I have been reading Leah Griffith‘s blog, Eating Life Raw, for a while now. When she announced, last year, that her book, Cosette’s Tribe had been published, I knew I had to read it. What I wasn’t prepared for was a book that would touch my heart so deeply and keep me awake for two nights in a row, being captivated by Cosette and crying my heart out with and for her.
Inspired by a photograph of a happy tribe of Indians, young Cosette decides to start a tribe of her own by playing matchmaker for her divorced mother in hopes of finding a replacement for her absent father. Unaware of the repercussions her meddling will bring, Cosette triggers a series of dark events, which isolate her from her family, forcing her to deal with the life-shattering consequences of her actions on her own. With an unshakable sense of hope and humor, Cosette navigates through the hippie culture of the mid-1960s, facing off with life and death, while stumbling upon things both terrifying and beautiful.
From the blurb of Cosette’s Tribe
Today I’m so happy to able to interview Leah – someone who I look up to for the sheer beauty, honesty and ability that her words have of touching one’s heart deeply. I’m also so proud to be her online friend.
Author Interview: Leah Griffith
When did you discover that you were a writer? Was it something you pursued or just a gift that came to you in your childhood?
I don’t remember ever writing as a child except for the mandatory book reports from school, although my mother, a lover of great literature, would read the classics aloud to me and my two older sisters on a regular basis. This is where I believe I got my love for writing.
Are all the characters in Cosette’s Tribe based on people you encountered – or pure figments of your imagination?
Both. They are amalgamations of real people and figments of my imagination. Although a work of fiction, Cosette’s Tribe is based on my young life, creating a work of what I call “faction” because there are many truthful facts within this novel as well as fiction.
How did Cosette’s Tribe come about? Did you specifically plan to write from a child’s viewpoint?
Cosette’s Tribe was inspired by my own turbulent childhood. I carried this story around with me through my teens, my young adult life, the raising of my children, and thirty years of marriage. I chose the name Cosette because it is my middle name. My mother was reading, Victor Hugo’s, Les Miserables, when she was carrying me and fell in love with the name.
I wrote Cosette’s Tribe from a child’s perspective because that is the way it came through to me, providing me with an atmosphere of intimate privacy by getting inside my character’s head. I knew I had to tell it true or not tell it at all, so I walked with Cosette, and listened for her voice, feeling her emotions—so close to my own as a child. I became the kid. But no, it wasn’t planned.
I would call a lot of your writing spiritual. Have you always been that way?
My blogs tend to be quite spiritual. Cosette’s Tribe is woven with spirituality, although it is a child’s tender version of it. I love how even though Cosette’s life is a rumbled mess she somehow manages to maintain a positive outlook and get back up each time she is knocked down. Cosette’s Tribe is a story about having the courage to get back up.
Yes, Corinne, I have always been very spiritual. I was raised Catholic and have since ridden on just about every bandwagon available. The one thing that has never changed over all these years of seeking is my belief in a God who loves us just as we are and “gets” what it is like to be human. I don’t believe in hell or judgment.
Leah, what advice would you give to bloggers finding their voice and hoping to publish their book/s someday?
Corinne, I would tell them to be themselves. Never try to create something popular or trendy just for the sake of sales. Always be yourself, follow your deep down heart of heart voice and passions. Ignore the voices that try to shrink you up with fear by telling you that you are not good enough, or smart enough, or ready. Those voices will never go away, so if you don’t learn to ignore them now you’ll never get anything done. Start doing!
Have fun with what you do. Offer yourself—the one and only you—back to the world as an offering of love and passion, and watch what becomes of you. The sky is the limit!
Thank you, Leah and looking forward to the sequel of Cosette’s Tribe.
This interview was first posted on Write Tribe in July 2013.
It took me a while to come to visit you both at Write Tribe. Thank you for this beautiful interview Corinne. I’ve always admired Leah for her style of writing, although I have yet to read her book…
Leah, I have always connected with your soul and experiences ~ Thank you so much for being you!
Lots of love to you both ! And congratulations to your novel Cosette’s Tribe Leah!
Thank you Melissa. I feel the same way about you. We have that connection. Thank you for coming to see me here! <3
Loved the interview, Corrine. Thanks so much for introducing a new author to us. I am definitely going to pick up her book.
Will go and vote now.
Thank you Smitha for getting the book and voting. I believe you will really enjoy the novel.
You are the best!
Leah
Voted 🙂
Thanks Corinne for drawing our attention to Leah and to her book Cosette’s Tribe that I can’t wait to read and am going to order right away. Sounds like its going to be a fabulous read.
Thank you for your support Kalpana <3 Let me know how you liked it.
My best!
Fantastic interview of one incredibly talented writer and beautiful soul. Love you, Leah! Love you, Corinne!
I love you too Martha!
The book seems very interesting and Leah definitely gets my vote ! I look forward to reading the book. I also like the advice she gives to fellow bloggers and writers .. It is so important to listen to your inner voice and create what you want to create instead of what the world wants you to create !
Thank you for your vote Ruchira! I hope you and many more people will read Cosette’s Tribe. I’m very proud of my book. I wrote it from a place of honestly and pure creativity. I like to think that it is inspired.
Blessings!
Leah
Lovely to hear about your book Leah. It sounds just like one of the books I just have to read.
Thank you Corinne for having her over here and sharing her wonderful story with us.
PS: All the best and hope that you win. I have voted and now keeping my fingers crossed for you 🙂
Thank you so much Bhavya. I hope you enjoy my novel. Corinne is wonderful to invite me here this week. I appreciate it. Thank you for voting and maybe Corinne will invite me back if I win. LOL!
Hi, Corinne & Leah! ~
When I saw two of my favorite bloggers were being featured together in one place you know I had to stop by and say “Hi!”
I also stayed up all night long (actually through the sunrise next day!) reading Cosette’s Tribe — I could not put it down until I finished it! I find myself getting misty again just thinking about the heart wrenching and inspiring story!
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!
Sending love sweet sister of inspiration! Thank you for your loving words.
Yikes. Ignore the apostrophe in “Mother’s” in my comment. I meant Mothers.
Hi Leah! What a pleasure to “meet” you! I love how our Mother’s influence us and inculcate lifelong wonderful habits. I am eager to read your book, especially because it is in a child’s voice. The storyline/excerpt sounds intriguing to me.
My favorite takeaway from this interview is your advice to aspiring authors and bloggers.
Thank you, Corinne, for a wonderful author interview. What a fabulous choice. I look forward to reading the book.
And yes, I went over, registered and voted for Cosette’s Tribe in both categories. My best wishes to Leah to emerge winner!
Hi Vidya! It is wonderful to meet you too.
Yes, our mothers seem to know what to impart. I’m so grateful that my mother loved reading.
Thank you for coming here today. I am excited for you to read Cosette’s Tribe. I believe you will enjoy it.
My Best!
Excellent interview with an interesting and very talented author. Loved Leah’s advice about being yourself and ignoring all of the negative voices within.
Karen, thank you for visiting here and showing your support. That really means a lot to me.
I am actually quite enthralled with the snippets of her writing that you have shared. And the answers she has given especially the message for forthcoming authors is such an amazingly correct one. We all tend to forget such things in life..
Will definitely vote though will take time to do it 🙂
Thanks Corinne for sharing it with us 🙂
Thank you, Richa Singh, for taking the time to meet me and my work. I also appreciate your vote!