Linda Kass is the acclaimed author of Tasa’s Song (2016) and A Ritchie Boy (2020). Her latest book, Bessie—a fictional portrait of Miss America 1945, Bess Myerson—will be released in September 2023. She is also the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independent bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. Trained as a journalist, Linda began her career as a magazine reporter and correspondent for regional and national publications such as Columbus Monthly, TIME, and The Detroit Free Press. Linda is known for her advocacy in education, literacy, and the arts and has served in leadership roles on the boards of Bexley Schools, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The Ohio State University among many others. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s in Journalism from The Ohio State University.
Today, you’ll hear Linda reveal her life's remarkable twists and turns through stints working in medicine, education, journalism, and freelance writing. She describes how a family history writing project and a chance meeting during an outing with her book club moved her to become a novelist. She explains what makes Columbus, Ohio a unique place to be in. You’ll also hear about the ultimate value of reading and writing and why Linda was compelled to write her most recent book about the first Jewish Miss America, Bess Myerson.
“Inhabit the character. Imagine what they would think, feel, and do in a scene—how they would relate to other circumstances. Walk in their shoes. That becomes the inventiveness on the page of fiction, but then it’s grounded in all of that authentic, true history underneath it.” - Linda Kass
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● The young Linda Kass and her life growing up in central Ohio
● Linda’s time at Eastmoor High School and how it led her to become a journalist
● Her work as a physical therapist while studying journalism in graduate school
● The genesis of Linda’s life as a writer, teacher, and freelancer
● What brought Linda back to Columbus after living and working in Detroit
● How Columbus has changed since the late 80s
● The creative writing project that began Linda’s career as a historical novelist
● What creative nonfiction is and how it helped Linda tell her parents’ stories
● Poland and modern-day Ukraine in the context of World War II
● How a Catholic family helped Linda’s mother and her family during World War II
● The research and writing process involved in creating Tasa’s Song
● The art of inhabiting a character while writing
● What led Linda to write her book on Bessy Myerson
● The value of reading and writing
Resources Mentioned:
● Book: The Bright Forever: A Novel by Lee Martin
Our Favorite Quotes:
● “Read, because when you enjoy that experience you want to read more. When you read, you learn more, and when you learn you can be an empathetic human being that understands yourself and the world better.” - Linda Kass
● “To tell a real human story is more treatful and effective than coming up with just a fact-by-fact biography.” - Linda Kass
Connect with Linda Kass:
● Book: Bessie
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