The
Unlikely Gift of Treasure Blume
By
Lisa Rumsey Harris
Synopsis
Treasure
Blume is a pear-shaped first-grade teacher with a love of embroidered
sweaters and an awkward tendency to blurt out whatever she's
thinking. And she has a family curse (or gift, depending on who you
talk to); everyone who meets her (over puberty but under
Alzeheimer's) initially dislikes her.
If you ask her grammy,
Tabiona Blume—passer of the gift, keeper of the family lore, and
star of the elite over-sixty dance team "Ruby's Red Hot Chili
Steppers”—she’ll say it's a blessing. But Treasure isn't buying
her explanation. Especially since Grammy Blume hasn't exactly
embraced the gift in her own life.
Treasure
leaves St. George, Utah bound for Las Vegas and her first job, where
she referees show-and-tell, creates Sneetch shirts for the Dr. Seuss
Party, and tangles with Bonnie B. Baumgartner, the school secretary.
But when Grammy Blume gets kicked out of her retirement community and
has to move in with her, Treasure gets tutored in the power and pain
of her unlikely gift.
With her life full of kids and codgers,
Treasure has given up on ever falling in love. And so has Dennis
Cameron, a divorced chef who sinks from near culinary stardom to
working with the lunch ladies in the school’s cafeteria to be near
his daughter, Micaela, a student in Treasure’s class. At first
Dennis (like everyone else) can’t see anything redeemable in
Treasure. He’s busy juggling the demands of his six-year-old
daughter, his terminally-ill mother, and his selfish, plastic
ex-wife. But somehow, the more he comes in contact with Treasure, the
less he dislikes her, until finally he finds himself falling in love
with her. Treasure and Dennis's relationship is full of spats and
spurts. Together they share little kindnesses, verbal blow-outs, wet
pants emergencies, dinner with Filipino refugees, dancing grannies,
and a blizzard in Vegas. As
Dennis watches Treasure, he begins to see how she can find beauty in
the most unlikely places. And that, he learns, is her real gift.
Author
Bio
Lisa
Rumsey Harris grew up writing stories and riding horses in
Southeastern Idaho. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree
in English from Brigham Young University, where she now teaches
writing classes. Lisa lives in Orem Utah, with her ancient Siamese
cat, her husband (who cooks nearly as well as Dennis) and her two
adorable daughters. When Lisa began writing this book, her oldest
daughter was in first grade. Her youngest daughter finished first
grade this year. Check out her world at www.treasureblume.com
or on facebook at Lisa Rumsey Harris, author.
If
you could work with any
other author, who would it
be and why?
That’s
a tough question. Can I raise the dead? If so, I’d work with Olive
Ann Burns, author of Cold Sassy Tree. She had this amazing way
of capturing poignancy and humor all in the same book. And I’d like
her character, Grandpa Blakeslee, to meet my character, Grammy Blume.
What
would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
I’m
an owl. I write from about 10p.m. to 2 a.m. usually during the summer
months (in fall and winter, I’m teaching and that absorbs my
focus). During the day, I keep a notebook within reach so I can jot
down ideas or scenes or dialogue. Sometimes, when my husband gets
home early, he’ll give me a gift: several hours of uninterrupted
daylight writing time. When that happens, I grab my laptop and run
away from home.
What
is the hardest part of the writing for you?
The
hardest part of writing for me is not checking my email and looking
at facebook. It takes some time to immerse myself in the world of
book. But once I’m there, it’s hard to come back out of it.
That’s why I try to write at night, when my children won’t need
me. During the day, I’ll go somewhere that I know doesn’t have
wifi so that I won’t be distracted.
When
and why did you first start writing?
Honestly,
I can’t not write. It’s always been part of who I am. When I was
seven, I won a young author’s award for my elementary school.
Looking back, I realize that my story, titled Locked in the Room
of December, was a bit edgy for a second grader. But instead of
sending me to the school psychologist, they sent me to a writer’s
day camp where I met real live published authors. Thanks, Mrs. Brim,
for giving me that opportunity.
How
did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
Treasure
Blume was born when I had a no good, very bad, horrible day, during
which I felt like everyone I met hated me. I remember coming home and
thinking, “Wow, I’m glad everyday isn’t like today.” And then
I began to wonder, “But what if it was?” I spent hours digging in
my garden that afternoon, and when I came in, Treasure came with me.
That night, I wrote about 20 pages of background material (that never
made it into the book) just so I could get to know her better.
Are
you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
Right
now, I’m reading student papers. But yes, I love reading. My kindle
is my lifeline. I have to have a book or I feel panicky. I’m
usually reading several books at once. Right now, I’m reading
Jennifer Chiaverini’s Circle of Quilters. I’m also reading
War and Peace (great for the nights that I can’t sleep). And
I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork
Princess and Ally Condie’s Reached.
Do
you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Keep
working to make your characters real, distinct, and believable. If
you don’t believe in the reality of your characters, neither will
anyone else.
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