We were lucky to catch up with Deborah Kalb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Deborah, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
I came up with the idea for my book blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, back in 2012. I had co-authored a book with my father, Marvin Kalb, called Haunting Legacy: Vietnam and the American Presidency from Ford to Obama, and our publisher (Brookings) suggested we have a website related to the book. As part of the website, I interviewed people who had written books related to the Vietnam War. Then I decided to branch out…why not start a new blog that allowed me to interview authors who had written on a wide variety of subjects? And that’s what I’ve been doing for more than a decade now! It started with my approaching authors I knew or admired, and asking them if they’d like to be interviewed. Over the years, as the blog became better known, authors and publicists approach me to see if I’d like to interview them. And I still contact authors whose work intrigues me to see if they are open to a Q&A. One of the most exciting moments of my day is checking the mail to see which review copies have arrived! It’s a privilege to be able to spread the word about other authors’ books. As an author myself, I know how difficult the process is, and I’m happy to help other writers.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started out in journalism back in the 1980s, after I graduated from college, and spent about 20 years working at a variety of news organizations in Washington, D.C., including Gannett News Service, The Hill newspaper, and Congressional Quarterly, mostly covering Congress and politics. Over the past couple of decades, I’ve focused on freelance writing and books. I’ve written, edited, updated, or contributed to a number of reference books for SAGE/Congressional Quarterly, most recently Elections A to Z. I’ve co-authored Haunting Legacy, a nonfiction book for adults, and also written three time travel novels for kids–a series called The President and Me. My most recent book is Off to Join the Circus, my first novel for adults. It’s about an overly enmeshed family in the D.C. area and what happens when a legendary relative returns after 64 years. I’ve been told it’s very funny. :) In addition to my ongoing book blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, I’m now part of a podcast with my friend Mary Grace McGeehan. It’s called Rereading Our Childhood, and we go back to books we read as kids, such as Harriet the Spy and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. It’s been a lot of fun.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2005, I was the deputy managing editor of The Hill newspaper, a D.C.-based publication focused on Congress and politics. I was about to have my first (and only!) child, and given that I was an older mom, I decided to take a little time off and spend it with my son. The idea was that I’d co-author a book with my father, journalist Marvin Kalb (who’s now 93 and still writing) about the legacy of the Vietnam War, a topic that intrigued both of us. Then, after a year or so, I’d go back to the high-speed world of journalism. But the book took us six years to write. And by the time we were finished, journalism had undergone a shift that resulted in many reporters and editors at publications around the country being laid off. Those who remained were working 24/7, doing the work of several people. As a result, I turned to books and blogging, as well as freelance assignments. There are many of us who came of age in the newsrooms of the 1980s and 1990s who reinvented themselves, so I was not alone. But it was jarring. I like to think I made some good choices along the way, and that things turned out all right.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
For my book blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, my goal is to spread the word about other people’s books. (And I do have other people interview me when I have a new book come out! :) ) Unless you’re one of the big-name authors, it’s really tough to publicize your book. Fewer publications review books these days, and many bookstores are reluctant to stock books by less well-known writers. So blogs like mine are one way for authors to let people know that their book is out in the world. I generally ask authors six questions tailored to their particular book, and they are free to answer the questions however they wish. Usually I focus on new books, but if an author wants to talk about a book that’s been out for a while, that’s fine too. I also link to the Q&As on Facebook and Instagram. I love hearing from readers who learned about a book through my blog!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deborahkalb.com
- Instagram: @deborahskalb
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeborahKalbBooks/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-kalb-2a602a3b/