Interview conducted by Denise Fleischer

Karen Kruse is preserving the history of a fire station and its generations of devoted firemen through her book, "A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78." I had briefly meet Karen at a Books A Million in Niles, Illinois and thought she would make a great guest at the AuthorFest I am organizing so I emailed her.

This interview focuses on both her book and her writing career. Read on to learn about a writer who not only thinks "she can do what her heart tells her to, but does it again and again."

Denise: I understand that three generations of firefighters gave you the background and passion to write your first book, "A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78." There must have been a great deal of research involved. Where did you begin?

Karen: My grandfather died in 1963, and a great uncle is also gone. My research stemmed from my dad's scrapbook. He started it when he went on the job (the fire department). It contains notices of such things as reporting to the Drill School, promotions, etc., but it also has newspaper articles containing the details of various fires my dad fought.  This gave me the historical data I needed. Dad filled in the "color" telling me such things as, "That's when the captain was hurt and I was put in charge for the first time." He filled in the behind the scenes stories with the public version of the newspapers. Together, they blended to form the basis of my book. I also did a bit of research on early history of Chicago and the Lake View area of the city, so my story could start at the beginning.

Denise: Did you write the book according to what you felt needed to be covered or by following publisher's guidelines to the letter?

Karen: I wrote this book from my heart, the way I wanted to write it. I didn't think about who was going to read it or what it "should" say. I like to say I wrote "flat out." It was after the draft was completed and proofread by several friends, I started looking for a publisher. My feeling was I would write the book the way I wanted to write it and find a publisher that appreciated what I had done after the fact. It worked. Not one word of my text was changed by the publisher. I'm very proud of that.

Denise: Are the photos from a historical archive?

Karen: No, between my parents and myself we provided all the photos. The fire photos come from newspaper clippings contained in Dad's scrapbook. The photos of the various Fire Department Thrill Shows were pictures taken by my grandfather in the 40s and my parents in 1960. Most everything else, about 90% of the book is my work. I took all the photos of the firehouse, the neighborhood, Wrigley Field, Graceland and Rosehill Cemeteries, then used photos Mom or friends took with me on them.

Denise: How long did it take to complete "A Chicago Firehouse?" How many press runs have there been and copies printed?

Karen: After six months of my "hunting/gathering" phase, I started to assemble the information. In four months, the book was written, while searching for a publisher and talking to Mike Ditka to provide my foreword. I was just notified yesterday, my book's 7th printing arrived at the publisher. The book will be four years old on April 17th, the day I saw it for the first time. There are over 6,000 in print.

Denise: What has the book meant to you and your family?

Karen: This book has been the ride of a lifetime for me. I am extremely proud to be able to honor my dad now, while he's still here. In the thirty years he served on the Chicago Fire Dept., he was thanked once for saving a life. That haunted me. I made it very clear in my book how firemen should be thanked and appreciated for what they do everyday. I'm proud my book appeared on store shelves in May 2001, four months BEFORE the events of September 11th. It seems the rest of the world jumped on "my" bandwagon after those events, when I have been saying it all along for over 40 years. This book is a gift to my dad, but in many ways, it's me who has received the gift. I got the privilege of telling the world how I love firemen and what they do. An opportunity like that doesn't happen very often.

Denise: How are you promoting it and what have your experiences been getting into bookstores?

Karen: I could go on for days about book promotion! I'll try to be relatively brief here. As far as getting it into local bookstores, it was the publisher who did that. They got it in local bookstores and on-line with various booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I have been promoting it locally at libraries where I give a talk, then sell and autograph books afterward, plus I actively promote it through my website, www.achicagofirehouse.com. I can take on-line sales through the website, which helps with out of town buyers. Since I'm a firefighter's kid, I'm accepted across the country by other firemen. I take out ads in various fire-related publications across the country and promote it through articles in non-fire publications as well. For example, articles I've had in "Working Writer" newsletter produced a request from a downstate antiques newspaper to feature me in their "Midwest Author" column. Turns out, the editor had read about me in the writing publication and remembered my book. I also attend fire flea markets, where everything for sale is fire department related. The more people know I'm out there, the more opportunities I receive. I was honored when the "Chicago Sun-Times" asked me to write a piece on how the author has to do much of the promoting themselves to get their book noticed. The piece appeared on Father's Day, 2002, as the lead story of "Book Week." It generated sales, plus more speaking opportunities. The secret to book promotion is to follow up on every idea I have or am given.

Denise: What type of feedback have you received from readers?

Karen: The firemen mentioned in the book are real people. I have heard from family members of most of them. They are touched I have remembered their loved ones and honored them along with my father. It's brought me together with many other "firebrats" I lost track of a long time ago. The fire family is huge and loving. Because of this book and the impact it had on one particular family, I was asked to write and deliver the eulogy at their dad's funeral. I was honored to perform this solemn duty. It is the most meaningful thing I've ever done. It warms my heart when I hear firemen have been touched by my book. One local fire chief says his guys use my book for reference! My book has been sold around the world. I receive e-mails from firemen across the country regularly thanking me for what I've done. It hits some kind of cord in them and for that I'm extremely grateful. I'm proud my book honors all firemen everywhere and I think they are, too.

Denise: Can you tell us about your writing background?

Karen: This is my first attempt at a book and I was thrilled when it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in History in 2001 when it came out. I have been dabbling in writing for years, having my first paid article published in 1993. In 1999, an article I wrote about visiting the firehouse as a kid was published in "Victoria" magazine. That gave me the desire to expand it into this book. I am a regular contributor to "Working Writer," have written for "Food History News," "1st Responder" newspapers, and the "Association for Gravestone Studies" newsletter, where several articles on cemeteries were published. When I have the opportunity to write, I do!

Denise: What are the benefits of being a Mensa member? What have you learned by being a Midwest Writers Association member?

Karen: For me, Mensa is a great place to network and practice my writing! My articles have appeared in both local and national Mensa magazines, and I've been nominated for their national writing award. Mensa is a great melting pot of personalities and talents. I've met others who write, publish, edit, or can help in some other way promote my career. When my book first came out, Mensa gave me the opportunity to be the monthly speaker. It gave me "practice" talking in front of a friendly group. Noticing my speaking ability, one of our members, who is also the membership chair for the Midwest Writers Assn. invited me to speak to that group on the subject of book promotion. After meeting the group that night, I joined. My writing talent list is included in their annual membership guide so any publisher looking for a professional writer can find me. This group, too, is a wonderful networking opportunity. Everybody here is involved in non-fiction writing, but their subjects of expertise vary so it's diverse in that way. It's also a very supportive atmosphere to learn and find other outlets for your work.

Denise: Are you currently working on another writing project?

Karen: I always have more than a few projects on the back burner. I have proposals out to publishers for both book and article ideas. Many of them are in my head and as soon as I get the go-ahead, I'll start off in that direction. My current book is still taking up much of my time between promotion, attending fire events, and giving lectures. I also keep writing for the other publications mentioned when I have an idea. It keeps me busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Denise: What do you love about living in Glenview, Illinois?

Karen: I enjoy the quiet, small town feel of Glenview. It's the perfect writer's habitat!

To order an autographed copy of Karen's book directly from her, visit www.achicagofirehouse.com. Books are $23.49 ppd. including a special message just for firefighters!