Meet Grinnell Desjarlais, the talented author behind Saving KC, a story that invites readers on a journey filled with love, loss, and unexpected connections. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Montana. The novel introduces us to Kelly, a war survivor navigating a world where everything familiar has vanished, and a young songstress caught in the whirlwind of fame. Their lives collide in ways that change them forever, making for a poignant tale of resilience and rediscovery. Let’s dive into this fascinating conversation with Grinnell to explore the inspiration behind this captivating story.
Q. If you could give your book to one person in the entire world to read, who would it be and why?
A. Karen Carpenter’s Brother Richard. To let him know that there are some who really still care…about both of them. And I think it would be something he would enjoy.
Q. How did you come up with your title?
A. KC is what Karen’s friends sometimes called her, as well as her brother. The book explores the question of how she could be saved from her ultimate fate in real life, and I felt it was appropriate.
Q. When did you decide to write this story and why?
A. It was just before the pandemic in March of 2019. I had been exploring popular music reactions on YouTube. She (Karen Carpenter) happened to come up in a video request by someone on a reaction group I was following. So, I watched one and then looked for all the Carpenters videos. I didn’t know any videos of them existed. There are many. I tried to recall what happened to her as I went through them. I was soon reminded how things ended for her. I became obsessed with her story as I went through the articles, books, biographical movies, and interviews. And truthfully, I probably fell in love with her. She and I would be the same age. This lit the fuse on an idea. What would it look like if she somehow could have been saved, and what would that look like?
Q. What has been your favorite comment/review so far about your book?
A. “This book is absolutely fantastic; I was quite skeptical about it when I first heard it was centered on the Vietnam War. But reading this book gave me a thrilling joy as I was able to picture every word described in the book. This a must-read.”
Q. What is something you learned while writing this book?
A. This is my first book. I knew nothing of the publishing industry (I am an electrical contractor in Seattle, Washington). My hybrid publisher, Classic Day Publishing of Seattle (Elliott Wolf), taught me about the industry’s workings, what to look out for, and what it took to be a writer. I learned that editing is a long, detailed, and laborious process, with rewrite after rewrite. (it took a year).
Q. If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
A. Karen Carpenter is still alive.
To be able to meet her. (one day I will, I know that).
For my daughter to successfully continue our business.
Q. Which fictional character would be most exciting to meet in real life?
A. Sharon Stone. Basic Instinct…You said exciting!
Q. What is the most useless talent you have?
A. Sleeping through heavy artillery fire.
Driving long distances in the night.
Q. What got you into writing?
A. Until recently, I have always said I am not a writer. However, my publisher and publicist have asked me, “Then who wrote this book? Don’t you see you ARE a writer?” I indicated before that this is not a world I would ever consider me a part of. As I said, I became obsessed with her real-life story. It powerfully touched me in a way I had never experienced. I think I grieved for her as I started to imagine a way that she could have been saved from her ultimate fate (anorexia bulimia). So, I wrote a chapter where I imagined two damaged people might meet, both suffering from different disorders, both potentially fatal. I became so emotional over this experience that I started to write, write, and write. I sketched a storyline from beginning to end. It became clear that this was going to be a book. This overwhelming emotional force pushed me; I lost track of the time some days and wrote until 2 and 3 in the morning. I continued to write at work. My employees were becoming concerned. I overheard some asking others what had gone wrong with me. While creating storylines, I read some writing tips from author Stephen King. He said one method he used to flush out ideas was to take two totally unrelated things, people, ideas, and cultures, and mash them against one another and see what sort of contrasts became visible. That clicked, and I knew what it was going to look like. I knew I would publish something at that point, but I was unsure what or how to do it. I explored some vanity publishing operations but could barely understand or trust most of them. I knew as a first-time writer, my chances of getting an agent or one of the big houses to look at me weren’t going to happen. I finally contacted a local Seattle-area vanity publisher: Peanut Butter/Classic Day Publishing. Elliott Wolf didn’t pull any punches; he coached me on what to expect in the process and what it would cost. He said he would love to help, but unless I was serious and willing to pay the price, he couldn’t help me. I then knew he was the guy. At one point, after I had turned in the manuscript and the initial round of edits had taken place, Elliott called me and said. “I don’t ordinarily make calls like this, but the editor called me, and was she in tears. She needs more time to do another round of edits to tighten things up because there is something to this story you have written.” I couldn’t tell if he was pulling my leg or was genuinely serious. In the end, of course, he was. I suspected at that point that maybe I could do this. And the rest is literary history!
Rapid Fire
Q. Movie or TV Series?
A. Movie, I demand instant gratification.
Q. Long Walk or long car ride?
A. A long car ride, it relaxes me and helps me think, especially at night.
Q. Comedy or Drama?
A. Drama, What would one expect of a INFP type 4.
Q. The city or the country?
A. The country, City is way too stressful. Besides I am from Montana originally.
Q. Baking or Cooking?
A. I enjoy cooking with my microwave after first removing the contents from the can.
Q. Reading a book or watching a movie?
A. Reading a book, obviously! I like pictures painted in my head.
Q. Holding a Puppy or Holding a Baby?
A. Holding a baby kind of scares me, and I’m afraid I might drop it. Puppy dogs are fun.
Q. Invisibility cloak or sparkling skin?
A. Oh, the damage I could do with a cloak and cards in Vegas.
Q. Coffee or tea?
A. Coffee keeps me going until the early hours so I can write.
Q. Lounging on the beach or Hiking?
A. Never was much of a hiker, More of a beach lizard.
Want to learn more about Saving KC, check it out here!
read the next author interview here.