A handful of women attended the movie ‘The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ and have been calling themselves Ya-Ya’s ever since.  Several years ago I was asked to join this group of writers who critiqued and offered support and motivation to each other as we each struggled along our separate paths toward publication. Over the years, we’ve taken turns meeting in each of our homes to critique, attended book signings when authors came to Des Moines and also spent several weekends in retreat at a magical Victorian home in Woodbine.  We’ve been lucky enough to have two members publish.  The first was Kali Vanbaale and the most recent is Sarah Oltrogge. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Clear Lake, Iowa, which is weird to say you’re actually fromClear Lake, since it’s such a huge tourist and resort town, that is to say, a temporary summer home for most. People would have the same reaction if I’d told them I lived in the Sleeping Beauty Castle at DisneyLand. I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Journalism/Mass Communication. My first professional job after graduating was working as a reporter and editor at the weekly Dallas County News in Adel, Iowa. Although I hated the long and varied work hours and the pressure to find the news, I learned so much about my fellow humans on that job. I learned how to write compelling stories and interview people in a way that got them to open up. I stayed there for three years (a record in that industry), and then moved into a job with the state – at first with the Department of Human Services, and for the last 10 years, with the Department of Cultural Affairs, where I write for the department newsletters and graphically design promotional materials (and a bunch of other fun stuff).

Tell us about your book that just came out.

The East Village neighborhood in downtown Des Moines has a long and fascinating history, dating to the very beginnings of the City. It’s a story that begins with a power struggle to secure the site of the State Capitol in Des Moines and the growing separation that followed of the east side of downtown “versus” the west side of downtown. The location of the State Capitol was a coup for the east side, which soon became the industrial business center of the city. The railroads, lumberyards and an influx of immigrants working in these industries flourished on the east side. By mid-century, a more mobile population and the rise in popularity of suburban living, complete with new shopping centers, or “malls,” drew people away from downtown. Railroad travel and transport became less and less popular. And businesses in East Village suffered as a result. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the east side was worn down, and had a reputation as “the bad side of town.” By the 1990s, city leaders felt they had to take action and proposed an ultimatum: either present a plan to fix up the neighborhood, or we’ll tear it all down and build new. A study was commissioned and the neighborhood started to turn. A well-known architect purchased some of the older buildings and began renovating. A new streetscape helped business owners and incoming residents take pride in their neighborhood. The snowball effect had begun, and continues today with new development and ever increasing interest in East Village has a hip and happening part of downtown, a model of urban revitalization.

Where did you get the idea for this book?

I was actually approached to do this book back in the summer of 2008. As president of the Historic East Village, Inc. Board of Directors, I received some information about this particular series of history-related books from Arcadia Publishing. The letter they sent me asked if I knew of anyone who would be interested in doing a book on East Village. I thought about it for awhile, maybe a couple weeks, until finally, I thought hey, I could do this! So I wrote up my proposal/outline, submitted it and signed a contract to begin work in September 2008.

What is your writing day like?

I spent months researching, searching for images that would help tell the dramatic story of East Village. I interviewed people I knew had been in the neighborhood a long time and found that many were helpful and excited about the book. I didn’t actually start writing and pulling together all my research until May, 2009. My deadline was Aug. 4, 2009. It was soooooo hard to sit inside during those summer months and write and work on the book. But I pushed myself. I knew I had to do it. I would go to my day job for eight hours, come home and immediately sit down to the computer. By July, I was working all day then coming home every night to work on the book for four to five hours. Weekends were at least eight hours per day concentrated solely on the book. A lot of it was fact checking, then trying to arrange the pieces to tell the story in a sensible way. Since this was my first time on a project like this, I will know better next time how to pace myself!

Whose writing influences you?

Several years ago, I picked up a book that was tossed onto the freebie pile in the State Historical Museum gift shop. It was “How to Read and Unwritten Language” by Philip Graham (www.philipgraham.net). When I finally got around to reading it, I was absolutely floored with the way he strung words together. It was so lyrical, I found myself stopping reading from time to time to absorb the words and their sentiments. It was exactly the way I have tried to emulate my fiction writing and some day, when I finally find the story that becomes a novel, I imagine I will have Philip Graham looking over my shoulder.

Do you have some advice for unpublished authors?

I think, from my point of view and my history as a journalist, I would advise writers to not be offended by critique. I’ve sat in more than a few writing groups where people will share their life’s work, and the moment someone mentions how they might improve upon a scene, tighten a dialogue or move the story forward, the writer becomes dismissive. Birthing a novel like birthing a baby: there’s excitement in the beginning, a middle full of doubt and a lot of pain and screaming at the end. But when all is said and done, you’ve got this little piece of yourself venturing out into the world, looking up at the sky with arms wide open saying, “Here I am!”

Thanks Sarah.

My husband Steve spent most of one evening reading Sarah’s book.  Since we have always lived in Des Moines, he found the pictures fascinating.  While in high school, we used to scoop the loop and he remembered a lot of the old businesses that have been replaced or renovated, especially the pizza place at the foot of the capital.  He enjoyed it so much, he suggested I buy a second copy for his father for Father’s Day.  If anyone else is interested in purchasing a copy, Sarah will be signing books this Saturday, March 6th at the Barnes and Noble on University in West Des Moines from 2-4.  I’ll see you there.