AUTHOR

Liberian Literatuure Review recently held an interview with Liberian author Lorriane S. Mason. She is a freelance writer, blogger and past contributing editor to the online magazines, US Africa and Time.

Good day Lorriane, it is good of you to answer our questions. I know that this was a bit rushed on you, but you found time to do this interview. We are grateful for that. 
 

 LLR: I am going strait for the throat here, lol. Who is this amazing woman that skillfully weaved the tales in the "Sassywood Man"? Tell us a bit more about you.  

The first part of my early childhood was spent in Marshall City, now a part of Margibi County.  There are many fond memories of that seaside town nestled between three rivers and the Atlantic.  Marshall was a close-knit community where everyone looked out for one another.  My values were shaped there.  It was there, too, that my early childhood education took form, attending the Rose Reeves’ Marshall Kindergarten School.

In the late 1960s, I moved to Monrovia with my mother where I enrolled into St Teresa’s Convent.  It was at St. Teresa’s that language and phonetics became a mainstay for learning and where I first delved into reading-spending vacations buried in books borrowed from the school library and exchanged amongst other avid readers.

LLR: What inspires you to write generally?

A major turning point was leaving Monrovia for Lofa County and the Lutheran Training Institute.  I would like to think that my inspiration for writing took root in that pristine village of Salayea.  Perhaps it was the serenity of the landscape, the distance from home, or the phase of life.  I wrote home often, enjoyed creating poetries for loved ones, and came to discover that doing research papers were a favorite pastime.  Another favorite pastime that often got me in trouble, was scribbling during class lectures.  An idea/thought would come to me and before long I’d lose myself in it and set adrift in a sea of contemplation. 

LLR: Who are some of the people/things that influence you?

I especially enjoyed American literature...the likes of Washington Irving, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Thomas Paine.  I would later come to appreciate Bai T. Moore’s Murder in the Cassava Patch and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in early adulthood. 

LLR: Can you talk a bit about the inspiration for the Sassywood Man?

Sassywood Man was birth of an actual event witnessed in the early 1970s.  The phenomenon of that experience was obviously long-lasting; enough that I decided to put the proverbial pen to paper and share with a friend who urged me to share that which few city dwellers had been privy to witnessing.   And since I did not want to publish a single subject story, I selected a few other pieces in my repertoire of literary works.

LLR: What is your writing process? How do you do it? How do you pick your topics?

The writing process!  I love to say that I live in my head and in the world around me.  My imagination is a constant flow.  Early on, before the advancement in technology, I would sleep with a notepad next to my bed and awaken at odd hours to write whatever ideas came to mind.   Similarly, there were ideas scribbled on notepads and sticky notes, strewn everywhere in my home waiting for the opportunity to be used.  The Blackberry was the best thing that happened to me.  Because then, I could consolidate my thoughts in one place and not have to deal with misplaced papers.  Although I am a license grief therapist and have a compilation of works in that area, I decided to pursue folklore as a way of sharing Liberia’s way of life with the relationships I’ve formed over the past 34 years of living in the United States.  It is imperative that we debunk the myths of who we are as a people.  And since my experience as a Liberian spans all social economic groups, it made sense that I’d speak to the issues.

LLR: Let’s talk books. What are your favorite Liberian books? Why do you love them?

I am a Liberian child of the 60s and 70s.  During that time, not many books were available for leisure indulgence.  I remember Elwood Dunn’s writings; but they were historical in nature.   Ultimately, I was given Bai T. Moore’s Murder in the Cassava Patch as a gift and a friend would later introduce me to the works of Wilton Sankawulo.   So in essence, those are two favorite folklorists.

LLR: As a Liberian author, what advantage/disadvantages are there? 

As a Liberian author, I would wish that our works were more consolidated and received the national recognition they deserve.  I learned that school children in Liberia are using books written by Ghanaian and Nigerian writers.   I find that somewhat appalling, since there are many established and emerging Liberian writers to fill the gap…more than we’ve ever experienced as a nation.  One advantage is the opportunity to invite readers into a world-yet unexplored.

LLR: How has Liberia influenced your works, and what do you think of the future of writing in Liberian? Where do you think it is headed?

My work is Liberia.  My fondest memories are all about Liberia.  My experiences might not have all been remarkable, but they are at the core of who I am.  Unless there is a collective effort to establish a network of Liberian writers, we will continue to operate on the fringes; writing for our own benefits-not as an amalgamation of literary force.

LLR: What are the greatest challenges for a modern Liberian writer especially in terms of publishing, distributing and promotion, in just getting out there?

Most Liberians self-publish which is par for the course until we can achieve a certain readership and get picked up by a publishing house.  Our greatest challenge is standing in our own way.  It’s obvious that there is an impressive number of gifted Liberian writers who need only to continue to refine their skills…as do I.  Writing is a fluid skill-always in motion.  And as such, the more time put into it, the more astute we’ll emerge.

LLR: What do you think of the future of writing and publishing in Liberia?

I cannot speak to the future of publishing in Liberia since I no longer live there.  I do hope we arrive at a place where we do not have to import writers from other countries to do our bidding; but invest in what we already have in place.

LLR: What do you think of digital media in general?

Digital media is a tool whose time has come.  It is convenient and provides quick and easy access to information-a necessary expediency.

LLR: What is your view on E-books and self-publishing? Have you used either?

Sassywood Man was self-published and is available as an Ebook.  I believe self-publishing allows writers, who would not otherwise be able to, to get their names in print.  The drawback to that is the quality of work can sometimes be lacking when writers fail to expend all the services available through self -publishing. 

LLR: Would you advise writers [published/aspiring] to use E-book or Self-publish?

I recommend both especially for first time authors.

LLR: What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Aspiring or not, writers should be readers.  “Read 10 books, write one,” I’ve heard some place.  It helps develop skills, vocabulary, and writing style.  If not a diploma(ed) creative writer, it’d pay to devour all the elements of writing, develop a style, commit to writing often, and find your voice.

LLR: What are you currently working on? What are some of your future projects?

 I am currently working on a picture book for girls called Who Will Speak for Me?  Who Will Speak for Me gives voice to situations in which young girls find themselves…daily.  The hope is to create awareness through a myriad of scenarios on safeguarding them against sexual abuse and rape without guilt.   Couple with that are other short stories trekking through parts of Liberia…outside of Monrovia. 

Thanks for the opportunity to be showcased and much appreciation for your tireless efforts in identifying and creating a consortium of Liberian writers.

Once again, we here at LLR really appreciate your participation in our projects. We look forward to working with you again.  

You can find Lorraine's book on Amazon and every major bookstore. She is on the following social media:
 

http://www.lorraineshermanmason.com/

https://twitter.com/mmwfoundation

Facebook: LORRAINE SHERMAN MASON (Author Page)

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SassywoodMan