Congratulations to Toni Halleen on the publication of her first novel. The Surrogate was recently released by HarperCollins and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Prior to having her novel published, Toni previously won a Mentor Prize in Fiction from the Loft Literary Center, and her short fiction has been published in Structo, Wigleaf, Gravel, and the Star Tribune. She also wrote an award-winning musical, “Soulless, Bloodsucking Lawyers.”
I sat down with Toni to learn about her writing process, her fascinating career, and more.
1.You’ve spent many years entertaining others, including during your time as a songwriter, playwright, performer, comedian, and author. What inspired you to build such a diverse skill set?
My mom is an artist, and my dad is a preacher, so I was raised by parents with a broad range of talents and interests, and they were my role models. I was also inspired by the Smothers Brothers, who used comedy, satire, and music to affect social change. My background in improvisation has really helped me write plays and dialogue. I believe that every skill, every experience or job contributes to the next possible thing, and that we are all creative by nature.
2. When did you decide you’d like to undertake writing a novel?
This novel started twelve years ago, in the first writing class I ever took, prompted by a writing exercise. The story I started was so much fun (for me), I just wanted to keep writing so I could find out what happened to the characters.
3. I suspect some fans first learned of your work through your short fiction, which has been featured in Wigleaf, Structo, Gravel, and the StarTribune. What similarities and differences will these fans see between your short stories and The Surrogate?
My short stories have a bit of humor in them, although they deal with somewhat serious topics. The characters are caught by their blind spots, perhaps, and that’s a feature I like to explore in longer fiction. But the short stories also have a tinge of the surreal or unreliable narration, and that’s different from the novel. My essay in the StarTribune is non-fiction and it is about parents letting go of grown children.
4. How is the process of writing a novel different from constructing short stories?
They both require writing spurts combined with letting the work sit before returning to it. They both benefit from workshopping and feedback. But the novels require much more time, research, planning, organization, complexity, storylines, and software. In addition, I use images for inspiration in novels, but not so much for short stories.
5. It’s clear elements of your legal background pop up in your writing. How do your other professional and personal experiences inform your writing?
Being a lawyer has helped immensely in my writing in several ways. First, as lawyers, we need to listen to and understand our clients’ stories in order to tell those stories to others, such as the court or the opposing party. Lawyers also do a lot of reading and writing. And we get to know a lot of people with unique backgrounds, working different jobs and in a variety of industries, so that exposure helps.
6. How did your 2013 participation as a fellow in the Loft’s Mentor Series change the way you approach your writing present day?
Participating in any writing group or class is enormously beneficial because it allows you to be part of a community, learn from others, and give and receive support in the writing journey. Learning to collaborate and to give and receive constructive feedback on works-in-progress is one of the most important benefits of a writing group. The Mentor Series also exposed me to a number of talented writers and gave the opportunity to read my work aloud.
7. What do you hope readers take away from The Surrogate? What feelings do you hope the book evokes?
I hope it’s an enjoyable ride, and I hope the ending feels satisfying to them. I tried to write the kind of book I like to read, and I tried to make the ending feel the way I like to feel when I finish a book.
8. What book is currently on your nightstand?
I’m listening to Fierce Little Thing by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore on audio, and I’m reading Heartland, a memoir by Sarah Smarsh.
9. Have you planned a future project your readers can watch for?
Yes, my contract with HarperCollins was a two-book deal, so I am working on another novel right now. It’s not related to The Surrogate, but it also deals with families and it takes place in Minnesota. Please stay tuned!
10. Where can readers purchase The Surrogate?
The Surrogate is available everywhere you buy books! I love it when readers support independent bookstores and shop online at bookshop.org, but the book is available in all the usual places, too. And check out the audiobook! It’s a full cast recording, and the narrators did a very good job, in my opinion.
