Lynn’s Comments (group member since May 28, 2013)

Lynn’s comments from the Ask Mitchell Zuckoff group.

Hi Mitchell,
I've read Lost In Shangri-La and loved it. I felt very close to the people in the book. I had recently been to Otsego while taking a college bound kid to Oneonta State and almost wished to go back and get an idea where one of the women lived, such a rural county even now. I wonder how you begin the writing process and choose your subjects. Shangri-La and Time have WWIi in common but you also chose Robert Altman as a biographical subject. It's apparent to me that even Robert Altman had a pioneering spirit so perhaps that is what made you interested? Do you begin with library or computer research or a more personal one? Do you look to family and friends for interst or a larger group of people? I know you must please a publisher, so at what stage do they become involved? Just to let you know I appreciate getting this high level of non-fiction because it is a much neglected form of writing. I seem to be more alone when I read a nonfiction book than one that is fiction. Few people read beyond a textbook and it is not often encouraged. I am reading a book on President Johnson right now and he often claimed he didn't read. A former aide said he did but cared for nonfiction which wasn't as common. Yet of all presidents, he invested more into libraries than any other. Just a thought, thanks for such great nonfiction reading!