
SJF: In a nutshell – tell us about your winning memoir piece “Dancing Hearts Emoji” for the 5th Annual San Diego Memoir Showcase.
SS: At age 80, after forty plus years as a happy, independent single woman, a wrong number phone call delivered a wonderful, loving, hot romance to my life. I “Didn’t See That One Coming,” – That’s my Memoir Showcase story. It was fun to write it, and fun to live it.
SJF: What has your experience been taking classes/workshops and writing memoir in San Diego?
SS: In my late seventies I developed an urge to write about my life. I’d written papers easily all through school, even a doctoral dissertation, but I had never taken a writing class or written anything creative. I started out taking a six-week Memoir class taught by Lois Sunrich at the Adult School in my neighborhood. In that first class, Lois asked us to list ten touchstone experiences in our lives and then to write about one of them. To my surprise, my Bat Mitzvah was on my list. I didn’t know it was so important to me, but as I wrote about it, I realized its significance in my life. I was off and running.
Lois invited me to join a read and critique group, then a journaling group and I began to work with her privately, all the way through a 700-page autobiography. At some point, she convinced me to start taking classes. I began taking classes and workshops at San Diego Writers, Ink where I met Marni Freedman. It was love at first sight. Fortuitously, Marni had an opening in her read and critique group…and they have been my writing heart and home ever since. This group of incredible women, all wonderful talented writers have been my patient, supportive, guiding, editing, inspiring writing family for several years. I feel totally blessed to be part of the Feisty Writers, as we call ourselves. I’ve also worked privately with Marni, Traci Jones and Elizabeth Eschoo who have all been teaching and guiding me in constructing drafts of my memoir.
SJF: If you had a magic wand, what kind of opportunities would be available to memoir writers in San Diego?
SS: I wish all memoir writers the good fortune I’ve had with writing teachers, classes, workshops, editors and writing groups.
SJF: What are you excited about when it comes to participating in the 5th Annual Memoir Showcase?
SS: Needless to say, I am thrilled to be a winner in the 5th Annual Memoir Showcase. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Last year, I served wine in the lobby of the theater with one of my fellow Feisties. I’m happy to do that again and also to sit at the grown-ups table… an actual writer! I look forward to the whole experience with the other winners, of working with the actors, director and producers.
SJF: What advice would you give to a new writer in San Diego?
SS: My advice to other new writers would be to take classes and find a good read and critique group. At my age, I didn’t have time to take classes and learn some craft first. If you’re also older with an urge to write your life like I was, I would advise you to jump right in and do it. It’s fun and challenging. If you’re younger and have the time, you might want to learn some craft first.
SJF: Favorite Memoirs?
SS: Favorite memoirs. All the contemporary “classics” like Kelly Corrigan, Mary Carr, Dani Shapiro. I also loved Obama’s books and now Michelle’s was definitely a favorite. I’m going to download a sample of Samantha Power’s new memoir, a mix of two of my favorite things- politics and memoir.
SJF: Many thanks, Suzanne!