Interview with Marian Langhus, Ph.D. on writing a fictional memoir – 

Pancake Hill

(April 20, 2024, Meta AI Generated Questions)

(BGL) – paragraphs added by Bruce Langhus, Ph.D.

1. What inspired you to write a fictional memoir, and how did you balance fact and fiction?

The telling of the reality of climate change is a difficult task. The storms, floods and fires mentioned in the novel have all happened. The instances are not exaggerated but maybe adjusted on a timeline for better story telling. 

The characters are a mix of real and fictitious people. We want to think their love is real.

(BGL) A complex subject such as climate change science is almost impossible to explain to all audiences, fictional climate memoir is a good way to talk about the science from a specific point of view matched to a specific audience such as primary schoolers, high schoolers, or senior citizens. The Science must be meticulously factual, but the dialog will need to be fictionalized but must be appropriate for your characters. The goal is to build relatable characters that deal with climate disasters taken from actual events.

• How much of your own life experience influenced the story, and what elements are entirely fictional? 

The climate stories are real from some place in time. The hospital and hardware store area fictional. Pancake Hill is based on the author’s home, other settings bear some resemblance to actual structures in our village.

(BGL) As much experience as possible will be fitted into the memoir; in this way the action will be as realistic as possible. If a completely fictional setting is used, the action will likely sound hollow and unauthentic. But the memoir’s central climate disaster will certainly be primarily fictionalized, it must be created using research and sympathy.

• What themes or messages did you aim to convey through the narrative?

Climate change is real, people’s lives are being affected. Much can be done to mitigate the harm to people. Many adaptations could become real. The world is full of loving characters. Telling of stories like this let people know, yes, things can get bad, but they will get through it.

(BGL) The central themes for fictional climate memoir have to include portrayal of the seriousness of climate threats and at the same time the message that we all need to help our neighbours so that we can survive. 

•  How did you develop the protagonist’s voice and perspective?

On February 12, 2022, I wrote a short playlet as an Ignatian writing exercise for my Licensed Lay Worship Leader class (United Church of Canada). I had a new Wi-Fi system installed at that time and the image of the technician impressed me. I would say I was the eleven-year-old boy, Nikki. The story of the Wi-Fi installer talking to Nikki is from John 3: 3-17. 

Mary and Burt are obviously myself and my husband, Bruce. Our home setting is accurate. All the climate stories are from published science. Mary’s frustration with retirement was not made up. 

The interactions with the rest of the characters are pure fiction but closely aligned to the realities of climate change. The opinions expressed in the memoir are my largely own developed from years of following climate science news.  

• What research or preparation went into creating the setting and time period?

Since we moved to our own village in 2015, our lives have been immersed in researching the effects of climate change on our local environment and worldwide. The time period fits with 2021 to 2024. The story takes place from April to September all in the same year.

• How did you navigate the ethical considerations of writing a fictional memoir, potentially drawing from real people or events?

The characters based on real people who knew they were being written about and consulted upon for some details. Gabi, Eloise, Bessie, and Dr. Hawthorn bear close resemblance to real characters. The hardware store does not exist. Many of the events are drawn from real life and woven together for a readable story. 

• What do you hope readers take away from the story, and how do you want it to resonate with them?

I hope people realize the serious effects climate change is having and will have in our lives. But moreover, I want people to realize how resilient and creative (and loving) people need to be.

• Can you share any specific writing challenges or breakthroughs you experienced during the creative process?

I worked on the novel over two years. I tend to work intensely and then put it aside. This year I have worked every day (with maybe two exceptions).

Late last summer, I was not writing at all. But I knew I would. I had been greatly injured by people I did not expect. I sat outside on my front porch and said, “I am going to sew every for 40 days”, and I did. I knew something would come out of the exercise. I knew it would bear on my writing. I kept a journal and towards the end, I realized. “It is important to me to know what I am doing next.” Somehow this helped me, and I always knew what I would write about next. I never had writer’s block.

I used a graphic organizer to assemble my stories. It made certain aspects pop out. I took a day and made a huge spreadsheet to record chapters on the side but across the top I had elements in the story and characters. As I wrote each chapter, I checked off what I had. If I was missing something, say the mention of wildflowers, I would go back and put it in. Every time, it improved the chapter.

I also used an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the number of words in each chapter and then I could see at what place in the story the big events occur (like 75% for the climax). 

• How does your background or personal experiences influence your writing style and storytelling approach?

My background is geology and science education. My fiction writing style is new to me as I have only written for science audiences. My storytelling approach comes from my experience telling stories for over a year and half, as the Science Chaplain, at the monthly meetings of the Conference of Disaster Ministries for the United Church of Christ (USA). 

My focus was to give them science stories to protect them in the field. For example, not many people know poisonous copperhead snakes are now found as far north as Connecticut. Most of my stories are related to the effects of climate change, flooding, drought, smoke, food insecurity, the heat of the ocean. 

The science stories mentioned in Pancake Hill come from events that have already happened. Weaving them into the romance of the characters makes learning about climate change more understandable and relatable.

10. What’s next for you as an author, and are you exploring similar themes or genres in future projects?

My next focus will depend on how the book is received. I love every character. Maybe some will return. 

Pancake Hill gave some hints about the real problems with housing and food security. I am researching ideas on co-housing now. 

Memoir fiction was a good route for me and my first novel. I did not know until the book was finished that it was a new genre to be used in storytelling for special interests.