Sleeping in the Sun received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Joanne Howard.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Sleeping in the Sun; October 22, 2024
What’s the book’s first line?
The last morning stars still lingered over the Big House when Gene Hinton saw the mourners coming up the road.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
An American boy comes of age in the last years of the British Raj; little does he know that his Indian servant holds the key to understanding the world—for better or worse.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
It’s inspired by my own grandfather’s upbringing in India. He was born and raised in Midnapore, near Calcutta, where his parents were American Baptist missionaries.
Their life as missionaries was somewhat unique for westerners in India in that not only did they immerse themselves in India’s lowest social classes, those that needed the help, but they also were quite poor themselves. I thought this was pretty different from all the novels I had read about the English in India, which often had characters of high society or power and lived very proper lives.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
If they’re looking for historical novels in non-western settings, about a unique perspective of Americans in India during the British Raj.
The book is set in the 1930s, just a decade before India gains independence in 1947. In 1911, the Raj moved its capital from Calcutta to New Delhi amidst a rising nationalist movement in Calcutta. So the story takes place in between these big historical events. Bengal was historically a more progressive part of India; for example, the Bengal Renaissance was an arts and culture movement that saw a rise in themes of individualism and independence. So the stage is set for the fall of colonial rule, even if it is still a few years off.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Gene is a precocious if naïve American boy, the youngest of four brothers, who seems to be the only one questioning the power dynamics of life growing up under the British Raj. He reminds me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes! This is my debut novel. It began as my thesis during my MFA program in Creative Writing at Pacific University, Oregon. I can definitely say it got the best start in the program, as opposed to setting out on my own. I had the most amazing guidance from the faculty who were quite tough on me, and it made the book so much stronger.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m a copywriter based in the SF Bay Area. So I’m always writing.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
For this novel in particular, it took me a solid six years to complete. The first draft took me about two years. I’m very slow at writing, and I’ve worked a full-time job during the whole process. Sometimes it was an hour before work, half an hour during my lunch break, or a couple hours over weekends. Many people think you must dedicate multiple hours every day, but you can write a book little by little. There’s no time limit.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
So many, but I’ll pick Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It’s my “deserted island” book. The story is so complex, no corners cut. It’s incredibly long, but well worth the time to read it.