It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Diane Helentjaris, author of I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl

Author’s Bio: Diane Helentjaris often writes about unsung lives. After spending the middle years of her career as a clinical physician and public health administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. In 2020, she was a finalist for the Iceland Writers’ Retreat Alumni Award. Her historic novel The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill won the 2024 Maryland Writers’ Association Novel competition in the Romance and Historical category. Her poems and short stories are featured in anthologies, including her chapbook Diaspora. 

Her latest book I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl was recently released. This biography of a once-famous female bronco rider and Wild West show performer is, according to critics, “Infused with wry humor…thought-provoking and a genuinely fun read.” A native of Dayton, Ohio, Diane lives in Leesburg, Virginia with her family and two ridiculous poodles. www.dianehelentjaris.com

 

Deliah Larwence: What inspired you to write your book?

Diane Helentjaris: I grew up in a microscopically small place in southwest Ohio, Medway. I don’t think we had a stoplight back then. Yet, small as it still is, it does have the Medway Area Historical Association. A few years ago, I read a post on its social media site about a famous Wild West cowgirl Lulu Bell Parr buried in the Medway cemetery. I was intrigued and needed to know more.

 

DL: How do you overcome the challenges of writer’s block?

DH: Writers’ block is not a problem for me. I define “writing” with a broad brush. No one feels creative and at their best all the time, so I match my work to how I feel. When I’m well-rested, alert, and in the proper mood, I spend my energy creating fresh, challenging passages. 

Other times, I use my day to research, read background material, telephone contacts to further my research or business needs, enter my business expenses for tax purposes, research images for illustrations, or go to the local history and genealogy library to dig, dig, dig. There’re always valuable tasks to do.

 

DL: What elements do you think make a compelling story?

DH: A deft hand and light touch make for joyful reading. A good writer, I believe, avoids indulging themselves in overwrought, dense, exaggerated plots. Honesty is critical whether a writer is creating fiction or nonfiction works. I lose patience with a story which is too fancified with overdone plot twists, swerving timelines, or unbelievable emotional responses. 

Personally, I believe in being a positive person so, for me, a compelling story includes sadness and crisis, but it can’t dwell on them. Gratuitous violence or cruel sexual activities inserted in a story can be a cheap trick and, contrary to what the writer might want, steal impact.

 

DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing this book?

DH: Very little has been written about Lulu Bell Parr up to now and many of the articles which mentioned her were not well researched. Since she was an entertainer in a time — from 1903 to the early 1930s — when newspapers were often stupendously inaccurate, I had to be delicate in using period sources. Ferreting out the facts was a challenge. Writing about marginalized people — women, minorities, the uneducated and the poor has challenges. Lulu had only a third-grade education, has no descendants to carry her story, and left no diary. 

Luckily, the tremendous growth in digitized historic newspapers helped fill in the gaps. I also used ephemera purchased from online sites like Ebay to document her life. The Medway Area Historical Association helped, as did those memorabilia collectors who had purchased her belongings at flea markets, auctions, and from private vendors.

 

DL: Is there a specific author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

DH: Not a book or author, but my high school English teacher Bob Constable —  a.k.a. “Yogi” for his imagined resemblance to the cartoon Yogi Bear. Wright State University had recently opened nearby and graduates from my high school had naturally enrolled there. More than one had flunked English. Yogi was tasked with turning that around. He more than rose to the occasion and with a kind, humorous manner.

 

Yogi taught us to strip down our sentences only to those words necessary for communication. He beat into us (figuratively) not to indulge ourselves in florid words and phrases. Ours was a rural high school and we had little exposure to highly educated people. Many of us thought using big words and fancy sayings were what educated, classy people were supposed to do. Yogi taught us not to do that. I can still hear him gesturing and shouting “Blurby, blurby, blurby” when we added fluff to our assignments. He made such a difference in my writing life. And he was a lot of fun!

 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

DH: Don’t waste your time or funds. Spend the hours and money you have for your writing on, well, writing. Don’t fritter away your resources on entering low quality writing competitions, online courses, software, and services touted for writers. Be selective. Join and participate in a writing group and in a formal writing organization (like the Maryland Writers’ Association). Be cautious with your intellectual rights. Read and make sure you understand any publishing (online or otherwise) agreements. If you don’t understand it, get legal help. Writing can be seen (inaccurately I think) as a solitary activity and predators do exist.

 

DL: What are three fun facts about yourself?

DH: My last name has the same number of letters as “Mickey Mouse” so you can sing it to the Mickey Mouse song, for those of you who’ve seen the Mickey Mouse Club.

                               

I was a Studio Art major when I started at Michigan State, but graduated as an M.D. In between, I earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities.

                               

I am gullible at heart. As a toddler, my dad gave me a little shovel and I set to digging to China. My grandpa gave me a saltshaker and sent me out to catch birds in his yard by sprinkling salt on their tail. At eight, my dad was digging a big hole in the yard. He pulled out a “petrified rabbit egg” and gifted the rock to me. I kept it for years on a shelf in my bedroom till I figured out the joke.

 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl

DH: Sure, here you go:

At twenty-six, Lulu knew she was beautiful. Described as blonde, “a tiny bit of a young woman whose appearance does not in any way suggest the rough life of the ranch, her features were pleasingly symmetrical, her jawline well-defined. Her disarmingly feminine appearance opened doors as well as sugar-coated her strength. In a few days, when she trotted out on a fancy horse into the roped-off arena, even if she were one rider among many, she’d get more than her share of attention. She would have the eyes of the world on her, and she would show them what she could do.

 

The Wild West train skimmed over the steel rails, barreled through the flatness of northern Ohio. On the other side of Lulu’s window rich rolling farmland spooled out in a green ribbon. The longest day of the year, the summer solstice, beckoned ahead. June’s sweet airiness and the fecund terrain charmed the roughneck Wild Westers.

 

The maniacal busyness of spring planting had eased for the farmers. Their crops were planted, the lambs born. The first fresh cutting of the hay had scented the air a month earlier. Only the raspberries, cherries, and late strawberries were ripe enough to pick and reserve. Harvesting the rest would come later. Plenty of time for those farming the fields around Coshocton to enjoy Pawnee Bill’s parade and, if a quarter or two could be scratched up, take in the show.

 

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

DH: I’m working on two. One is a sequel to my historic novel The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill. This first book is the story of an Irish girl kidnapped in the late 1600s and brought to Maryland where she is sold off as an indentured servant. The sequel picks up after Ivy’s engagement to the man who bought her.

I’m also working on a biography of my great-great-aunt who has become a folk heroine in St. Joseph, Missouri, popular with reenactors. Born in the 1860s in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, she moved west. As Lizzie King, she became a highly successful businesswoman, known for her philanthropy as well as her wealth. Of course, not many career paths were open to a woman and Lizzie made her riches running a brothel.

 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchased your book(s)?

DH: Readers can get more information here:

• Website: www.DianeHelentjaris.com
• Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/2chmvtn7
• Facebook: Diane Helentjaris Writer and Photographer https://www.facebook.com/DianeHelentjaris
• Instagram: @DianeHelentjaris
• Blog: https://dianehelentjaris.substack.com/
• Book Buy Links: https://books2read.com/DianeHelentjaris 

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

DH: Thanks so much for doing this!