An Interview with Elaine Insinnia

Elaine taught middle school Language Arts for thirty-six years, co-authored The Great Debate Project and Educators Take Charge, and her plays won the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and the Premiere Stages New Play contest. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Dramatists Guild, NEA and NJEA, and is an avid tennis player.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Throughout the book, the discussions between the modern-day grandmother and her granddaughter focus on the many unfair limitations for girls in 1959.

So the title You Go, Girl! came to mind immediately when it only focused on 1959.

Then I added the modern-day grandmother and her granddaughter, and how their relationship blossomed while reading the 1959 journal written by the grandmother.

So, I felt the arc of these two characters became a full-fledged secondary title—Game on for a grandmother and her granddaughter.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

After the numerous suggestions I sent to my wonderful, talented cover designer, when I saw the final cover, I was thrilled. His drawings are perfect.

But I was beyond thrilled when I first held my book in my hands. It touched my heart in a big way. I laughed, I cried, it was what I had dreamed it would be.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Since I am an award-winning playwright, the idea of typing up some of my journals was not my first priority. My cousin Linda, who is a significant character in my book, was very ill. I visited her often in the nursing home. The night before she passed, we got to talking about our childhoods. Linda vividly recalled my twelfth birthday party when a goat joined us and the adventure we had trying to return him to his home in the back lot. I knew then I had to bring the goat story to life…for her memory.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

I have had such joy and fun reading parts of my book to groups of readers. I was involved in theater, acting and directing, so I really went for it all while reading aloud. I also did this in the Atmosphere Press author Zoom session. I get such a kick doing this!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

The songs I loved from 1959 are listed in the back of the book. Dion was my fave!

“Teenager in Love” and “Lonely Teenager,” the best!

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Perfect reader? First, older women who remember many of the memories from their past…the milkman, the 45 records, American Bandstand, etc.

And then, of course, girls from the ages of eleven onward who are in disbelief of what girls were not allowed to do. For example—no slacks when I went to school, and even when I started teaching in 1968. When they read how Lainie, the main 1959 character, overcomes many of the restrictions, even rebels against rules so she gets in trouble, not only with the adults, but also with the cute boy she originally liked so much, they seem insulted and root for Lainie in a big way.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I am now wondering if I should write a sequel, but I am also writing a play about three older ladies who live in NYC and are trying to stay safe by not making themselves look vulnerable in any way. There is also an evil cousin who ‘accidentally’ winds up falling off a balcony!

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Please listen to this. The staff at Atmosphere Press is beyond supportive, always answers questions (no matter how silly they sound), encourages me in every way, got me reviews and advertising. Worth every dime! My friend, who is a published writer, worked with several publishers who were good, but did not do half of what Atmosphere Press did to help me.

I love them!

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