Putnam's statement suggested to me that Earhart's story was
really too big to be presented as straight biography. A faithful biography would have given facts precedence over the spirit of adventure that enlivened Amelia. It also hinted how she saw herself. First, a pioneer of the air, but also a woman
living in what was still a man's world.
And challenging that world. Only
the fictional method could catch the grand purpose driven life that set all
those records, and upset all those men.
The first person journal seemed obvious to me. Amelia Earhart's story was inconceivable
unless she told it in a voice that
was believable. Finding that voice was
the trick. Luckily, I'd always felt drawn
to Amelia, to her independent, self-sufficient, but playful approach to
life. And she left a clear record of
that approach in her own published books, 20
hrs. 40 min.: Our Flight In The
Friendship, and The Fun Of It. Reading
them, and some of her private letters, gave me a feeling for how she expressed
herself. When I sat down to write it
seemed to flow, an indication to the writer that he's found the right voice.
Of course, there are hazards in the first person voice. Some may find the voice differs from what
they expect. Others, after a few
thousand words, may begin to tire of it. The only solution for these problems is a story that
provides excitement on every page, with unexpected twists and turns. If you don't like my Amelia I apologize and
wish you better luck on your next read.
I won't apologize for the excitement or the twists and turns. They're hers.