Each day leading up to the 32nd annual Minnesota Book Awards announcement, we’ll be featuring an exclusive interview with one of our 36 finalists.
Interview with Nancy Atkinson, author of Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions, part of the General Nonfiction category
How does it feel to be a Minnesota Book Award finalist?
I’m absolutely thrilled (I started shaking when I heard the news!) and incredibly grateful. I’ve kept tabs on the Minnesota Book Awards for several years, and appreciate how this award validates and acknowledges the hard work and perseverance of the wide variety of writers in our state. I’m so very honored to be among ‘em!
Tell us something about your finalist book that you want readers to know?
Since the Apollo program
happened 50 years ago, not many people know the details of what it took to
reach the Moon. Most are familiar with the soundbite of Neil Armstrong saying
“one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” and that the astronauts
put a flag on the Moon, but that’s about it. One fact people that surprises
people is that Apollo required the efforts of over 400,000 people from across
the country and around the world. These people worked at NASA, at contractor
companies and factories, building the spacecraft, the rockets, the computers
and all the various components to keep the astronauts alive and in constant
communication with Earth. All these people were tasked with figuring out how do
so many things that had never been done before.
Since every person has a story, there are hundreds of thousands of stories that
went into going to the Moon. While the public might be familiar with the
astronauts or the people who worked in Mission Control, I wanted to tell some
of the stories of people who the general public has likely never heard of, but
yet who made important contributions to the effort.
I knew I couldn’t talk to all 400,000, but the book tells the story of Apollo
through the eyes and experiences of about 60 people. I did personal interviews
with over 40 engineers and scientists who worked on Apollo (including some from
Minnesota) and then I incorporated oral histories from about 20 more, for a
total of 60 unique voices in the book.
But what I think is most important is that the people who worked behind the
scenes to get to the Moon worked incredibly hard, and sacrificed a lot. They
worked long hours (60-70 hours a week, 6-7 days a week were common.) They gave
their lives to the space program every bit as much as the astronauts did, only
without any of the recognition. That’s why I’m so honored to tell their
stories.
Share something about your writing process and preferences. For instance, where is your favorite place to write?
I write best in a quiet
setting when I’m alone, as I tend to get distracted easily. When I have a
quickly-approaching deadline, I sometimes wear headphones and listen to white
noise.
Since I am an English major writing about science and engineering, I really
depend on interviewing the experts in those fields, and I’ve found I love
hearing about the small and sometimes quirky details, and then crafting them
into the larger story to bring out the personal side of science.
The best thing about being a writer is being able to share your passions and
thoughts with others, but be able to do it in a thoughtful, measured way. I’m
not fast on my feet answering questions or even presenting my feelings
immediately, on the spot. Writing allows me to consider my words and to express
my true feelings.
Minnesota has a reputation as a state that values literature and reading. In your experience, what is it about our state that makes it such a welcoming place for writers and book creators?
The winters are definitely conducive to hunkering down with a warm cup of coffee and a book, and so I think Minnesotans definitely appreciate good literature! Minnesotans are also proud of being creative, resilient and persevering through a challenge, which are characteristics that all writers seem to need! I’ve always been impressed with how many organizations, businesses and institutions emphasize and support the arts in our state, and I’m incredibly grateful to live here.
What is something you are good at that few people know about?
I love to sing, and have even written a few songs, including a song about the Apollo 11 mission and another about the International Space Station (and that song has actually been played aboard the space station!)
What do you love about libraries?
I had the great fortune to work in a library for several years, and I loved how this small but active library was the hub of our community. I see that so often as I visit libraries around Minnesota – how the library connects people in so many ways while expanding their horizons and experiences. Whenever I come to a new library, I feel like I’ve found a new friend.
Nancy Atkinson is a science journalist and author. She has been with Universe Today since 2004. She is also the author of Incredible Stories From Space.