Erica Jong To Release New Book, Speak At Decatur Book Festival

She spoke with WABE’s Lois Reitzes in advance of her appearance at the Decatur Book Festival about her new novel “Fear of Dying,” which will be released Sept. 8.

The new novel shares some of the common elements as “Fear of Flying.” In “Fear of Dying,” the main protagonist, Vanessa Wonderman, goes to a, let’s say, dating website called zipless.com, and Isadora Wing, the main character in “Fear of Flying,” is Vanessa’s good friend.

Jong described this novel as a sort of coming-of-age story. Vanessa goes through and experiences different life cycles all at once. “She’s getting older, but her parents are fading. Her daughter is giving birth. Her husband is having a heart crisis,” Jong said. “For the first time, she has to contemplate mortality.”

Elements of the book mirror Jong’s own life, but she said no one character is her. For example, the book ends in India as Vanessa visits some caves. It’s a cathartic experience for her, and Jong had her own cathartic experience in India.

“What is so much fun as a writer is to split yourself into different characters,” she said. “You can make out of the different aspects of yourself characters that aren’t wholly you.”

After so many years in the spotlight, Jong has seen misrepresentations of “Fear of Flying” and her own opinions on female sexuality.  

“There are good sides of a famous book, which is that you can go on writing and your name can help you make a living,” she said. “The bad side is the typecasting, which is often misinformed. But I feel blessed in my life, not just in my literary life, but in my everyday life. I never realized how blessed I am.”

Jong will be in conversation with author Roxane Gay for the Decatur Book Festival’s keynote event Friday. It will be held at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Tickets are free but must be arranged in advance.