The books shown on the left are by Skye Smith.  Click on the cover to order.

This interview was conducted by Timea Barabas on September 16, 2025.

Timea Barabas:  What was the original inspiration or “seed” that eventually grew into The Long Lost Midwife?

Skye Smith:  Many American movies from the 30s-50s have happy Black servants ‘in the background’ serving their white employers. I wanted to dig beneath that surface. 

Timea Barabas:  Why did you choose the 1930s as the setting for the story, and what challenges did you face in writing a period piece?

Skye Smith:  In writer’s group, I’d worked on a novel set in the 1950s. Pamela from LLM was in her 40s then. She enticed me into writing about her youth instead.  

Timea Barabas:  Could you walk us through your writing process?

Skye Smith:  I view writing as discipline for developing empathy. To get out of my head and into the character, I’ll do anything from yoga to mediation to playing pickleball.

Timea Barabas:  What aspects of writing this book did you find most challenging, and which parts came most easily?

Skye Smith: The historical research took a lot of time. Because of that, I’d say LLM easily took four years to write.

Timea Barabas:  Did you have a favorite character to develop, and if so, why?

Skye Smith:  Characters who are least like me are the biggest challenge to write. Getting into their head can take me days. When I feel I’ve succeeded, it’s a rush.

Timea Barabas:  The novel explores themes of racial segregation and shifting societal norms. What inspired you to focus on these topics?

Skye Smith: Do you remember the song from Avenue Q, ‘Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist’? I struggle with my own racism. I perceive racism as fear of ‘the other’. On this planet, there are so many ‘others’.

Timea Barabas:  Can you share an example of a mistake or unexpected event during the writing process that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?

Skye Smith:  The final three chapters came after six months of my wrestling with the ending. The book went into a drawer during that period.

Timea Barabas:  How do you see the events and setting of the book connecting to our world today?

Skye Smith:  Good question. During my research, I came across an old cartoon of a Black woman begging Woodrow Wilson not to enter World War I. To paraphrase, she said, ‘Give me my rights before you go fight a war in Europe’. Generations die, populations swell, technology changes, but I suspect the big issues remain pretty much the same.

Timea Barabas:  What is the main idea or message you hope readers take away from Long Lost Midwife?

Skye Smith:   LLM has a few entry points for analysis/discussion. At the very least, I’d like to encourage the reader to compare their era with an American era almost a hundred years past.

Timea Barabas:  Do you have any upcoming projects you’re currently working on?

Skye Smith:  After ten years in a writer’s group, I’ve got five more juicy (in my opinion) novels in queue. Stay tuned.

Timea Barabas:  Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me.

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