“I have always loved dolls. And yes, there are still within the love, those that have creeped me out!”
– Jill McCorkle
Jill McCorkle is a bestselling, award-winning author of unforgettable novels and short stories. She was a Briggs-Copeland Lecturer in Fiction at Harvard, where she also chaired the department of creative writing. She is currently a faculty member of the Bennington College Writing Seminars and is affiliated with the MFA program at North Carolina State University. From Lumberton, NC, she still calls the Tar Heel State home. Her latest novel is Hierglyphics (Algonquin Books). Any time spent reading Jill McCorkle is worth it! When I recently found out she loves dolls and dollhouses, I had to ask her a few questions about that—among other things. She graciously shared photos from her collection as well.
From @jill.mccorkle on Instagram
Q. In Hieroglyphics, you capture the characters exquisitely through what they hold dear—often objects they’ve kept, or thought about, for decades. Could you talk about using objects to find a character? What things can you easily toss? What things can you not bear to lose?
A. I think that our objects often tell stories or represent whole parts of our lives. Many of the objects I gave to my characters were things that I already had (I once found a little ivory Scottie dog pin with rhinestone eyes that I have kept for years only to give to Lil’s mother) — but there are other things that my characters had (Lil’s skate key/ Frank’s captain midnight badge) that I found on eBay to have around me. (I had lost my old skate key as well as the stash of flattened pennies I once had!) I personally was so moved by the Foundling Hospital in Florence, I gave Lil my memory of being in that place.
Q. Lets’ talk about dolls. Most people find them cute or creepy. I was in the latter category before moving to the former, so I understand the haters. (Poor fools.) Tell us about your history with them and what they mean to you today.
A. I have always loved dolls. And yes, there are still within the love, those that have creeped me out! I once bought a very old Charlie McCarthy doll (and he is still there so I remain drawn to him) but feared that once home, he might creep me out at night thanks to Rod Serling’s episode on Twilight Zone with the talking dummy. I had a Danny O’Day ventriloquist dummy I got for Christmas, but I made him sleep in the toy box where I couldn’t see him. I also, one Christmas, got a doll I could not stand — something in her face — and I named her Fire Doll and never played with her. I was only about five, so not sure what it was about her. BUT all other dolls, I have loved and in fact kept wanting dolls even when I knew it wasn’t very cool. In childhood, my favorites were Liddle Kiddles because I could keep them in my pockets and sometimes had ongoing narratives for their lives. I also had a Baby Thumbelina I adored.
A 1930s Charlie McCarthy. (He’s from my late mother’s former collection. I do miss him – Jo).
Q. On the subject of dollhouses, did you ever think you’d have something in common with Dr. Ruth Westheimer? (She’s loves her dollhouses. Still.)
A. I loved learning that about Dr. Ruth when I saw the documentary on her. Needless to say, much to admire there. I think that building a dollhouse is a lot like building a novel. It needs the physical structure and then within there is lots of room for imagination and embellishment. Like a novel, a dollhouse is a little portal into another world. In childhood (when my dollhouses were fashioned out of shoe boxes or little spaces in the corner of a closet) I liked feeling in control of the order of it all! Perhaps, it’s a kind of Rorschach test when it comes to who outgrows them and who doesn’t. I never did and, in fact, my love and appreciation has grown.
Jill McCorkle’s dollhouses
I gave Lil a Nancy Ann Storybook doll and then searched on eBay until I found the right one from the 1940s: Wednesday’s Child.
Nancy Anne Storybook Wednesday’s Child
My cousin had a doll I adored (a Japanese doll who came with different wigs) and I always begged to hold her. She was NOT a doll person and so didn’t care at all and gave me one just like it (hers had gotten away) about six years ago.
(I had one of the Japanese wig dolls, too. So much fun! – Jo)
I also loved Skipper 1963. I relished getting my daughter dolls. She loves the large Madame Alexander Little Women dolls that we collected on visits to Orchard House when living in Massachusetts. And, of course, I adored seeing the dollhouse that Thoreau made for Emerson’s daughters and keep a postcard photo of that one.
Henry David Thoreau made this dollhouse from a dresser for Emerson’s daughters. How’s that for repurposing?
Q. Have you ever received pushback from family or friends over your doll and dollhouse passion? Like, they’re taking up too much room/time/money. What will be their ultimate fate?
A. Well, my husband and I recently moved and my latest dollhouse — a very large Queen Anne — was looking like it might not fit out of the room. Like a ship in a bottle! We had to bring it out the window. Two men in the bucket of a large tractor holding my bubble-wrapped treasure I have worked on for almost five years now. I couldn’t watch!! But no one has complained that I’m aware of. I like to think my kids (or their kids) will see them as treasures. I have little things that are reminders of them within. Little photos or objects. I think of these houses as the place where no one dies and so there are a LOT of dogs scattered about—the dogs of their childhood.
Q. Thank you for writing a character who is a court stenographer. I’ve always wanted to get in the head of someone who does that for a living. Did a particular person inspire you? Also curious if there was someone behind the little boy Harvey! He was spot on.
A. My mom was a secretary and could type full speed with a Dictaphone in her ear and still carry on a conversation. And she could take shorthand, which fascinated me that those pages of scratches housed so much information! I love children characters. Harvey is perhaps a composite of myself as a child and other children close to me, someone aware of light and dark (if he had a Danny O’Day or Charlie McCarthy they would definitely have to sleep hidden away!) I recall telling myself little ongoing stories at night and I gave him that, though I suspect that is true of most children—the vivid imagination and fantasy life. I have often thought that being a writer of fiction is simply a continuation of that childhood pleasure. We do the same thing but have learned to do so without the beach towel cape and sword, or broom made from a stick.
From Jill McCorkle’s collection
Q. On a more serious note, you include two thoroughly researched real disasters in Hieroglyphics. I imagine you became a lot like Shelley, the court stenographer, who can’t turn off dark thoughts while trying to do other things (like her job). What’s the secret to getting a good night’s sleep when you have characters’ voices and grisly information (or just the day’s horrific news) playing in the background?
A. Oh my, well, these days are harder than ever, right? I love yoga and I love taking walks and have found during the pandemic and other distressing happenings that I need both more than ever! I like to have a to do list each day and feel accomplished. I like to have a book by the bed I am looking forward to. I like to check on the dollhouses at various times of day, to see the light.
Q. What’s on the horizon for Jill McCorkle?
A. I am working on short stories and I hope to finally finish wiring the most recent house! I am often completing a tiny bookstore because for years, I have had writers sign teeny little books. I have quite a library! I need to catalog while I can still decipher the signatures.
It’s been a pleasure to answer these wonderful questions. I also love the teeny tiny tin dollhouse rooms Marx toys made in 30s and 40s.
Had to add her Marlo Thomas “That Girl” doll!
Follow Jill McCorkle on Instagram @jill.mccorkle
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