By Hailee Jeske
On Tuesday, February 4, I had the chance to听see听Tracey S. Phillips, author of听the new novel听, do an interview with听Marianne Flynn Statz, a former City of Madison Police detective.听For this event, I ventured听off campus听to Boswell Book Company听on Milwaukee鈥檚 east side.听I had听never been to Boswell, but the听dull lighting, quiet music playing,听and听aesthetically听pleasing organization of the books was听charming, and I can鈥檛 wait to go back.听听
Phillips came and introduced herself to me prior to the interview, which was a unique experience, as I鈥檝e never met an author before. She started her talk by sharing her background. Phillips听shared that she came from a family of creative souls. Her听grandmother was a pianist听and听her mother听an artist. Phillips听added听that she went to Berkeley College听to study music, where she started听getting听into jewelry making, drawing, painting,听and cooking. With听all听these unique talents, Phillips described herself as听a 鈥渟erial artist.鈥�听听
Phillips听noted听that her book was听put to life听because she had 鈥渟tories tumbling in my head that I needed to tell.鈥� These stories morphed into her fourth manuscript, which was published听from a connection made听via Twitter.听Her book,听Best Kept Secrets, combines experiences听of Phillip鈥檚 life, as well as fictional aspects.听Together听they听comprise a murder mystery set in听Indianapolis, Indiana,听where Phillips grew up.听听
One quote that Phillips shared that听shaped her writing听is听from Shannon L. Alder,听which said, 鈥�Your perspective on life comes from the cage you were held captive in.鈥澨�Phillips stated听that she has an estranged brother听and a large part of the plot of her book deals with her main character having an estranged brother. Phillip鈥檚 son, also a creative soul,听contributed听his ideas on what the cover art should look like听and it became the cover art of the book.听听
To close听the conversation, Phillips shared tips on how to become a better writer. She听said听that having peer reviewers is one of the ways she became so successful. Without having critiques, it is impossible to grow as a writer. In the same way, this is important in any form of art, whether graphic design, media graphics, journalism, etc.听An individual can only grow if they get outside听opinion and听learn听from these critiques.听听