An Interview with Jonnie Hyde

I am a 73-year-old retired psychologist living in Washington State. I’ve also lived in Florida, California, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Oregon. I am married and have an overly excitable but very lovable Golden Retriever.

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

I have been an avid reader since childhood. I loved novels and plays, from Eugene O’Neil and William Faulkner to Edgar Rice Burroughs, from James Bond to Agatha Christie, from JD Salinger to Cormac McCarthy, and on and on it goes.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

In 1971, I read two books, The Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and The Population Bomb by Paul and Anne Ehrlich. These opened my eyes to the damage humans are doing to our planet and made me an avid student of climate change. When I retired in 2017, I decided to write a novel that would capture the grief I feel about the deteriorating climate, and the hope I have that people will rise up to fight for a livable planet.

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

I quickly came up with the title. I wanted it to reflect the irreversible consequences of climate change on a planetary scale, and the courage and sacrifices people must make if we are to survive. Thus, Irrevocable Acts.

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

“Mercy Mercy Me” by Marvin Gay, “Shut it Down” by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, “4 Degrees” by Anhoni.

Describe your dream book cover.

I suggested a cover to my publishers and they created it: a cloudy, dark sky above a vast desert, a light shining below from a single adobe house.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve worked in several community mental health centers as a therapist, a manager, and a CEO. I’ve also worked as a manager in a county public health department, where I supervised the Environmental Health program and worked with the County Planning Department to create sound environmental policies for Growth Management.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I read many how to books, including but not limited to: Steven King’s On Writing, Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing, Jack Hodgins’s A Passion for Narative.

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

I hope that readers will learn about the risks we face from climate change, will appreciate the challenges the characters face and their courage in doing so, and will enjoy the depth of their relationships.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.