NOTE: Local scribe/philosopher Elgin Oliver
recently cornered the author of Christmasage
at a local Panera and tossed out a few questions...
First off, let’s get
this out of the way... bear claw or pecan braid?
Did someone mention pecans? Then I’ll
have to go with the braid.
What is the genesis of
this Christmasage?
Travel stories have always
intrigued me. Fun to read, fun to write, but probably not so much fun to
actually do. One day I’d at least like to try to find out. On my own terms, of
course. But just the idea of someone coming back home during that time of year
when emotions are running high. There’s a sense of mystical grace and the
kindness of charitable folks along the way. Plus this is a particular stretch
of road that I’ve covered many a time. In automobile I should add.
The story evolves from
a rather stolid beginning where sex, drugs and rock and roll are prevalent but then
evolves into a tale of deeper spiritual awakening along with a dash of the
metaphysical.
Well, the story certainly does start
out that way and I hope readers are not put off by some of those earlier
decadent moments and stick with it. You know, it’s funny. I actually sent a few
queries off to some literary agents and they only wanted to see the first
fifteen pages – in this case what they were reading in those fifteen pages is
not really reflective of the larger vibe of the story. I guess they might be more
interested in a short sample to judge the quality of the writing more than the
trajectory of the story but I can’t help but wonder if that’s kind of a lousy
way to judge the merits of an entire novel. Maybe the last fifteen pages would
be better. Maybe the last page would be best.
The title Christmasage is a little difficult to
grasp at first take.
No doubt about it, yes, it’s a
little clunky. But the idea of a pilgrimage during the holiday season led me to
that word, my very own sniglet if you will. And now I’ve become fond of it. At
the very least it’s unique which might make it memorable.
As a music aficionado I find it
motivational and fun to create a soundtrack that relates to a project which I
can to listen to while in my car or when working out that keeps me on track. That
keeps me inspired. The songs here are listed in chronological order and for the
most part follow the text and can be pretty easily associated with specific
scenes from the book. In fact, they may actually enhance the scene or add a
different twist. For instance, Psychedelic
Shack by the Temptations is my take on Matt’s perception of the Wayward
Boys’ performance in that bowling alley bar after partaking in a little pre-show
mind alteration and the somewhat comical intro to Carl Bley’s It Came Upon a Midnight Clear fits quite
nicely with Matt’s memorable entrance into the Speckled Egg tavern on that icy
west Texas evening. And Dog Door by
Tom Waits is fairly self-explanatory. But really for me the one song that
supplies the underlying theme for the entire story is landscape with snow by Japanese musician Takahiro Kido. In my mind
I imagine the music advancing deeper into the song as Matt’s mystic dream similarly
unwinds. But a song like Lou Reed’s Who
Am I? - well, that’s more of a general idea tune included to further reveal
the mood and Matt’s thoughts much like you’d hear in a movie.
Why self-publish?
I enjoy the writing. At my age I
don’t want to waste time with all the marketing and promotion. It’s more
important for me to just get it out there and then move on to the next thing. I
know one thing, it sure aint for the money.
Ever since I was a young boy I
was told that I should write. It’s natural for me and I’m most at peace in the
world when I’m riding that creative wave. It’s therapeutic. I haven’t really
had much published but I made the novelist T.C. Boyle crack up (see Contest #2 http://tcboyle.com/page2.html?9)...
that’s gotta count for something, right?
This novel is self-edited as
well. So there may be some minor goofs included but I hope I’ve kept them at a
minimum. If you find something amiss please don’t send it to me. Just kidding –
feel free to fire away. You know, I’ve read several works published by titans
of literature that have missing words or typos so I’ve decided not to let that
get me too down. I even recall reading a kindle version of a Stephen King
novella and being amazed that there were a few problems in that text. If he can
live with them then I guess I can as well.
In summary, if ten people were to
read this book I figure that 3 or 4 of them won’t like it much at all. Then
maybe 3 or 4 of them will think, hey, it’s no masterpiece but a few passages in
there made me smile or think, and anyway that’s a cool soundtrack. Then maybe
only 2 or 3 out of that original ten will end up really liking it. If so, then
I’d be satisfied.
What’s your philosophy
regarding the use of profanity?
Well, yes, I do use it but I try
to not use bad words just for the hell of it. I believe it was Kurt Vonnegut
who once said if you want to give your
reader a reason not to read your book then use profanity in it which is
generally good advice. To be honest there will be times when I’ll go back and re-read
a passage and ask myself do I really need that particular word right there? And
maybe I’ll try to soften it a little by using a less provocative synonym or
maybe even tweak a particular scene. And then if I go back later I’ll think,
no, that just doesn’t sound real, and I’ll change it right back. The bottom
line is I don’t want to pull any punches. Besides, someone else might use
perfectly good English and say something that is far more profane like there is no such thing as global warming so
feel free to pursue profit at any cost. No bad words included there but to
me unforgivably repugnant.
So what’s really going
on here?
Well, of course I can’t spell it
out for you or the reader, maybe it’s even possible that I don’t even know
what’s going on here. Or maybe I do. Maybe it’s some sort of spirit quest, an
examination of a life, a cry for help, and a method to rid one’s self of excess
poundage. Is Matt running away or is he facing the music? Like everything else
in this world it comes down to how one chooses to spin it. I guess the bottom
line is that in these days when folks so often feel helpless to affect positive
change in their lives we can always just get up and walk, repent of our own
volition, sweat a little bit and hopefully set ourselves free. It can be as
easy as making your mind up and heading out that door.
Just don’t forget to visit the Arizona
Meteor Crater when you do!
Anything upcoming?
I’ve just about completed the
first draft of another novel. The working title is God Bless America (But Screw Jerry Sparks). About a guy around my
age who played football at OU and the NFL. Now he’s got brain damage from all
his concussions among other issues. Another black comedy I suppose. Toss in The Lost Child and I guess this
completes my Oklahoma Trilogy.
How was that pecan
braid?
What pecan braid?
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