Calling the Barbara Walters in You
Over at Dana Diamond's blog, she is very excited that as part of her duties with Orange Blossom, she gets to interview a favorite romance writer of hers for their December issue (I have to say, Dana gets to interview a lot of very cool people). Which got me thinking . . .
Who would I interview if I had the chance?
I mean, there are some obvious answers in my life. I would love to interview the late Viktor Frankl, the late Paul Erdos. I frankly would like to sit down with Jesus Christ and break bread and drink some wine and ask him a few things (like he can't POSSIBLY be happy when those TV preachers beg for money, and when people say hateful things about whole groups of people . . . but I digress). Albert Einstein is on my short list.
But among authors? Who inspires me? Who would I like to interview?
I think a conversation with Neil Gaiman would be great. Michael Chabon. Peter Straub (if only, if I had to be honest, to ask why his books have gone downhill). I don't really love Stephen King's books (sorry, Jude), but I think he is pretty interesting and I read his columns in some magazine (EW? Esquire? What? Can't recall.) on pop culture and enjoy them. I adore (!!!) Patrick McGrath's work--everything he does. But I fear he might be morose. Or scary. No matter . . . I would like to interview him.
And I suppose my list would be different if martinis were involved versus a straight interview. I would like to interview Margaret Atwood, but I don't see her hitting my favorite sushi haunt with me and tossing back some sake--though perhaps she would be wildly adventurous and eat blowfish and drink sake by the bottle.
Now that I chat with her online, I would like to interview Mary Castillo. I think she would drink sake. I know she would hunt for a green tea martini with me.
What would I ask these authors? I think I would start with what inspires THEM, and I am always curious about work habits and the process. How do they deal with the isolation. What are their favorite writers and books?
So . . . you get to be Barbara Walters for a day. Who do you interview and why? And what do you ask.
And for all the sweethearts who dropped by and emailed me after my bad day yesterday . . . thank you. Amazing what a good night's sleep will do. The chapters I wrote are really fine . . . and the things that made me sad--a couple of unpleasant people--well, there are so many lovely people in the world I have decided that's okay too.
OK, interviewers . . . who are you talking to?
Who would I interview if I had the chance?
I mean, there are some obvious answers in my life. I would love to interview the late Viktor Frankl, the late Paul Erdos. I frankly would like to sit down with Jesus Christ and break bread and drink some wine and ask him a few things (like he can't POSSIBLY be happy when those TV preachers beg for money, and when people say hateful things about whole groups of people . . . but I digress). Albert Einstein is on my short list.
But among authors? Who inspires me? Who would I like to interview?
I think a conversation with Neil Gaiman would be great. Michael Chabon. Peter Straub (if only, if I had to be honest, to ask why his books have gone downhill). I don't really love Stephen King's books (sorry, Jude), but I think he is pretty interesting and I read his columns in some magazine (EW? Esquire? What? Can't recall.) on pop culture and enjoy them. I adore (!!!) Patrick McGrath's work--everything he does. But I fear he might be morose. Or scary. No matter . . . I would like to interview him.
And I suppose my list would be different if martinis were involved versus a straight interview. I would like to interview Margaret Atwood, but I don't see her hitting my favorite sushi haunt with me and tossing back some sake--though perhaps she would be wildly adventurous and eat blowfish and drink sake by the bottle.
Now that I chat with her online, I would like to interview Mary Castillo. I think she would drink sake. I know she would hunt for a green tea martini with me.
What would I ask these authors? I think I would start with what inspires THEM, and I am always curious about work habits and the process. How do they deal with the isolation. What are their favorite writers and books?
So . . . you get to be Barbara Walters for a day. Who do you interview and why? And what do you ask.
And for all the sweethearts who dropped by and emailed me after my bad day yesterday . . . thank you. Amazing what a good night's sleep will do. The chapters I wrote are really fine . . . and the things that made me sad--a couple of unpleasant people--well, there are so many lovely people in the world I have decided that's okay too.
OK, interviewers . . . who are you talking to?
posted by Erica Orloff at 6:47 AM
23 Comments:
If she wasn't dead, Angela Carter, hands down. Her work enchants me.
Since she is dead, I'd go with either Douglas Coupland - his book "Generation X" is amazing, one of my favourites. Alternatively, I'd like to interview Rachel Caine. She has a great writing style and I love her characters.
I am not familiar with Angela Carter. I am now off to Amazon to check out her books. I think this will be so interesting . . . and my TBR pile will likely grow!
E
I would ask you, Erica, how you find the courage to write books like The Roofer and Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven? I wouldn't say they were difficult reads ... challenging and incredibly rewarding. They left tingles on my skin. When I think of them, I still get tingles!
Love,
Mary
P.S. I had a not so great day yesterday, too, so maybe it was the stars.
P.S. The day we hook up and hunt for green tea martinis is one that will be for the ages!
Hi Mary:
Well, Mafia Chic was optioned by Warner Brothers, so who knows . . . maybe L.A. is in my cards soon. :-) Green tea martinis all around.
As for those books . . . The Roofer lingered in me for years, but I just, for lack of a better way to describe it, didn't know how to place a STRUCTURE on it. When I came up with the nights of a wake being the framework for it, it flowed out of me. High Heels was born of my own illness. And I don't know if it's courage so much as an inner need to voice some of it.
As for you madam, I have many questions. Like when that college professor told you that you had something there . . . how you made the inner determination to really go for it.
E
Hehe...you deep, you. My list of interviewees goes something like this:
1. Michael Vartan. (Prime question: wanna jump in the sack?)
2. Jensen Ackles. (SEe prime question #1)
3. Justin Timberlake. (Ditto. You beginning to see a pattern here?)
For a straight Q&A, I want to interview:
1. Angelina Jolie
2. Hillary Clinton
3. Condoleeza Rice (although I wouldn't ask her about foreign policy questions; I'd ask her about being the most powerful black woman on the planet)
For going to the sushi joint and downing sakes while yelling, "Kampai!", they would have to be:
1. Vince Flynn
2. Suzanne Brockmann
3. My Bombshell Trifecta (Erica Orloff, Kate Donovan, Evelyn Vaughn)
4. Tess Gerritsen
5. Michelle Rowen. Oh, wait. I've done this with Michelle already.
Great to see you're back to the old self. Did my Weasels of Doubt show up at your doorstep yesterday too?
karm:
Weasels of Doubt? I had circling Hyenas of Hysteria. It was not a good day here. Struggling with finding TIME to write when it's quiet. I know, what am I thinking? Silence. In THIS house? Then one or two little bitchy things here and there online. Stupid stuff. And definitely battling major fatigue.
E
P.S. I like your Sack List. Mine would include Bruce Springsteen, Jason Statham, and . . . what am I saying . . . the list is way too long.
All-night poker game with Ernest Hemingway, John D. MacDonald, and Stephen King. Couple cases of Carte Blanca and a box of Cuban cigars. We can belch and smoke and cuss, all that manly crap. And since Steve doesn't drink anymore, he can give us all a ride home.
Karmela: Come on, now. Everybody knows that Oprah is really the most powerful woman on the planet. :)
Jude:
I want in on the poker game.
E
You're in, darling.
Price of poker just went up, boys.
Hmmm... great question...
I would interview my father and ask him why he never wrote a book... but since he died a few years ago, just the thought of being able to talk to him again would do it for me.
Other than that, of writers I would love to interview:
Christopher Moore
JRR Martin
David Eddings
Stephen Donaldson
Marion Z. Bradley
CJ Cherryh
and of course Erica :)
Erica... if you do come to LA, may I join you in that martini hunt?
Mary, I did know you lived here in the OC? That's awesome!
Erica:
About that poker game...
I know you're probably better than I am, but I think I can at least hold my own with the dead guys. :)
Then again, they might be excellent bluffers. :(
Jude:
Yes, the price of poker just went way up. ;-)
E
P.S. Now it's strip poker, boys.
Ewoh:
You're in.
I have a really cool list of L.A. people to get in touch with next time I come out there.
oh . . . and Christopher Moore--brilliant interview choice.
E
Erica,
Thanks for the shout out. That was so cool of you.
Also, I had a non-stop day yesterday, but I meant to e-mail you too. Mom mentioned you were having a bummer of a day. I'm glad you're having a better day today. :)
As far as who else I'd like to interview. Weeelll, there is someone very near and dear to my heart by the name of Erica I'd love to interview.
How 'bout it? Should I up the ante with the Jets and Falcons wager?
If you win you get a cheesecake. If I win, I get an interview?
Let's see...who *else* do I want to interview?...I know! My grandmother, Jude Deveraux and Ed Witten.
:) d
Hey Dana:
You know that I'd give you an interview any day of the week, Babe, cheesecake or not.
xo
E
You're on!
:) d
Dana:
Bring 'em on! :-)
E
If I may, Erica, I would recomment "The Passion of New Eve" for you first Carter read. It's my favourite and it the language she uses is just stunning. Lush, evocative, always thought-provoking and utterly surreal.
Thanks, Naomi!
I always love learning about some new authors.
E
Stephen King's column is in Entertainment Weekly. :)
Just in case that's one of those burning questions that will drive you nuts. ;)
Natalie . . . it actually WAS! LOL!
E
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