Ask the Author: Ken Wheaton
Answered Questions (8)
Ken Wheaton
Since Margaret's death, Scruffy had been despondent, tail drooping, no appetite, and tonight like every night, whining and sighing next to Todd on the couch, impervious to petting or dog talk. But when the lights flickered he bolted from the couch in one leap, rushed to the full length mirror Margaret once used as a final check before stepping out the door and started the happy frantic dance that Scruffy only ever did for one occasion: Margaret's return home.
Ken Wheaton
Hi Cathie,
Thanks for the question. I don't want to get into a long-winded discussion about fiction vs. non-fiction, but this is fiction. I'd never use the words or the phrases in an essay or something I wrote for work. But the characters in this fictional universe would. As you know, these words sort of just fly out of people's mouths. And one of the points I'm trying to make about Father Steve is that he's as much a 30-something regular, sometimes insensitive dude than anyone else. You'll note that even though he's a priest and even though he has his sensitive moments, he's smoking, drinking, cursing, even using the lord's name in vain. And this book is from his point of view. And Vicky -- she's the one who uses the r word -- tends to be blunt to the point of not caring. These characters aren't saints. Not by a long shot. So they have thoughts that they shouldn't maybe think or at least shouldn't say out-loud. Note that as bad as he is at many things, Father Steve doesn't SAY some of what he's thinking. For some people that's progress.
That said, I notice now that I basically fell back on the same set-up twice -- the special-ed comment and then the short-bus comment -- which goes beyond making any sort of point and is just lazy.
Either way, thanks for bringing it up. It's something I'll keep in my mind moving forward.
Thanks for the question. I don't want to get into a long-winded discussion about fiction vs. non-fiction, but this is fiction. I'd never use the words or the phrases in an essay or something I wrote for work. But the characters in this fictional universe would. As you know, these words sort of just fly out of people's mouths. And one of the points I'm trying to make about Father Steve is that he's as much a 30-something regular, sometimes insensitive dude than anyone else. You'll note that even though he's a priest and even though he has his sensitive moments, he's smoking, drinking, cursing, even using the lord's name in vain. And this book is from his point of view. And Vicky -- she's the one who uses the r word -- tends to be blunt to the point of not caring. These characters aren't saints. Not by a long shot. So they have thoughts that they shouldn't maybe think or at least shouldn't say out-loud. Note that as bad as he is at many things, Father Steve doesn't SAY some of what he's thinking. For some people that's progress.
That said, I notice now that I basically fell back on the same set-up twice -- the special-ed comment and then the short-bus comment -- which goes beyond making any sort of point and is just lazy.
Either way, thanks for bringing it up. It's something I'll keep in my mind moving forward.
Ken Wheaton
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for reading and thanks for including in your book club!
What did I love most about the book? Hmmmm. That's a hard one. In general, I was happy that I could tell a funny story (in my opinion) that moved at a good clip, but that also dealt with some fairly serious themes about religion and love and human nature and even a little bit about race. If people want to dwell on such themes, great. But if they don't, then the story is still there. I'm not big on preaching in fiction and I think the story should always trump whatever an author might be trying to say about big ideas. If all a writer wants to do is lecture people, then he or she should stick to essays. I like challenging books myself, but I also read a lot for escape so if the author isn't taking me somewhere interesting then no thanks.
I'm glad you like Missed Rita. If I had to pick a favorite, she'd be it. I sort of regret killing here off because if I ever decided to do a sequel a huge part of the equation would be missing. I also liked Fudgeround (the childhood friend who huffed gas and painted them to look like the devil). I'm working on a book now and Fudgeround has a bit part.
BP was fun as well. He shows up briefly in the book that just came out, "Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears."
Hope book club goes well. If you have any more questions, holler.
Thanks for reading and thanks for including in your book club!
What did I love most about the book? Hmmmm. That's a hard one. In general, I was happy that I could tell a funny story (in my opinion) that moved at a good clip, but that also dealt with some fairly serious themes about religion and love and human nature and even a little bit about race. If people want to dwell on such themes, great. But if they don't, then the story is still there. I'm not big on preaching in fiction and I think the story should always trump whatever an author might be trying to say about big ideas. If all a writer wants to do is lecture people, then he or she should stick to essays. I like challenging books myself, but I also read a lot for escape so if the author isn't taking me somewhere interesting then no thanks.
I'm glad you like Missed Rita. If I had to pick a favorite, she'd be it. I sort of regret killing here off because if I ever decided to do a sequel a huge part of the equation would be missing. I also liked Fudgeround (the childhood friend who huffed gas and painted them to look like the devil). I'm working on a book now and Fudgeround has a bit part.
BP was fun as well. He shows up briefly in the book that just came out, "Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears."
Hope book club goes well. If you have any more questions, holler.
Ken Wheaton
I'm not superstitious at all -- or worried about jinxing myself -- but I'm not going anywhere near this question. :)
Ken Wheaton
When the president calls me on my secret phone to ask my advice on foreign policy. (I'm kidding obviously.)
Making people laugh. Or cry. That's what I like best.
Making people laugh. Or cry. That's what I like best.
Ken Wheaton
Instead of shoving your manuscript in a drawer and ignoring it, shove your excuses in a drawer. Don't wait around for inspiration or a new computer or a new piece of software -- and don't let research turn into a procrastination engine. Two hours a day, sit in front of a screen or a piece of paper and write. That's all it takes, a couple hours a day. I have a full-time job and a social life and train for half marathons and the like, but two hours a day! (Okay, not EVERY day, but when I'm working on something, I work on it like it's a job.) Most of us can't find five or six hours of alone time. And even when I can, I burn out after three hours. So ... two hours a day. One page or 10. Just like running a marathon, it adds up.
Ken Wheaton
An idea so awesome, I can't talk about it. Okay, that's overselling it. It's going to be a departure from the tone of Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears, definitely. It's a stab at satire, crime writing and humor. But it will be set in New York and Louisiana (mostly in Louisiana) and deal with reality TV. And a death. Or two.
Ken Wheaton
Years and years ago, my mom told me a story about growing up in Grand Prairie, Louisiana, in which one of her sisters did not get a visit from the tooth fairy -- because money was too tight to be wasted on old teeth. In the morning, upon finding no money and a dead rabbit, my aunt jumped to an obvious conclusion. I'd wanted to get that story into a novel for years -- sort of as a tribute to "my people." But between other books, day jobs and, most important, an inability to come up with an actual main character and narrative, I kept putting it off. Sadly, a couple of years ago, that same aunt passed away and it sort of unlocked a lot of stuff inside me. This wasn't an easy book to write, but I loved writing it.
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