People - Bird’s Eye View

Author Interview with Jan Capps

Author Jan Capps, 58, was born in the United States and is a proud member of our Facebook group, Empty Nester Women Looking to Relocate. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate her recent success by sharing her story with you! Jan’s debut book, Birds Eye View: A Tapestry of Maya Mythology, Motherhood, and Making Life Anew, was published earlier this year by Koehler Books. It’s available in hardcover, softcover, and as an e-book on Kindle.

Getting published is an incredible accomplishment, especially for a first-time author. But that’s just the beginning of Jan’s inspiring journey. After spending nine months searching for an agent without success, she took matters into her own hands and reached out to small publishers directly. And within a month, she had not one, but three offers!

Her story continues to soar, as her book was recently nominated for the prestigious Nancy Pearl Award, honoring Pacific Northwest authors who have published in the past year. Now, let’s hear Jan’s story in her own words...

Was this a story you’d had germinating inside of you for some time, or was it triggered by an event?

This book is memoir about a year that I lived in an indigenous village in Guatemala with my then 10-year-old daughter while I was managing a medical clinic. I was on the heels of a difficult divorce and was still trying to make sense of my feelings and questioning my decision to move to Guatemala. 

While there, I learned the Mayan Tz’utujil word for computer is kemooneem (weaver of words), which offered a different way of looking at the machine I touched every day. After this, while writing, I took a step back and let my narrative slide through my fingers as I spun my story, like cotton to thread, along with Maya mythology, Guatemalan history and politics, and anecdotes of people I met there. Looking sideways at the sun is the only way not to be blinded.

How did you approach creating the plotline and characters?

I began with a collection of vignettes from my time in Guatemala, blending stories I had heard and people I had known. At first, there was no clear narrative arc. I was familiar with Joseph Campbell’s "The Hero’s Journey" and considered using it as a structure for my book, but it didn’t fully resonate with the story I wanted to tell. Then, I came across a quote from Campbell where he said, “Women don't need to make the journey. In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she's the place that people are trying to get to.” I thought that was nonsense.

That’s when I discovered Maureen Murdock’s "The Heroine’s Journey." Murdock argues that, at the end of a heroine’s journey, she doesn’t find a treasure or a prize but instead discovers herself. Her framework provided the structure I was looking for, and I used it as a guide to shape both the plot and the characters in my book.

Is there a thread of truth to the story?

There’s truth in every story, no?  What I write about me is real—real to me, at least.

What I write about others comprises my interpretations and assumptions of their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and includes changed names, amalgamated characters, and fudged identifying details.

What I write about Guatemala and its community life is based on what I saw, heard, or read. In other words, I don’t know for certain what the truth is about what is not me.

The Maya worldview includes the concept of duality. There cannot be light without the dark, joy without pain, or loyalty without betrayal. I set out to show this duality, the good and bad in Guatemala, both in my experience and in myself.

I hope to show how looking through the prism of another culture, another set of myths, can help us understand our own lives and the myths we have unwittingly followed. I also hope to show the compassion, intelligence, and resilience of the Guatemalan people who have supported and inspired me.

Was it harder to start writing or to finish?

I didn’t think of writing as having a clear start or finish. Instead, I approached it like cultivating a bush full of flowers. I grafted different stems together and waited to see what would take root. I pruned certain sections, allowing new growth to emerge. To my surprise, some of the most beautiful blossoms appeared in places I hadn’t expected. I saw colors in new hues and fragrances that stirred long-forgotten memories. Once I placed the final flower and recognized the symmetry of the arrangement, I knew my work was complete.

How long did it take you to write?

It took me five years to complete, including extensive research, multiple rounds of edits, and a six-month pause when COVID first hit.

How many edits did you need to do to get it to the version it is now?

I hired a developmental editor who offered invaluable feedback on the structure and pacing of the book. She conducted four major rounds of edits, each of which took me about nine months to review, reflect on, and rewrite. I would cut one section based on her suggestions, and in its place, a new section would often emerge naturally.

Once the content and organization were finalized, I brought in a copy editor for another round of revisions before submitting the manuscript to my publisher. The publisher then assigned their own copy editor for a final, thorough review.

How do you go about distribution? Does your publisher deal with that or do you?

My book is available through Ingram Content Group, Amazon, and my website.  My publisher posted the book on their website and in their newsletter but does not provide much other marketing or distribution support. 

Will there be a sequel or a new story entirely?

Perhaps.  I lived in Guatemala twice—once as a young woman and again in middle age.  There may be a third act there, and if so, I’m sure it will be worth writing about.  

If someone wanted to grab a copy of the book, how would they go about it?

The best way is to go to my website www.jancapps.com.  E-books are available in Kindle format on Amazon.  (ISBN-13, ‎979-8888242018)

Thank you for sharing your incredible achievements, Jan. I look forward to reading a copy of the book.

To our readers, I ask that you also show your support. Let’s celebrate each other’s achievements and uplift each other in the process.