Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais is the author of the historical fiction novel Saving KC, a profound exploration of addiction, recovery, and the timelessness of love and forgiveness, set against the backdrop of post-Vietnam America. His debut novel weaves these powerful themes into a story that resonates deeply with readers, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and redemptions of life.
Born on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana, also known as the Chippewa Cree Reservation, Buzz comes from a lineage steeped in creativity and cultural preservation. His father famously represented their native culture in the 1939 classic film Susannah of the Mounties alongside Shirley Temple, while his great-grandfather, Mountain Chief, was a revered figure in their community.
Beyond his writing, Buzz is an activist dedicated to supporting Native American communities. He co-founded the NATIVE Project, a non-profit organization that initially served as an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center for Native youth, using a combination of traditional Native American healing practices and twelve-step programs.
Recognizing the growing substance abuse issues among urban Native youth disconnected from reservation life, the NATIVE Project has since expanded into a full-service clinic under the Indian Health Service (IHS), providing comprehensive care to the urban Indigenous population of eastern Washington. Buzz also brought twelve-step meetings to the Washington State prison system for nearly a decade.
Buzz’s life has been filled with diverse experiences, including his service in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. He has lived in various parts of the world, including California, and now resides south of Seattle with his wife, Loni. His daughter, McKenzie, and her family, including grandsons Cowen and Kaplin who live nearby.
For more information about Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, to purchase a print copy of Saving KC, or to listen to the soundtrack, visit his website.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Saving KC is my debut novel. It is classed as historical fiction. I like that category and one of pure fiction as well. Even if I were to write about myself, it would be couched in fiction based on real life.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
Unfortunately, I keep several notebooks in various locations to capture, which can get a little confusing. I am trying to discipline myself and only use one. I also use a “Remarkable” Tablet.
Do you have a muse?
For this book, Saving KC, it is Karen Carpenter. She is, after all, the female lead in the book. I developed a love for her as I went through all the YouTube videos and did my research. Books, etc. That’s what caught my attention about her again after all these years (we would be the same age).
She was my first crush in the seventies. I was drafted and was stationed overseas, and I could not allow anyone to see me bring a Carpenters album into the barracks. Due to some life events, I lost track of her.
I ran across a YouTube video of her singing when I reconnected with her at the beginning of the pandemic. I wasn’t aware there were any videos of her singing. I was mesmerized by her voice and beauty all over again.
As I studied her illness and eventual death, I became so emotionally affected that I woke up at night crying over her tragic passing. My only explanation is that maybe I had fallen in love with her.
This began to worry me, as I thought it very unusual. I did visit my analyst and expressed my concern. Her response was, “Is anyone being hurt?” I could not answer for my wife as her only reaction to the whole thing was. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting strangely lately.”
I told her what was going on, and she just laughed. “Well, I don’t have to worry about you running off with her.”
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
I love both. I do think I love well-developed characters—characters with character, both good and bad. I love to see the strengths and vulnerabilities in each.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Innocence of youth, War, romance, addictive behavior, and Native American mysticism.
This should have a storyline that will pull the reader into the story.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
I’m no spring chicken, but I am unfamiliar with typewriter usage. I am such a lazy keyboard pilot that I don’t think I would be perfect on the typewriter. I’ve never practiced on one, and I don’t think I would want to try
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
I would much rather have a bookstore as it is a business, and I continue to be a businessperson. I have an electrical contracting business in Seattle, WA.
How do you name your characters? If you write nonfiction, do you ever change the names of your characters, and if so, how do you decide what names to change them to?
If I am writing historical fiction such as Saving KC, I will use a name other than the original, but I will try to use a name that will hint at the original’s identity.
Here, I gave them the last name Chapin instead of Carpenter. I thought there might be a tie between Karen Carpenter and Mary Chapin Carpenter. No one has ever asked that question, so there you go—a secret is out!
What is your favorite website that you use to promote your writing?
I have used Facebook and Instagram mostly. I do have a website for the book (see below).
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
I have had some discussions with a production group, but I have profound differences with them on creative issues. They are all about a two-hour movie format, but it would cause severe deficiencies in the tone and tenor of the original product, to the point where I don’t think I will let it move forward.
I would like to see it presented in a four- or five-part miniseries. This would allow the creative content to stay intact.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
I’ve always liked George Guidall. However, because he is so popular, he is rarely available. I picked local Seattle man Gary Bennett. I was looking for someone versatile with both men’s and women’s voices and could express various emotions in each.
How many words or pages do you typically write in one writing session?
I typically write 700 to 1,000 words. If I am on a mission, such as creating Saving KC, my daily word count would be twice or three times that amount. I would be in “The Zone.”
Do you have any writing rituals?
I usually write everything in cursive form using only one side of the page, with sharp pencils or a favorite pen. All longhand would be double-spaced, leaving room for edits and corrections.
I have discovered that putting pencil to paper releases all the magic and creativity for me, and I feel more in control of my writing. I believe a life force flows from me down through my arm through the writing instrument and flows out at the end. It is very physically connected to my spirit/soul, and I then transpose all my developing ideas into a word processor, where the final manuscript takes place before it is moved to editing.
What are your passions/obsessions outside of writing?
I do cross-fit two to three times a week. I stumble and fumble my way through, but my coach is patient with me for the most part. At my age, I still work full-time and stay productive. I love what I do, coaching and mentoring employees and my daughter, who will eventually be taking over the business
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
Yes, I recently had a book signing at a pre-Emmy gifting suite (in Hollywood CA) where my book was a featured and presented to all well-known guests.
Who would you most want to read your book?
Probably Richard Carpenter, Karen’s surviving brother. I think he would enjoy it as it doesn’t show his family in a bad light.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational authors?
Hemmingway, Raymond Carver, O’ Henry, Dean Koontz.
Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming a writer, or is there a book on writing that you recommend all writers read?
One book that I found helpful was one written by Stephen King. One point he raised was that he would bring two people, cultures, or other entities together and, in a sense, mash them together and note the contrasts, then notice what contrasts have appeared and see if I can use those to create a strong storyline.
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
I am so new at this craft that I am not sure anyone would see the world as I do. I would help out wherever I could because when I teach, I learn more than I teach.
Is there an idea that a non-writer has pitched to you that you have considered writing?
I get that a lot. A more interesting idea was to create a Native boy who is forcibly taken from his tribe in the Old West and is raised by white people back east, who becomes a polished lawyer in the white man’s world. Maybe he goes back to looking for his family back on the reservation. He doesn’t know if they are alive after so many years.
Do you ever use dreams as inspiration for your writing?
No, not so far. However, I do have fascinating dreams.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
I have hard copies, Kindle copies, and audible copies. Depending upon what it is, I usually acquire fiction on Audible and some on Kindle. For non-fiction, I love to have hard bounds to study and go through illustrations that add more depth to the subject matter. I’m not one to borrow.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
Occasionally, I will take writing projects with me while on vacation. I always look for a contemplative scene or area so I can feel more at peace and relax. But I must be careful because I can become obsessed and ruin everyone else’s vacation.
What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?
They may assume that writing comes easily to us. First is the idea for a project, and once that becomes clear (or somewhat clear), then second, there is the emotion behind it.
Some of the scenes I write affect me so much that it will impact me for days after. Sometimes, I have difficulty getting through a scene because it hits me so personally that I nearly continue to break down sometime after. I am mainly speaking of being a novelist here. For me, it is not as easy as one might assume.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
The best yardstick for this is if I can reach someone emotionally, that my writing impacts them on that level, and that they express that to me and are grateful for the reading experience. This makes me happy.
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