uthor and former University instructor Ronlyn Domingue stands in Cottonwood Books talking shop to owner Danny Plaisance. She mentions local authors and their latest books, the peculiarities of planning book signings and various members of the book-selling community.
When asked exactly what her first book “The Mercy of Thin Air” is about she rattles off a synopsis so quick and concise it rivals her own book jacket.
“I’ve gotten the basic plot down; the subtleties require a little more conversation,” Domingue said.
Domingue has just released “The Mercy of Thin Air.” The novel chronicles the life – and after-life – of Raziela Nolan, who drowns while in the throws of a magnificent love affair in the 1920s. Razi decides to stay between life and death, interfering with the modern world and eventually becoming entwined in the love affair of a modern couple, which makes her investigate her own.
Plaisance, who was among the first to read the novel, said he is normally apprehensive about reading manuscripts.
“To be honest, whenever someone hands me something to read I go ‘Oh God, here we go again,'” Plaisance said. “But Ronlyn always impressed me as being exceptionally sharp.”
Plaisance loved the novel and realized instantly that it had the opportunity to succeed.
“I thought, ‘This is publishable,'” Plaisance said.
Plaisance was right. The book was published Sept. 13 by Atria Books, a division of major book publisher Simon and Schuster.
Plaisance said the book is selling exceptionally well at Cottonwood.
“I’m amazed,” Plaisance said. “I sell one or two copies everyday. So far we’ve sold close to 200, and for our little store, that is an amazing number.”
James Wilcox, director of the creative writing department, worked with Domingue while she was in graduate school and while she was working on her novel.
Wilcox said he is excited about the book’s success so far.
“You always hope your student’s work is going to do well, but the fact that it took off like this is so gratifying, especially that she is experiencing this so early in her years,” Wilcox said.
The book is set against the backdrop of New Orleans and Louisiana, something that Domingue said she did not want to do at first.
“Originally I didn’t want to write about Louisiana or the South,” Domingue said. “I didn’t want to contribute to the cultural cliche we’ve become.”
But when Domingue began researching her novel, she decided that her character would attend Tulane, one of the few schools that admitted women in the 1920s.
“I trusted her as a character to steer me in the right direction to portray New Orleans authentically,” she said.
In the wake of the hurricane, Domingue said it has been difficult to read passages of the book. She said now it has taken on a new facet.
“I didn’t intend it,” Domingue said. “But this book is a love letter to the people of the city of New Orleans.”
Domingue said she always had an interest in writing.
“My life is such a cliche in some way because I always did the writing nerd thing,” Domingue said.
While Domingue said she was involved in organizations involving writing in middle school, high school and working as a reporter and later editor-in-chief for The Daily Reveille, she said the moment she knew she was going to be a writer was much earlier.
She said her third grade teacher, Mrs. Allen, would allow her and a classmate to work on their own once a week during class time, reading books and learning vocabulary.
“That’s when I knew,” Domingue said. “I credit Mrs. Allen for giving me the time and space to find out I enjoyed writing.”
While the interest was always there, it took Domingue some time to begin her first novel.
After working in various jobs, many in the field of fund raising and dabbling in writing, by 1999 Domingue had still not written a novel.
She said it was around then the dreams began.
Domingue said she began having “dead baby” dreams. She would dream about becoming pregnant and having an abortion, or giving her baby away, or having a still-born. The dreams continued not every night, but enough for her to eventually realize what the babies represented.
“I realized those babies were my books,” Domingue said.
Domingue was working for the LSU School of Social Work at the time and began taking a short story writing class, which is where the novel began.
She went on to get her Master of Fine Arts from the creative writing program and develop her novel.
Wilcox said he realized how talented Domingue was when he read a short story she wrote as part of the program.
“I was amazed at how complex and filled with so much emotional intricacies,” Wilcox said. “That she could accomplish this really gave me an indication that she had so much talent.”
As part of the MFA program, Domingue taught creative writing classes at the University. Though she no longer teaches, she said she hopes to return one day.
“I do [miss it],” she said. “Some people would be surprised to hear that. I learned more about writing from my students then I taught them.”
For now, Domingue is taking a break from writing and returning to her job in fund raising in Baton Rouge.
Domingue said she will continue to work to make her book successful through marketing efforts.
But Domingue said part of the reason she thinks the book is selling so well is because of it’s Southern flair.
“We charm the pants off the rest of the county and they want to read about it,” Domingue said.
 
Contact Kim Moreau at [email protected]