Life in Marshall: An Interview with Sandra Gowing

by Lia McQueeney

In a constantly evolving world where old stories and memories often fade, author Sandra Gowing wisely preserved the essence of childhood, family, and life in the 1950s in her debut memoir, Life in Marshall. This book is a testament to her glowing literary talent and the ways in which she uses it to capture her family’s history. Taking us through the adventures of her childhood in Marshall, Michigan, Gowing details the small-town life and how it impacted her, both positively and negatively. In this charming read, Gowing draws from various experiences with her sister, Judy, in taking the reader back in time and offering a glimpse of what life was truly like back in the 1950s.  

Gowing began writing Life in Marshall after she retired in 2007 at the age of 65. 

The first steps of her author journey commenced with writing courses that prompted her to share stories of her life in her work. This, along with her love of her childhood hometown of Marshall, was the ultimate inspiration for her first book. 

When asked about the writing timeline, Gowing reflected, “It took me several years to put it all together… It wasn't a continuous process. It took a couple of years to finalize everything before publishing in 2023.” Due to this rather lengthy process, Gowing understands the importance of patience and giving yourself time during the writing phase. For other authors who may be struggling, Gowing advised, “You just have to continue to work on it, even if you get stuck.” To her, Life in Marshall was something she was consistently working on, even through the creative roadblocks. Gowing serves as proof that hard work and patience pay off during the writing and publishing adventure. She hopes other authors learn the importance of never giving up on their writing goals.

For Gowing, the ideal writing environment where she can focus is surprisingly simple. She writes at her kitchen table in the mornings, a routine that has been a part of her life for years. When detailing this process, Gowing added, “My granddaughter used to come over in the morning and walk to school from my house. She still remembers me sitting at the table writing while she had breakfast.” She finds it most important to be in a calm and comfortable environment when writing. Gowing shared another unique technique that worked for her creative focus—swimming. “I swim two or three times a week, and I do a lot of thinking while I’m swimming. It’s a quiet, distraction-free time where I can work out dialogue and other aspects of my writing.” While it may be unconventional, she finds that this alone time is what truly helps her focus and brainstorm. 

When navigating the challenging world of publishing, Gowing opted with the hybrid route rather than the often lengthy process of traditional publishing. Once she found her ideal path, she researched companies that aligned with her wants and needs. In the interview, Gowing shared, “My husband actually found Wildebeest Publishing through an online search and everything has gone quite smooth. They were very supportive and I was fortunate to have a good experience working with them, especially with Jess [Wildebeest editor], who was very careful not to change my voice during the editing process.”

As the interview wrapped up, Gowing reflected on her journey, claiming “It has been a wonderful experience.” Specifically, she appreciates not only her involvement with the team at Wildebeest, but also the opportunity to share valuable stories of her life to a wider audience of people who will cherish her memories. As for her other works, Gowing’s latest novel, set during World War I, is a must-read for anyone interested in the personal stories behind the war’s impact. While this is a work of historical fiction, it was inspired by a photo of her grandparents and beautifully relates to her beloved town of Marshall. Many years were spent lovingly researching time and places surrounding the Great War to craft a story to make her ancestors proud and give future generations a peek into what life would've been like for the young couple. Through her dedication to writing and safeguarding her family’s history, Gowing has proved to be quite the literary inspiration. 

 Lia is a lifelong reader and writer who is currently a student at Siena College pursuing a degree in English. Her passion for English merges with her commitment to supporting and educating others, which is why one day she hopes to find her place either in the world of publishing or in early childhood education.