A sign stating “Please do not disturb” should hang outside the door of Brenda Huot’s home office on Fridays.
Those are her writing days.
Huot, who writes under her maiden name Brenda K. Massman and has been a financial management planner with Ameriprise Financial, Wealth Management Solutions since 2011, has just published her debut novel “Yet, Here We Are” this spring through Koehler Books.
She explained that she’s been crafting portions of the novel featuring three female characters for about a decade. At first, she would peck away sequestered in coffee shops and the library. But, once her historical novel began to take shape, she would retreat to her cozy office on Fridays, often working 16-hours straight.
“There were periods of time when the writing just flowed,” she said during an interview in her home bordering Spring Creek. “The ideas and the words would just morph together when I was at the keyboard. I was in the zone, and it was most enjoyable.”
Huot said her narrative, which threads three distinct stories together, eventually fell into place like hair strands braided together.
The 1970s
When the first-time author initially started writing her book in 2014 she said she had no outline and just a vague idea that she wanted to incorporate the food co-op wars with the environmental movement.
Huot said the revolutionary events of the 1970s fascinated her, especially the organic food movement, the environmental movement and the feminist movement. “I’ve always felt like a bit of a free spirit,” she said, so exploring the undercurrents of the 70s called to her.
Establishing Elizabeth, a young wife and mother who lives on a farm, as her main character, Huot said her intention was initially to write a book about Elizabeth’s journey to find her place in the world and her one true love.
That idea was scrambled after she discovered a book at the Northfield Auxiliary Book Sale called “Storefront Revolution” by Craig Cox that recounted a tumultuous time in the history of food co-ops in the Twin Cities, which in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s was a hotbed for emerging co-ops.
“As a co-op shopper for nearly 30 years, I was surprised to learn that these peaceful little stores were at one time battling with each other over the sale of food,” she said. “And I was even more surprised when I learned what was behind it. So, I found a way to incorporate this into the book and wove the story of Elizabeth and the story of food co-op battles together by way of a third storyline that emphasizes environmental awareness.”
Huot, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois and was formerly the editor of “Girlfriends Magazine”, said there may be bits and pieces of her own life sprinkled onto the pages, but the debut novel was not autobiographical.
The author said she hopes the 310-page book resonates with readers who enjoy historical fiction, love stories, mysteries, supporters of food co-ops and the environmental movements, and those midwestern women readers who may be members of a book club. A section of book club discussion questions are included on the final pages.
Like many writers who rarely put down their pens, Huot is already working on another historical novel, this time set in the 1950s. For fans who can’t wait to read the next one, just remember not to bother her on Fridays.
If You Go Brenda K. Massman will be hosting a book launch party featuring her debut novel, “Yet, Here We Are” at The Grand Event Center, on Thursday, May 23 from 7-8:30 p.m. The bar will be open and Throwback Thursday menu food will be served prior to the book discussion. 379e907e-5ba8-4973-85a2-f5123946f0c1
Just The Facts The book is for sale locally at Content Bookstore for $19.95 and online through most booksellers. For more information, visit Massman’s website at www.brendakmassman.com. 686966f5-0fae-441c-a3cc-045e024b4032
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