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Georgiann Baldino has a style like no other. Her stories are quirky and just plain fun to read. She puts her characters into unusual situations with sometimes hilarious results, but the plot also has a hint of seriousness. She’s talented at mixing all of those ingredients into one story and making it work. I simply can’t wait until she writes her next fiction book.
Born in Waukegan, IL (the same place Jack Benny was born), Ms. Baldino spent her childhood days climbing in the loft of the barn with her sister. It was a challenge for little girls because several rungs of the ladder were missing, and they counted it as high adventure to make it to the top. Christmas parties started at noon with finger foods and beverages, and as the afternoon progressed and the beverages increased, the party became louder. Once, one of her nieces was trying to take a nap, but she couldn’t sleep because of all of the laughter, so she came out, stomped her tiny foot, and declared, “There’s no laughin’ in here!” It was one of the funniest moments of her life.
Tai Chi Chih has become one of Ms. Baldino’s favorite things. She has an affinity for it, and she finds that her body seems to know what to do, almost as if she has muscle memory from some past life. Other favorite things include family, spiced tea, yoga classes, early morning walks, Native American flute music, and concerts in parks. She collects colored cordial glasses—a collection that her husband’s grandmother started. The grandmother used to take a “nip” before bed—her refined way of doing shots. She passed three sets of glasses down to Ms. Baldino, and since then she’s added a few more—but tiny, colored glassware similar to hers is hard to find.
She’s passionate about plants and is a garden addict. She says that plants are great in that they don’t make verbal demands. The time she spends outdoors, tending flowers and vegetables, is a welcome break from writing. Whenever they take a vacation, her family knows she has to visit the nearest botanical gardens.
On Writing, in Ms. Baldino’s Own Words
What or who inspires you to write?
Too many things. Inspiration is everywhere: other writers (I belong to two writers’ groups), conversations, quotes from famous people…the list goes on. The drawer is full of projects that I need time to get to.
Why did you begin writing?
Because I found it easiest to express my thoughts on paper. I need time away from the influence of others to define and come to terms with life’s experiences. Talking to others is great, but my natural inclination around people is to listen and take things in. Writing is a way to process all the incoming stimulus.
Which author inspires you?
I own more books by Joyce Carol Oates than any other author. I love the visual images I get from reading her work. She readily creates pictures in the mind’s eye. This year, I was also inspired by historian Orville Vernon Burton’s book, The Age of Lincoln. His book seems to be the accumulation of a lifetime of knowledge, yet it is accessible to general readers.
What do you find most rewarding about writing?
A sense of accomplishment. It’s wonderful when a reader relates to a passage. I also have become a facilitator for a therapeutic journaling group at the local cancer center. The work we do there is not for publication, but the research I did about the benefits of expressive writing confirms what I knew instinctively—that stories help people heal.
Have you experienced writer’s block? And, if so, how did you cure it?
I had a career as a technical writer. The discipline I learned from writing on the job translated well when I began to freelance. Of course, there are times when I feel burned out. When that happens, I give myself permission to take a few days off. It never takes more than a couple days to want to get back to some type of project. One other way I avoid the problem is to have several projects going at the same time. If the long project is slowing down, I work on a nonfiction article or create another session for the therapeutic journaling workshop.
When is your next book due out, and what’s it about?
My next book will be nonfiction about what I have learned from facilitating the journaling support group. The material has already been created and tested with participants at the cancer center, and I’m working on the proposal now. The next step is getting expert recommendations and then finding the right publisher. The book will come out as soon as the business part of writing comes together.
Please read my review of The Nursing Home Fugitive, and then visit Ms. Baldino at her Web site to learn about this talented new author.
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