Author Snapshot: Roz Weston
Book jacket biographies don’t tell us nearly enough about the authors we love. That’s why Zibby Mag launched the Author Snapshot, giving readers an inside look at the lives and work of our favorite writers.
This week we’re spotlighting Roz Weston, a multi-platform entertainer and storyteller. Roz’s memoir, A Little Bit Broken, released this past fall.
Was there a moment or experience that inspired you to write about your journey in a book?
There’s not one single moment, no. But I did have to clear a few hurdles before I was comfortable enough to tell it all. I’m no longer afraid to fail, and the fear of being judged doesn’t haunt me anymore either. I lost my dad when I was too young to be able to handle it the way I would have now. So much of my story is his story. He was a great story teller, but his stories die with me. I started to think about legacy and what we leave behind. Not to get super morbid, but when I’m gone so are his stories. I wanted to leave a permanent record of my dad. But there was no way to tell his story, our story, without me also writing about my own trauma, addiction, guilt, and regret. Let’s face it: the reason we make bad choices is because bad choices usually feel really good—and I made them all.
How does it feel now that so much of your personal history is out there for the world to read? Have you experienced a “vulnerability hangover” at all?
That’s exactly how it feels. There’s a moment when the book is done but it’s still ‘yours’. Then you release it, and it’s everyone else’s. It belongs to them now. It’s like an album, or movie at that point. It’s still my story, but I don’t own it anymore. I’ve learned so much more about myself after hearing all the ways other people have seen themselves in this story. I wrote a book about grief, loss, failure, redemption, and falling in love. Turns out, I’m not alone.
I know you mentioned always starting from the end, then going back to explain how you got there. Did writing this book change your perspective at all?
Yeah, that’s how I wrote the book, as well—the same way I tell stories. I knew this was going to end with a proposal. The first thing I wrote was “When you choose the person to spend the rest of your life with, you’re also choosing the person who’ll tell your story when you’re gone. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find someone who only sees the best in you.” That was the line. Then I went back to the beginning and wrote up to that point. That’s just how I tell stories. I’ll never hold anything back or leave you hanging. I released the ending of the book before that actual book. Basically, I spoiled the ending. This took a ton of convincing with the publisher, but it was a must for me. This book is a tough read, and I needed people to know there’s a happy ending. I want people to pick up this book with optimism.
You wrote this book as a way to propose to your girlfriend, which may be the most romantic proposal of all time (especially for book lovers)! How did you logistically pull off keeping such a huge secret?
Yes, the book ends with a proposal. My plan was to save the last chapter and have Katherine read it for the first time together with me and our kid. I filmed the entire thing and the video will make you cry! I promise. But no, nobody knew ahead of time. When I sold the book to the publisher, they had no idea. I sold it without the proposal. I snuck in the last chapter to my editor on the day my final manuscript was to be set for the printer. When we sent the book out for press reviews, nobody got the last chapter. It was a huge risk. Marketing didn’t know, my publicist didn’t know. Nobody knew. Did not sending out full copies of my book hurt it? Maybe, who knows. Was it worth it? Absolutely.
Are you interested in writing another book, if so, what would it be about?
Would I do this again? Hell no! It was exhausting and I cried for two years writing this book. But I’m so happy I did. I didn’t tell anyone I was writing this except for my (now) fiancée, kid, and the publisher. My mother and brother only found out right before we went to print. They read it for the first time two days before publication, and it was beautiful. I think if I did another one it would be for sure be food-related. Maybe not a cookbook, but something very close.
What books have you recently read and enjoyed? Are there any titles that you’d recommend others pick up after finishing A Little Bit Broken?
Believe it or not, I’m not a big reader. I do five hours of live radio every morning, so reading when I get home is the last thing I want to do. I think the best thing is to recommend a few authors and books that people who’ve read mine said it reminded them of. I get a ton of Anthony Bourdain and Dave Eggers comparisons. Some people went from my memoir into Matthew McConaughey’s Green Lights. That sort of vibe.