Q. Tell us a little bit about your book.
A. The book is a memoir; it chronicles the story of me and my brother Gregg as we come of age. Gregg is murdered and there is a highly publicized trial afterwards where his wife is found guilty of masterminding his murder with her teenage student and lover. The book flashes through time, from when we were children through his murder and through the trial and conviction of his wife.
Q. What excites you most about your book?s topic? Why did you choose it?
A. I chose to write the memoir so that Gregg my brother and murder victim would be remembered, I find that far too often in today?s society victims are left behind and it seems as though the world only cares about the crime itself or the criminals. I wanted to change the way people viewed the case by showing them what was most important, that being Gregg and his memory. This is also what makes me excited about the book that Gregg will never be forgotten and that so many people are now going to get the chance to know him and see what he was like.
Q. How long did the book take you from start to finish?
A. I wrote bits and pieces of memoir back in college five or so years ago preparing myself for what would eventually become the book. I worked on the manuscript on and off for three or so years, but I often took large chunks of time off from writing.
Q. What aspect of writing the book did you find particularly challenging?
A. The hardest part for me was reliving the murder scene as I wrote that section. It took me months to get it the way I wanted it. Even some of the happy scenes were difficult to get through as I missed Gregg and my parents as I wrote.
Q. What surprised you the most about the book writing process?
A. I found myself relieved after I finished, I felt like I had finally gotten the whole thing out of my system, I knew this would happen but I didn?t realize how relieved I would be.
Q. Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?
A. I wrote mainly from memory and when I shared the book with a few relatives they remembered some scenes just as I had so that was nice knowing that I was pretty close to nailing the memory as it was.
On this same note I had written about Gregg winning his little league playoff game with a hit in the ninth inning. After I wrote the scene I was searching for photos for the books website and I came across an old newspaper clipping about Gregg winning the game with his hit. So it was a bit of an affirmation for me. A similar thing happened with a scene I wrote about shooting stars, that I saw late one night, I wrote the scene and then later came across a newspaper article about other people seeing them that night.
Q. What do you hope your readers will gain from reading your book?
A. First I hope readers get to know and love Gregg through the book. I hope that readers will be able to understand how devastating his loss was to my family. I also hope that readers will have a changed view on how the media tends to focus on the crime itself and not the victim or the family; that is I hope people will look at crime in a different way after reading the book.
Q. What projects are you currently working on?
A. I?m just starting to write the sequel to the book. I?m also working on a book of poetry,
Q. Is writing your sole career? If not, what else do you do?
A. Yes writing is my sole career for the time being, as I may open a bonsai shop soon.
Q. Did you do any research for your books, or did you write from experience?
A. Yes, most of the book was written purely from experience and memory. As I got closer to the trial, I had to research the exact quotes for the testimony, so I referenced the old shoe box that I had placed all of the newspaper clippings in, back when the murder and trial happened.
Q. How did you come up with your title?
A. The title came from one of my chapter titles, the book was originally titled Under the Weeping Willow, which is also the title of the first section of the book, and we thought the new title was stronger so we went with it.
Q. What books have influenced you the most?
A. I read mostly poetry and one of my textbooks from UNH is one of my favorites it?s called Western Wind. I also love the book, Wabi Sabi for Writers.
Q. Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?
A. Mont Clair press is my publisher, I wanted to self publish and contacted Infinity Publishing one Monday morning I called and ended up talking to the CEO, Art Gutch and he invited me to be published on Mont Clair.
Q. What inspired you to create a work of non-fiction?
A. People always asked me what it was like to go through it all, so I tried to show them through the book.
Q. What did you do to prepare for writing your book?
A. I studied at UNH and learned to write from several prominent writers and poets
Q. How did you develop your idea for this book?
A. I had a lot of material to cover so I decided to flash through time with the scenes in the book jumping ahead for each section.
Q. What can we look forward to in your next book?
A. The rest of my story from the time right after the trial, to well now, possible unless I decide to write 2 sequels. Although my next book will most likely be a collection of my poetry.
About the author: Dean J. Smart graduated from the University of New Hampshire?s writing program with a bachelor?s degree in English. While at UNH Dean studied under Pulitzer Prize winning poet and US Poet Laureate Charles Simic. Dean resides in a small New England town with his wife and family. A writer and poet, Dean is currently writing the sequel to Skylights and Screen Doors and is putting the final touches on a book of poetry. Learn more at: www.SkylightsandScreendoors.com
About the book:
It Was a Crime that Shocked The Nation.
On May 1, 1990 Gregg Smart, was gunned down in his home in Derry, New Hampshire. On March 4, 1991 his wife Pamela Smart was placed on trial for accomplice to murder. The sensational aspects of the case?that Pamela was a teacher who had been having an affair with one of the perpetrators of the crime, her 15-year old student William Flynn?would spark a media frenzy that spawned several books and two movies.
Now for the first time, Gregg?s brother Dean reveals the personal side of the tragedy?about growing up with a brother he idolized, and the true story of the events that led up to that tragic night. You?ll see the first televised trial in American history through the authors eyes?from the circus atmosphere in front of the courthouse, to the emotional testimony of witnesses, to the closing arguments and sentencing.? A poignant memoir, Skylights and Screen Doors is an affecting story of innocence lost and a brother remembered?and of the trial that shocked the nation.
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