WORDS WITH AUTHOR FRIENDS: CHRISTOPHER DELORENZO
One of the first hurdles I had to overcome in my quest to become a published author was my fear — abject terror would not be an overstatement — of sharing my writing with other people. The person I credit with helping me get over this hurdle is my dear friend and writing coach Christopher DeLorenzo.
By day, Chris is an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco where he teaches undergraduate writing, but I got to know Chris as the gifted and compassionate leader of the Laguna Writers group. Unlike traditional creative writing classes that focus on criticism, Chris’ writing workshops are based on the Amherst Writers & Artists philosophy that seeks to create a safe environment for writers to experiment, learn, and develop craft. As I said in my very first blog post, “Mr. Watson, Come Here” (June 8, 2019), it was in Chris’ safe and supportive living room that I wrote the first words of A GOOD FAMILY.
Chris and I recently met for brunch at 20th Century Cafe, a charming bakery/cafe in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. I chose the location very intentionally. First, it’s known for its fabulous food, and if there is one common theme to Words with Author Friends, it’s my love of good food shared with good friends. Second, it’s particularly well-known for its pastries, and Chris is himself a phenomenal baker. (Editor’s note: I am convinced Chris’ Beautiful Blondies are a “good luck” charm, as my son’s high school swim team won both his final regular season meet and the all-league championship — for the first time in 16 years! — after I brought those deliciously decadent bars as “snacks.” I can’t wait to try more recipes from Chris’ memoir/cookbook to see if they carry the same magical mojo.) And last but certainly not least, the cafe is located around the corner from the apartment that our mutual friend Merijane lived in for many years before her untimely death in 2017. All of us who love Merijane feel her absence still.
Once we settled into our cozy seats, Chris and I tried to pace ourselves and shared the cafe’s handmade pierogis with sour cream and plum jam (yummy) and bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese (also yummy). My loved ones know that I’m partial to savories not sweets, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to partake of 20th Century Cafe’s famous multi-layered Russian honey cake. Chris and I savored every delectable bite of the criminally thin slice. As Chris and his family would say, the cake was EVIL.
If you are an aspiring writer in the Bay Area, be sure to check out Chris’ website and sign up for an eight-week workshop or one-day writing retreat, or perhaps warm up by reading his blog and using his prompts as inspiration. And if you have a craving for dessert, you couldn’t do better than ordering something from Chris’ side-hustle, DeLorenzo Desserts. Champagne cake was Merijane’s favorite.
Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Name: Christopher DeLorenzo
Book title: Kitchen Inheritance: Memories and Recipes from my Family of Cooks
Favorite book(s): Precious (Originally published as Push), by Sapphire
Favorite local bookstore: Green Apple Books in San Francisco (mine too!)
Favorite (or notable) quote: Brenda Ueland, "So you see the imagination needs moodling—long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering . . . . in a queer way, you are afraid of it."
Where and when do you write: In my weekly workshops and retreats, at home, at my desk, on long flights. During the school year, I try to reserve time every weekend, and also at least one evening during the week. In the summer, I work at it as often as I can!
Favorite thing to do when you’re not writing: Bake, or read recipes and food magazines
How did you get your agent: I haven't yet! Can you recommend someone?
Why did you decide to self publish: I decided to self-publish because I knew if I had to write another non-fiction book proposal, I wouldn't ever get it done!
What advice would you give an aspiring author: Write with others if you can. Find a community to support you and inspire you.
What surprised you the most as a new author: How people I had never met wrote to me or talked to me and shared their personal stories.
What are you working on next: Working on a second cookbook, and returning to a novel manuscript
What are you reading now: There, There by Tommy Orange and White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
In the movie version of your life, who would you want to play you: Chris Colfer, from Glee
Any final thoughts: When you feel like you can't write, read!