John Steinbeck Fan, and Author, Audry Lynch
Interviewed by Carol Wood

Audry with her flashy car

I met Audry Lynch at a California Writers Club meeting. She and I became friends when we both joined the "Traveling Steinbeckians" troup which traveled around Northern California visiting bookstores and writing clubs to read stories about, for, and inspired by John Steinbeck, and even some of his own works. I loved hearing the stories that Audry read about John from her books.
One time, right before a reading, my dog, Lionel, got a hold of my copy of John Steinbeck’s Sweet Thursday and nearly chewed it to pieces. I still had to read from it, and I was embarrassed, but there wasn’t another copy available. Sweet Thursday is not one of his better-known works but it is my personal favorite. Audry told a story about how John Steinbeck’s dog ate his manuscript, and I fell in love with her right then. She said, “He didn’t hurt the dog. He just said, ‘Everybody’s a critique.’” I wasn’t able to get pictures of Audry’s extensive collection of Steinbeck first editions and memorabilia, but we did manage to have a wonderful lunch together a few weeks ago where I learned the following about Audry's writing process.

What got you interested in Steinbeck to being with?

We used to spend summers in Cape Cod. I picked up Cannery Row one summer, and I couldn’t put it down. I thought, Wow! What an exotic and interesting place. How romantic. Who is this author?
I just loved how the book opened. I went to the library, and I read all 20 of his books. I didn’t loose my enthusiasm. This was the only author I did this with. I think the main attraction I had for him was his continuing thread of compassion for the underdog.
Plus I was in the cold industrial wasteland of Cambridge, Boston and California was very appealing.

What’s your Educational background?

I took Government and a minor in English at Harvard. I switched to Government because it was the time of Kennedy and the Brain Trust, and they were more exciting. The English department was on the verge of retirement and was having teas. I worked on the newspaper in college, got married, had 3 kids, liked teaching, got my MA in counseling at Boston U. nights. I taught English at Mission college two nights a week. Then I turned 50 and had empty-nest syndrome. I could have been a real estate person. I like how they get to drive around in flashy cars. I went to USF and got my doctorate in Educational Psychology. I’m always interested in what makes the mind tick.

When did you decide to write about Steinbeck?

Well, my husband got a job opportunity in 1970 to work for Memorex and instead of thinking I’m going to California I said, “Oh, Boy, I’m going to Steinbeck Country!”
I saw in the paper that Dr. Martha Cox ran a bus tour. It was just for pleasure, for the public. It was a Steinbeck weekend in Monterey, so I thought, here’s my opportunity to find out about Steinbeck the man. And guess who was on the bus? One of his ex-wives, some of his friends and some of his classmates. John Steinbeck the writer really came alive for me that day.

Why didn’t you choose to write a biography?

Well, I had the grandiose idea I would like to write John Steinbeck’s biography not imagining that there was such a thing as an official biographer, Dr. Jackson Benson. I tried to talk to people who knew him. The ones who gave me their numbers, I’d call and say, “Can you talk with me, I’m interested in John Steinbeck.”
But they would reply, “I’m talking to Dr. Benson.” So I gave up on the bio.
But I couldn’t give up on the Author. Every August I go to the Steinbeck Festival. There used to be a panel called “Friends of John Steinbeck.” There was always this short, fat man who talked about being the cook on the Sea of Cortez. He was a Sicilian named Sparky Enea. No one would listen to him.
Well, the festival attracted mostly academics. But I realized that Sparky was the real thing. I thought, He’s just like a Steinbeck character! His wife Caddie worked in the canneries. These were real Monterey people.
He was getting older and he didn’t want to loose the story. So I said, “I’ll make you a deal, you tell me the story and I’ll write it.” So I became Sparky’s rather substantial ghost.

What was that like? Where did you meet?

Well, it was easy and hard. Sparky’s regular schedule was Alfredo’s bar in the morning and Segover’s bar in the afternoon. He sat with his cronies, and I would try and get him to talk. The tapes are full of laughing and shouting and glasses clinking.
You know, how when you are at a cocktail party and you start forgetting what you said? Well, I’d go home, and it was really hard picking out the story from those taping sessions. He was very repetitive. I’d read him back what I had typed up, and he’d say “It’s repetitious.” I’m amazed I finally did get it finished.

So how did you get With Steinbeck in the Sea of Cortez published? What did you do?

I sent my manuscript out over and over, and I kept getting rejected. I was about to give up. Then this publisher in San Luis Opbispo the San River Press sent me a note that said, “I like it – Let’s do it.”
Bruce Miller was the editor. He gave me good advice. He was very knowledgeable about developing the book and the cover and distribution. He also has the Phoenix bookstore. He introduced me to signing contracts, reading galleys and timelines.
First comes the writing then the publisher and the business that is involved but most important – you have to learn how to hustle.

What do you mean by “hustle?”

Well, after I wrote the book With Steinbeck in the Sea of Cortez the book about Sparky? Well, they asked me one year to be on a panel at the festival, and then I became a lecturer on John Steinbeck. I also taught classes at the community colleges, and I still am a trip leader for the Saratoga recreation department. They want me to do a course and a trip again. It gets to be a big investment of time, but it does sell books. I’m in my 3rd printing, and it’s still going.

Did you consult with anyone regarding your contracts?

Yes, a lawyer. He limited the print to just those rights, no movie, no foreign rights.

What made you decide to write the second book, Steinbeck Remembered?

The second one came about as I lectured. People would say, “Oh, I knew John Steinbeck,” and I would get their name and number and I’d track them down. One time I was doing this bus tour, and this older gentleman said, “I don’t tell this to everyone, but I was Steinbeck’s neighbor.”

How did you verify their stories? Did you just believe them or what?

I had to take people’s word. Obviously there is always some distortion. Everyone talks from their own perception. We all talk about some different aspect. There is always the subjective element and that skews what we remember. This is local history that is fast disappearing. These people are dying. I wanted to get it down before they are gone.

Did you use the same publishing company when you finished the second book?

I wanted to have Bruce again, but his kid lost an eye and his marriage broke up. He had his hands full. I went with a new editor, John Daniels with Fithian of Santa Barbara. He accepted my book, but then said, “But did you get written permission?”
I got each person to read and sign their interview.

How hard was that? Were they all still around?

It was hard. I had to go all over. Only one didn’t sign. We didn’t include it. I suspect she lied. I suspect she made it up. She made a great story. I can’t prove that. The editor was wise, and that protects you.

What do you plan on writing next?

Oh, God I wish I knew. I’m blocked. I have written a children’s book, Rueben’s tales from the Amazon. But I couldn’t get a publisher to go for it. I had a friend do the illustrations, and I self published.
I talk to the Girl Scout groups, and they like it. I always liked legends.

How did you come up with the idea?

Travel has always been a part of my life. Well, I had an erratic heart beat, so the doctor said I had to stay home. Greg and I used to travel in the summer every year. Anyway, I thought back to my last trip, it was to the amazon. We went to the zoo, Iquitos. They had very exotic animals there and on a fence I saw paintings and underneath the paintings was the legend of the animal. It fascinated me. It wasn’t written in English, but I took pictures while my husband was screaming at me to hurry up. I gave the pictures to my daughter, and she translated them for me. That was the basis for the book. I imagined a little boy coming from this village, and a Shaman explained life to him. It would have an appeal multi-culturally.

I started another book after that about my 30 years of teaching and counseling. See the dust clears and the idealism calms down and the new teachers have no idea of what to expect. I wanted to call it, What They Forgot to Teach You at the School of Education. I found a publisher, but it failed in the peer review.
I had a 180 day calendar with a meditation for each school day.
I gave practical advice like how to fill out report cards, and I gave examples.
I wanted to leave my words behind.
I’m kind of disappointed.

What would you suggest to young writers or new writers who want to conduct interviews? Any tips or tricks?

It’s funny to be on the other side of the interview table. What do I suggest? Be interested and be warm. If it’s hard to get in, try all methods. Letters, calling, try to meet them accidentally. Try to get friendly with people around them. Bribes don’t hurt. Send flowers. Get people to remember you favorably. Most people will give you tips about the person you want to meet. Mostly, secretaries run the person’s life. Give the secretary roses and she might get you the appointment.

What did the Steinbecks say about your book?

They never negated it. They did not get any royalties. Standford, Steinbeck’s cousin liked With Steinbeck in the Sea of Cortez so much, that he let me interview him for the Steinbeck Remembered. His interview is the last interview in the whole book. It almost didn’t happen. He was literally on his deathbed. I had to go out to the hospital to interview him. Very nice man, he’s gone now.

Are both books still in print?

Yes. This is the third edition coming out. Each printing has sold 1500 copies. You can order them both through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.