 ""Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette" by Vincent Van Gogh |
Accidents? Attraction? Well, I don't know if I'm attracted to them, but accidents and mistakes and unexpected encounters are such a huge, rich, terrible part of living, and I'm interested in what happens afterwards. I think most stories are about catastrophes, large and small, and then, always, the big question: now what do we do?
Talk about the various versions of this story and the varying point-of-views. What's gained from using this POV?
This story is from a Young Adult novel I've been working on for...far too long. I decided to tell it from mulitple points-of-view because at first I wrote it in first-person, and that voice was too tiresome, and way, way too passive. That's always a danger. I don't think most people who write are, like, mountain climbers by nature. They tend to observe, to dwell in corners, with drinks and cheese dip stains on their clothes. Anyway, what's gained, I hope, is that everyone is given a voice, but I focus almost exclusively on the teenage narrators—but, now, I'm tired, tired, of teenage voices.
How did Snoopy find his way into Emily Avenue?
Well, Snoopy was on York Avenue, Mr. Close Reader!!! And, well, I was driving home one night and saw this giant inflated Snoopy in someone's front yard. So, into the story it went.
How often do you, Mr. Landon, think about "the way to go"? Any favorite ways you've got figured out?
Oh man...I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure the way to go is NOT the way I tend to go, so, study me, and don't do that, and your life will be richer by far.
Time for the first (and perhaps only) SLQ deserted island questionnaire. One CD. One novel. One flash piece. One movie. One very much alive famous person. One very much alive writer. One SLQ editor with the initials R.B.. Go!
CD: Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. I love every second—except for the totally misplaced "Sloop John B" on this perfect record.
Novel: Oh by Mary Robison. I've read this book about fifteen times. I'm not saying greatest, but it's my favorite.
One Flash Piece: I could name about twenty flash pieces, written by people I know and admire to near stalker levels, but I don't want to slight anyone from a very long list, so I'll say "Pet Milk" by Stuart Dybek, even though it's probably too long to qualify, so, "Bigfoot Stole My Wife" by Ron Carlson.
Favorite famous person: Walter Cronkite and Grant Bailie—a tie.
Living Writer: Ron Carlson, Richard Bausch, Mary Robison, Tobias Wolff, and Kathy Fish.
Favorite SLQ editor, with the initials R.B: Well, obviously, it's a tie between Randall, Dave, Steven, Tommy, and the beautiful and gifted guest editor, Katrina Denza. I will not be held prisoner by initials nor strong armed "name me" tactics.
Read Emily Avenue.
