Ahead of Her Time, The Trailblazing Life and Legacy of Ann Head chronicles the life of Nancy Thode’s mother who was a famous Beaufort, SC, author in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. The book also contains several of Ann’s writings as well as correspondence between her and another famous author, Pat Conroy.
I met Nancy this past spring when I was asked to interview her by “The Post and Courier” and we instantly became fast friends. Since that interview was her before her book was released, I thought it would be interesting to see what her thoughts and reactions are post-publication.
Mary Ellen Thompson: It’s one thing to write a book with intention, but since your book has been published, what kind of feedback have you received that surprised you?
Nancy Thode: I was surprised by how many people commented on how much they loved the stories written by Ann Head that are appended to the biography. They loved the story of her life, yes, but in addition they found her stories from the 1940’s and 50’s compelling and meaningful today and commented on how brilliant and moving they found her portrayal of her characters’ relationships.
MET: Your father was the innovator of the metal ski and oversized tennis racquet—how many people have asked you questions about what Head items may be in their attic?
NT: Everybody! Many shared that they skied on Head Skis, naming the model even. One fan who was a “hot shot skier” shared that she was given Head Skis by the company to advertise the brand. And people shared stories of buying the first Prince rackets back in the 1970’s.
Nancy Thode
MET: Have many people reached out to you since the publication of the book, with stories about your mother that you hadn’t previously known?
NT: A very few. My favorite one was told to me by a cousin. When Ann was a little girl, she had what she called “her office” in her room. The door to the room was large and she would leave it open halfway and put a table and chair behind it making an alcove. There she would write at age seven and eight!
MET: Has anyone criticized you for telling your unflinching truths about the intimacies of your mother’s story?
NT: No, not yet. Fingers crossed!
MET: What do you wish, in retrospect, that you had said in the book, that you didn’t include?
NT: I can’t think of anything other than the story above about her “office.” I worked hard to portray her as honestly as I could, given the resources I had. What I do wish for, however, were more of the letters she wrote to her sister and sister-in-law. I had almost none of those and was unable to locate them. I know that it was in those letters that she shared her most intimate thoughts and feelings.
MET: What was the single biggest influence that your mother had on your life?
NT: Unconsciously, not actually taught, I learned to take on challenges and to persevere even when afraid.
MET: What was the best piece of advice your mother gave you?
NT: I wrote about it in the book: The mistake one tends to make with children is to give them what we want to give them and not what they want and can use.
Mary Ellen Thompson
MET: If you could tell your mother one thing now, what would it be?
NT: The greatest gift you ever gave me was my sister, Stacey, my best friend. I hope you know that.
MET: If you could ask her one thing now, what would it be?
NT: What happened that brought on the nervous breakdown at age eight?
MET: Nancy, thank you for taking the time, again, to speak with me about your book and your process. I understand that you’re going to have a busy fall kicking off with The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention, it will be good to have you back in Beaufort this fall!
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