McMartin Visits the Library ... 3,000 Miles Away

“She has a great story to tell, with an inspiring message,” Merrimack Public Library Director Yvette Couser said.

McMartin's recent book “Understanding the Fall,” is a novel based on a true story of a young girl growing up with an alcoholic parent and the child's struggle to deal with it well into adulthood.

That young girl is based on herself. It's her story. Her mother who is now in her 80s, has been an alcoholic for years and just recently became sober, Couser said.

McMartin is a friend of Couser, they met as students at New York University. Couser said Tuesday it had been years since they'd seen each other, until a test run of Wednesday's Skype call earlier that afternoon. That was exciting, to see each other without having to travel.

The opportunity to speak with McMartin comes through free technology that the library has used twice recently, to Skype with authors from their homes in New Mexico and in Colorado, Couser said.

The first opportunity was with Caroline Starr Rose, the author of "May B.," a book members of the library's family book group read, and a Skype that the library won in an essay contest entered by now-Trustee Jennifer Jobin.

“Caroline Starr Rose was able to be in her home office without having to leave her family or disrupt her life and still have a really meaningful conversation with the children,” Couser said.

It's a great gift to be able to talk with an author about their book, Couser said. They love it, their fans love it, but it can be very expensive, between airfare and hotel stays, more and more schools and libraries don't have the funding to make that possible, Couser said.

Couser said they have a camera that they set up in the room that gives the author a look at the whole room, and the author is projected on a screen or, now, a large flat-screen TV at the front of the room, so they can be seen.

With Starr Rose, and second Skyper, Avi, the children prepared questions ahead of time and sent them to the authors to be able to think about their answers and then they took turns approaching a microphone to ask their questions.

For Avi, who advertises Skype visits on his website, the cost of the appearance, since he didn't have to travel anywhere, was $100, Couser said.

“To have an author visit for $100 and to still have the same experience, though they aren't actually in the room? That's amazing,” Couser said.

Because of their friendship, Couser said McMartin is also doing her appearance for free.

McMartin lives in Los Angeles and the fight through her mother's alcoholism isn't the only one she's been through.

Just a couple years ago, McMartin, a single mother, was struggling to keep her life together, jobless and penniless, she shared with her readers the fight to keep afloat of using her daughter's Barbie makeup to go to interviews, of selling clothes to make some money.

But through hard work and perseverance and that continued sense of humor, McMartin's breakthrough came in the form of a job writing for “Two and a Half Men,” Couser said. It completely turned her life around.

Merrimack Patch unfortunately couldn't connect with McMartin for an interview in time for this story.

However, Studio City Patch Local Editor Michael Szymanski, said McMartin has a wonderful ability to connect with her readers and share a story.

“Susan was my first columnist when I started (Studio City) Patch nearly three years ago. She was a PTA friend, and has become a close friend as I've watched her through success, failures, lean times and now major success again,” Szymanski said in an email on Tuesday. “She has stuck with me through thick and thin at Patch, and she has the best following of the more than 100 bloggers and columnist that Studio City Patch hosts.

“Susan is funny, heartfelt and one of the few writers that can make you laugh and cry at the same time, she is my most valued treasure at Studio City Patch,” Syzmanski said.

Couser said she's excited to have the opportunity to do another Skype session, especially with McMartin, who she said will keep the attendees entertained.

Though she said McMartin has never Skyped before, it's easy to do and free to use.

“It's a win-win,” Couser said, “It's a win for the author, the library and the community.”

Couser said she not only hopes that other libraries, and even schools start, taking advantage of these opportunities as virtual author visits become more popular with authors who see the value in not having to be on the road all the time and for the hosts, who don't have to foot a hefty bill.

“I love seeing an author in person, getting to ask them about their work, and here's another way to do it,” she said.

Read more about McMartin here and check out her Patch blog Studio City Mom.