DEBUT SPOTLIGHT: Samantha Greene Woodruff
Some of the most compelling historical fiction is inspired by true events. In Samantha Greene Woodruff’s debut novel, THE LOBOTOMIST’S WIFE, she tackles the controversial history of lobotomy, as imagined through the eyes of her fictional heroine, Ruth Emeraldine, who meets and marries a brilliant doctor based on the real-life neurologist who pioneered the procedure—Walter Freeman II. The Lobotomist’s Wife is a page-turning, suspenseful read that asks hard moral questions of its characters and ultimately reveals the narrow margins between medical genius and quackery.
THE FULL SYNOPSIS
An enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making.
Since her brother took his life after WWI, Ruth Emeraldine has had one goal: to help those suffering from mental illness. Then she falls in love with charismatic Robert Apter—a brilliant doctor championing a radical new treatment, the lobotomy. Ruth believes in it as a miracle treatment and in Robert as its genius pioneer. But as her husband spirals into deluded megalomania, Ruth can’t ignore her growing suspicions. Robert is operating on patients recklessly, often with horrific results. And a vulnerable young mother, Margaret Baxter, is poised to be his next victim.
Margaret can barely get out of bed, let alone care for her infant. When Dr. Apter diagnoses her with the baby blues and proposes a lobotomy, she believes the procedure is her only hope. Only Ruth can save her—and scores of others—from the harrowing consequences of Robert’s ambitions.
Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing novel of a woman fighting against the most grievous odds, of ego, and of the best intentions gone horribly awry.
“Based on extraordinary real-life events, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a riveting and impressive debut that had me in its grasp from the very first page. Samantha Greene Woodruff has crafted a suspenseful tale of good intentions gone awry that features an indomitable heroine who finds her strength and voice in the midst of harrowing circumstances. I simply could not put it down.” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil
THE INTERVIEW
Paulette: Hi, Sam! Thanks so much for taking the time out of your whirlwind month to join me! I had the great privilege of reading The Lobotomist’s Wife early and endorsing it, and I was completely swept up in the brilliant story you created. Can you tell us about your best-selling debut novel and what inspired you to tackle such a unique subject?
Samantha: In a nutshell, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a story about two women whose lives intersect around their relationships with a fictionalized version of the man who invented the ice pick lobotomy. The protagonist, Ruth, is an American heiress and an independent woman running a mental hospital in the 1930s, a time when that was highly unusual; her own family trauma has led her to dedicate her life to helping the mentally ill. She ultimately marries the man who pioneered lobotomy in the U.S. and, in essence, becomes his accomplice in popularizing the procedure. She is entirely fictional, by the way. The second woman is a housewife in the early 1950s who is suffering from postpartum depression and becomes a patient of the lobotomists and, possibly, his next victim.
While this is a novel undoubtedly explores the history of mental health, and a dark chapter in its history at that, I really see this as a story about the struggle to fit in, in a world where who we are doesn’t always conform to societies norms. When I conceived of this story I was a housewife in the suburbs living the supposed American Dream, I had given up my corporate job and was miserable. And I thought I was supposed to be happy. I was taking a writing class for fun and writing a contemporary novel loosely based on my experience when listened to a chapter in a non-fiction book, Get Well Soon, about lobotomy and Walter Freeman II, the man who introduced the procedure in America. When I learned that lobotomy peaked in the 1930s-early 1950s, and that many of Freeman’s patients were women, I started to think about what would happen if you were an unhappy suburban housewife when lobotomy was a feasible “cure.”
Paulette: It’s a harrowing thought, especially for those of us who have mental health diagnoses. Thank goodness psychology and psychiatry have come so far, and we have a much better understanding of mental illness nowadays. I had mild postpartum depression after my daughter was born, and I could certainly relate to Margaret’s point-of-view. I could also appreciate how Ruth was taken in by Robert’s passion and conviction. He truly started out wanting to do the right thing and help people. You have created realistic characters, battling human emotions and misguided intentions, caught up in a compelling story that takes some very dramatic twists and turns.
It’s apparent to me that you spent a great deal of time with your subject matter. Can you tell us what your creative process looks like?
Samantha: Because I write historical fiction, I start with research. That first spark of an idea can come from anywhere and, so far, it has actually come from observing some sort of social or cultural event in the present and finding a way to explore it through the lens of the past. From there, I start to read as much as I can around the topic, looking for small details that will spark ideas about my characters and plot. I like stories that are a little less known–trying to find an unusual angle to something that is in the zeitgeist. I am a type-A planner in life, and definitely a plotter when I write. I need to know where I think the story will before I get deep into writing.
That said, I spend a lot of time just thinking about my characters and story before I start to write, and then I leave loads of room for things to evolve organically. For The Lobotomist’s Wife, I made detailed outlines that I revised more times than I can count. At one point I even had each scene on a PowerPoint slide so I could move them around and see where I had holes. Still, within all of that plotting, I let the scenes and characters go where they want to. You hear writers say that a lot and I never really bought it but, when I am deep into a scene, sometimes I learn what will happen as the words are hitting the page. Those eureka moments when my imagination just seems to take over are my favorites.
That, and editing. I love to edit!
Paulette: We have a very similar process. It’s great to find your character’s voice and let them be your guide. I feel an outline works best when it is the basic guideline for the story but remains flexible. I’m in developmental edits for my second book currently, and my original outline looks quite a bit different from my current one. I’m still tweaking things as I go!
Revisions are my favorite part of the process, so I am enjoying this stage immensely. What about you? What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of crafting a story?
Samantha: That’s a tough one. There is so much about the process that I love–the research, the imagination, the world building. The freedom to ask “what if?” and play out different possibilities.
I think the hardest part for me is the middle section, turning ideas into scenes. That has been the biggest learning curve for me, I think, really working to “show don’t tell” and figuring out what the reader needs to see and hear to paint the most complete and compelling picture.
Paulette: There truly is so much to love about what we do. It can be challenging to take those outline notes and craft them into a beautifully written story that engages a reader. I find my first drafts are very sparse and dry—as Neil Gaiman says, first drafts are just you telling yourself the story. (paraphrasing) That’s very much the case for me.
I find my work really begins to shine in draft 3. I admire people who can quickly nail their story in the first or second draft, but I need time to sit with a story and ruminate over every sentence.
What has been the most surprising/unexpected moment in your writing career?
Samantha: I am a debut author, so nothing so far has been expected! That in and of itself has been a challenge–once I actually sold my book to Lake Union, I had a pub date but I really had no idea what would happen between the time my book was acquired and that date. Fortunately, I have made some incredible fellow writer friends who’ve been holding my hand and helping me navigate as I go along.
But, I know that’s not a real answer…I think, if I had to pick one thing so far, it would the moment when, thanks to the Amazon First Reads program for which I was lucky enough to be selected, my book ranked #6 of all Kindle titles. Free or not, the idea that of all of the books available on Kindle, enough people (for a few days) picked mine for it to be in the top 10 was just mind-blowing.
Paulette: And very well-deserved. Some of my favorite books have been part of the First Reads program—it’s how I discovered great Lake Union authors like Barbara Davis. Kim Taylor Blakemore, and Lydia Kang. It’s so amazing that I can now call many of my favorite authors my colleagues!
What are you reading currently?
Samantha: I tend to bounce between historical fiction, psychological thriller and contemporary fiction. I just finished Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. It is a debut novel that is really topical and smart and fun – it also happens to have been written by the woman who planned my wedding. It is just a random coincidence but cool for me that she and I both went from totally different careers to becoming novelists at the same time. Right now, I am finishing an early reader copy of When We Let Go by Rochelle Weinstein. She is a close friend and fellow Lake Union author, and she is incredibly talented at writing characters that feel so three dimensional you start to feel like they are real people in your life. I currently want to shake the protagonist because I am so frustrated by her, in the best possible way!! When I finish that, I’m going to dive in to one of the recent historical fiction new releases: The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz, Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict or The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. Or maybe The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont (I was a huge Agatha Christie fan as a kid,) or Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (love Gatsby and so interested by the idea of the story told from the POV of the women) – so many books, so little time!
Paulette: That’s a great list! I’ll have to add a few of these titles to my own never ending to-be-read list! Thanks again for taking the time to chat with me, Sam! I wish you a lifetime of continued success with your writing career and I look forward to seeing what you write next.
You can purchase The Lobotomist’s Wife from Amazon or request it from your favorite local bookseller.
Samantha Greene Woodruff has a BA in history from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. She spent most of her career telling stories to executives at MTV Networks as the senior vice president of strategy and business development and, subsequently, audience research for the Nickelodeon Kids & Family Group. After leaving corporate life, she pursued her varied passions, teaching yoga, cooking, and taking classes at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. It was here that she combined her multifaceted background with her wild imagination and passion for history, reading, and writing. The Lobotomist’s Wife is her first novel, and she is already at work on her next historical fiction book. Sam lives in southern Connecticut with her husband, two children, and two dogs. You can connect with her at www.samanthawoodruff.com on Facebook or Instagram at @samgwoodruffauthor