Interview with Amanda Smyth

In lieu of the Catch That Book Radio interview with Amanda Smyth, she is joining us here on the blog. Amanda is a debut author and her new book is entitled Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange. Please enjoy the interview and leave a comment for her.

AE: Hi Amanda, Welcome to Author Exposure! We are glad to have the opportunity to interview you all the way from the U.K. What is the significance of the title ~ Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange? How did you come up with it?

Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange is a Trinidad saying, which means that a tree can only bear its own kind of fruit. And in the novel, Celia's quest is really for her identity, her roots, her sense of belonging. In England the book is called Black Rock, but apparently this is some kind of financial institution in USA, so we had to change the title.

AE: Tell us about Celia and the conflict that she encounters in the story.

Celia is a bright and beautiful girl, but she is also someone who stands out from the crowd, who doesn't quite fit in, and she longs to find her place. Celia looks for a sense of belonging in all the wrong places, and it is only in the end that she comes to recognise and accept that her security will never come from 'out there,' but from somewhere deep inside herself.

AE: Your writing is reminiscent of a natural storyteller. Are any of the characters or events in the story derived from personal experience? Was there much research in capturing the essence of Trinidad and Tobago?

My family have been in Trinidad for many generations. As a child, I would listen to the stories told by my grandmother and her sisters in their veranda, and I was transfixed. Many of these stories will appear in the novel, and in fact, my own great grandfather, Carr Brown was shot on his way to his home in Tamana in the fifties.

AE:  One of the things we focus on at Author Exposure is debut novels that are ideal for book clubs. Can you share with us some of the discussible themes that are in Lime Can’t Bear Orange?

One of the themes that has been explored is displacement; the struggle of our heroine to find her place in the world. Also, the perception of Trinidad, the Caribbean, through the eyes of Trinidadian people and the English: the hell and heaven of a tropical island.

AE: What is your inspiration for writing? Do you have any favorite authors or books?

I am a big fan of Jean Rhys, and also Jamaica Kincaid. I love a lot of US authors, Carver, Richard Ford, Jason Brown...

All sorts of things can be inspiring for me: music, photographs, memories. When I was writing Lime Tree, I had a lot of photos on my pinboard, and they weren't necessarily that relevant, but they evoked a feeling, or a time, or a particular light.

AE: How long did take you to write your book? What was your reaction when you first saw the cover?

From start to finish, about five years. I was working full time when I began the novel, and that was tough - writing only on Sundays. Then I was fortunate enough to receive an arts council grant which allowed me to write full time.

The cover [above,right] is quite different to the UK edition [to the left], which is a painting by Peter Doig, and actually quite dark. This US cover is lighter and has more hope, somehow, and I like that.

AE: What was your reaction when you heard that your book was one of Oprah’s Summer Picks in 2009?

I was thrilled!

AE: Congratulations on your nomination for the 41st NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literature – Debut Author. How did you feel when you heard this news? Any anxieties as you wait to hear the news?

This was such a huge compliment. I didn't realise at first what a big deal it is. It tells me I got something right!

AE: What’s your best advice to the aspiring writer who hopes to publish one day?

Read lots, and write lots. Work hard. Work really hard.

AE: Amanda, it’s been a pleasure having you here at Author Exposure. We wish you much success and hope to have you visit us again when you publish your next book. Please tell everyone how they can find your book and keep up with your book events.

My book is available at most large bookstores, and of course, on amazon.com. I don't have a website yet, but hope to have one in the future. [ If you are considering Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange for book club, get the discussion questions here.]
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Be sure to tune into the 41st NAACP Image Awards Tonight @ 8/7c on FOX. Win or lose, Author Exposure wishes all nominees much success.