Diane Whigham and Guy Maggio Discuss One Step Below the Angels | ReadTheWest.com American Western Magazine

ONE STEP BELOW THE ANGELS is a dramatic historical account of one woman's journey from Ireland to her eventual destiny in Jackson, Wyoming. It is a moving portrait of early pioneer women, told against the backdrop of the heritage of the Jackson Hole region. The main characters, though fictional, are composites of real people. Many of the characters and occurrences are based in historical fact.

When Kate arrived in Jackson, Wyoming she found a harsh wilderness and strangers seeking a new life. Those strangers became her neighbors and the land her home. She lived in the shadows of the Grand Tetons, just a scant distance from Yellowstone. The surroundings, the people, and the promise changed Kate as she changed their destinies. She raised the consciousness of the community while she raised her family.

This bold new frontier and extraordinary beauty sets the stage for statehood. The epic story tells of the region's citizens and their eventual journey into the 20th century.

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Diane Whigham is a veteran of twenty nine years in the teaching profession. She makes her home in the suburbs with her seventeen year old son, Matthew and her dog, NinjaBear.

Guy Phillip Maggio and his wife live in the mountains of Colorado. He is a Vietnam veteran. Although he was born and raised in middle America, his roots are firmly planted in the West.

RTW (ReadTheWest): How long have you been writing?

DW (Diane Whigham): I have been doing technical writing for over 25 years. With the passing of time, grant writing, briefs and technical reports no longer offer the attraction they once did. Over 10 years ago, I began writing short stories for my own pleasure. Later, I joined a writer's group. I found sharing my work most satisfying.
GM (Guy Maggio): I wrote my first short story when I was 10 years old. Oddly enough, it was a western about a phantom black stallion. If memory serves me, I got an "A." I have mostly written short stories and poetry. This is my first attempt at a novel. I would have to say that writing allows me to communicate my own ideas and philosophy within the framework of a story.

RTW: What drew you to this genre, and why is it important to you?

DW: My family had a ranch in Texas. I was raised on John Wayne movies. My father always had a stack of Zane Grey paperbacks close at hand. In college, I minored in history and have enjoyed teaching classes in pioneer studies. The ability to make history come alive with the telling of people's stories can be powerful and moving. As a Western woman, Wyoming history holds a particular fascination for me. I especially love the museums in Cody.
GM: My grandfather was fascinated by Western history. I remember seeing books by Zane Grey and later, Louie L'Amour on the nightstand by his bed. When I became old enough to understand the impact of Western history he loaned me those books. I would like to think he would be proud of this novel. I guess you could say say my first journey West was in an imaginary covered wagon driven by my grandfather.

RTW: Whose work has had the greatest influence on you?

DW: Jim Harrison's prose and poetry always moves me deeply. His creativity, ability to tell a moving story and evoke sensory images are masterful. Pat Conroy's novels are wonderful examples of great story telling. After the last word is read, Conroy's work remains a powerful punch to the reader's psyche.
GM: I am also a fan of Jim Harrison. I would have to say William Faulkner and John Steinbeck are my favorites. The richness of their storytelling and their memorable characters tend to stay with me. I believe they both have the ability to capture location and period. I suppose I am drawn to the craftsmanship with which they write. A book should reflect a story that tells a true aspect of life. It should be a mirror in which we can see our own reflection. Their books do that for me.

RTW: When you are not reading or writing, what do you enjoy doing?

DW: I am an avid gardener. This summer I doted on my 43 rose bushes and oriental lily garden. As time passes, I see the wisdom of only planting perennials. I was born B.C. (before computers). I only wish I had more time to devote to developing my computer skills. I also get great pleasure seeing my son mature. Although he is growing up too fast.
GM: I love the outdoors. That's why I choose to live in the mountains of Colorado. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than looking out my windows and seeing elk or deer pass through our yard. We have a family of foxes that visit daily. I also enjoy traveling by car. Backroads are a must. They offer me a more genuine sense of people and places. Faces tell stories, not the roads that lead to them.

RTW: What advice would you give to new writers trying to break into the market?

DW: Take a writing class or join a writer's group. It helps if you have the expectation you will be sharing your work. Not only do you get feedback but it motivates you to write for readers. I would also say you must believe in your work. Challenge your reader and expect the most from them. If you deliver a good story, they will be moved.
GM: In presentations for writer's workshops I always stress this point, 'If all you do is think about writing, you're a thinker, not a writer.' An idea is just that. Your writing must come alive on paper. You need to know the subject you write about. Be passionate about your writing. If you are not excited about it, no one else will be. I believe in word economy. Don't be afraid to edit your work.

RTW: Tell us a little bit about your current book. Where did you get your ideas?

DW: I had the idea for this book for years. Wyoming is uniquely rich in women's history. Men settled the West but women civilized it. While taking several Western study graduate courses I interviewed my professors. They insisted there was a powerful tale to be told that had not been given its proper due.

RTW: Guy, in writing the book did you face any particular challenges?

GM: We did extensive research in Jackson, Wyoming. The original manuscript took more than a year to complete. Editing and revisions took an additional three months. This was done over a period of several years. You might say we lived this story along with our characters. The biggest challenge was making the lines between fact and fiction blur.

RTW: What did you enjoy most about writing this particular book?

DW: The characters and situations are very real to me. You cannot visit the Tetons or Yellowstone and not be touched by the beauty. I think the readers will enjoy this rich period of Wyoming history. It's a story of new beginnings and redemption, a uniquely American saga.
GM: For me, to see the history and characters come alive was very important. The response has been more favorable than we could have anticipated. When readers ask us which characters are real and which are fictional, it validates our work. I suppose the number one comment has been how readers are compelled by the story. It draws them in and holds their attention from beginning to end. Diane and I were particularly rewarded by one reader's response. Her husband had been raised in Jackson and had fond memories of his life there. Now an elderly gentleman, he was losing his sight. She had read the book to him, not once but three times! He said the vivid description of the area, brought Jackson to life again for him.

RTW: Does living where you do have any effect on what you write?

DW: I am a Western woman with Southern ancestry. For the past twenty years I have resided in Colorado. Living here has inspired me to learn more about the region. The historical basis for the book makes the reader feel connected to the past. A frequent comment in reviews is that the story makes the reader want to visit Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. Those that have been there before say they long to return and that they will see the town through different eyes.
GM: Guy: Of course I live in the West so I feel I know of where I write. There is definitely a Western lifestyle. Many of us have come from other places to begin again. The characters in the book do the same. The book is set in a time and place that no one alive has lived. We feel the story is like a time machine. It is a journey back in history rich with significance. As Americans, it's where we came from and who we are.

RTW: Have you ever been nominated for any writing awards?

GM: Not yet, but we're open for any lavish praise that might be sent our way. I did get that "A" for my black stallion story.

RTW: If you could only afford to have 3 books in your personal library, which three titles (other than your own) would they be?

DW: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It reminds me of my childhood growing up in the South. Sundog by Jim Harrison is a masterfully written tale about greatness without glamour. This compelling story is of one man's choices in life. It really touches my heart with its truthfulness. Finally, I would choose the Bible. Not only is it great literature but I find the wisdom contained in its pages both insightful and comforting.
GM: Once again, Diane, you stole my thunder! I would also choose To Kill a Mockingbird. Although I was raised with a younger brother, rather than a sister, it reminds me a great deal of my childhood. Or perhaps the childhood I wish I'd had. I would also choose a dictionary. When I was a small child my father and I would read the dictionary aloud together. I love words, the sounds they make and their definitions. They are the basis of communication for us all. I am also a lousy speller. Finally, probably a book on herbal medicines. I think we have lost much of our ancient teachings about healing. I believe there are many non-traditional cures for traditional ailments. Frankly, I am a non-traditional person.

RTW: Any upcoming booksignings or projects our readers can look forward to?

DW: We plan on participating in the Rocky Mountain Book Festival in March, 2001. This is in addition to on-going booksignings, appearances before book clubs and writer's workshops we present. We enjoy sharing our experiences with other writers. We find it very gratifying.

RTW: Thank you very much for taking time to do this interview. Guy, would you like to close with a favorite quote?

GM: I guess I would use a quote from the book title. I remember as a child my grandmother telling me "we are all just one step below the angels." She said, good and bad, we are all linked to a higher power. I believe that and that's how I live my life.