Just finished a fun interview with Fiona McVie that I'd like to share with you.
authorsinterviews
~ My interviews with many authors
Name Les Edgerton
Age 71
Fiona: Where are you from
Born in Odessa, Texas and raised in Freeport,
Texas, Algiers, Louisiana and South Bend, Indiana. We moved often.
Fiona: Tell us a little about yourself `ie your
education Family life etc
Had an
abusive childhood—both parents. Lived a life of crime for many years. Among
other things, was sent to prison in Pendleton for a couple of years for a 2-5
sentence, plea-bargained down from 82 counts of second-degree burglary
(businesses), 2 counts of strong-armed robbery, one count of armed robbery, one
count of possession with intent to sell. Was involved in a high-speed car chase
with the cops (I outran them), a couple of shootouts with other outlaws, had
several attempts at stabbings, been shot at by a girlfriend who also tried to run
over me with her car. Appeared in porn movies, was a pimp, used and sold drugs,
worked for an escort service, was homeless, was a gambler, a womanizer, and
some other tricks and artifices of the ramblin’ life. Then went to college, got
a B.A. from I.U. and an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. Taught writing for
UCLA, University of Toledo, St. Francis University, Phoenix College, Trine
University as well as for Writer’s Digest and the New York Writer’s Workshop.
Am married to my fifth wife and have three children, a son from this marriage
and two daughters from a previous one.
Fiona: Tell us
your latest news?
My newest novel, a black comedy crime caper titled THE
GENUINE, IMITATION, PLASTIC KIDNAPPING is now available for preorder and will
be released Sept. 30 from Down&Out Books.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
Began immediately after reading my first book when I was
five. I thought I could write a better book then. I couldn’t then, but I can
now.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was five. That became my goal then and it’s never
wavered for a second.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
When I read my first book.
Fiona: Do you have
a specific writing style?
Yes. I write like myself.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
I assume you mean my last novel? Well, it began as a
short story titled “I Shoulda Seen a Credit Arranger” in the South Carolina
Review, and when I decided to expand it into a novel, I wanted a title that
clearly said it was a humorous novel, so came up with THE GENUINE, IMITATION,
PLASTIC KIDNAPPING.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Nope. I agree with Samuel Goldwyn, who told a
screenwriter that if he wanted to send a message to use Western Union—they did
it better. I try to write stories that entertain.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?
Quite a bit. Not the kidnapping part—that’s one crime I
never participated in—but the way the characters act and think is pretty much
out of my own criminal days. It’s a life of some risks and danger and so like
most folks who are in the life, we joke and diss about those things straights
consider serious. None of it is serious…
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Just about all of my books are based on my own life.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?
There have been many. The biggest influence was Camus’
THE STRANGER. Most perfect book ever written, imo.
Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Never had a mentor, but if I had to choose, it would be
parts of the thousands of writers I’ve read.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Robert B. Parker’s WILDERNESS.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
A boatload. I don’t want to leave anyone out so I won’t
name them, but there are an awful lot of really great writers working these
days. Probably more so than at any time in history.
Fiona: What are your current projects?
Selling my memoir, ADRENALINE JUNKIE and a new craft
book, A WRITER’S WORKSHOP AT THE BIJOU, writing three new novels, prepping for
a bunch of workshops and conferences I’ve been asked to present at. Helping
keep the stock price of Jack Daniels sufficiently high for investors.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
I’ve never been big on being supported by family members
so I’d have to say I’ve always been supported by my wits. There are a million
ways to make money. I don’t need much—I’m comfortable with the rent paid and
I’ve been comfortable as a homeless person. Especially in this country. Our
dumpsters have better food than most third world countries have for their main
repasts…
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Uh… yeah. It has been so far for many, many years and I
expect it to continue.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Nope. That’s what the final rewrite is for—to make it as
perfect as you’re able to.
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Yeah. When I read my first book and saw the possibilities
in writing. I saw a way to take advantage of my adrenaline jones and get paid
for having cool experiences. Can’t get that selling life insurance…
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Here’s a bit from THE GENUINE, IMITATION, PLASIC
KIDNAPPING
Bright
and early the next morning, a woman teller counted out bills, put them in an
envelope and handed it to me. I thanked her, stuck the envelope in my pocket
and left.
I was walking down the bank steps when two men came up, one a
beefy mountain of a man and the other slight and smarmy. They came up beside
me, took me by the elbows and hustled me down the steps. All three of us walked
to the alley beside the bank and went on back to a pair of dumpsters.
The big guy spun me around and pinned an armlock on me. The
little guy snatched the envelop from my pocket, tore it open and counted the
money. "Damn," he said, "Where's the other five?"
I frowned. "It's in the mail? You buy that?"
The little guy placed the wad of bills in his jacket pocket
and nodded to his large partner who gripped me tighter. "Wise guy,
huh?" the little guy said.
"Well, you wouldn't know it by my SATs. You know what?
You look familiar. I got it! Your mom."
"My mom?" the little goon said.
"Yeah," I said. "Your mom. We been dating.
Whenever I have an extra twenty. I just love it when she takes out her false
teeth. You know . . ." I went on. "I might end up your stepfather.
Think she'd grow a mustache for me?"
The little guy hauled off and socked me in the gut. I collapsed
and struggled to right myself and get my breath back.
"Yeah," I said, wheezing my words out. "You
hit about like your mom. I can see you're related. I suppose you wanna give me
a blowjob now?"
"You fuck," the little guy screamed, and hit me
again. As I folded in half like a WWII Japanese foot soldier unexpectedly
finding himself in the same room as the Emperor, the little guy grabbed my hand
and brought it around and secured it between his arm and chest. He bent four of
my fingers back until they cracked. Audibly. Almost as loud as the scream I
gave out, feeling like a complete bitch when I did, but couldn't help it.
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Nope. The biggest problem I have is that I won’t live
long enough to write all the books I have rattling around in my brainpan.
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
My all-time favorite is Albert Camus and what I love
about him is how he lowers the volume when most other writers would raise it.
He wrote books for grownups and folks who don’t move their lips when they read.
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
No. Don’t have to, but I love traveling.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
Of my books? Well, the publishers do.
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
There really aren’t any hard things about writing.
Writing’s like breathing.
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learn something with each new book. Actually, I learn
more from other writers and their work and then just apply what I’ve learned to
my own work.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Yes. I’ll echo what Jim Harrison advised—“To read the
whole of Western literature for the past 2,000 years… and then, if you live
long enough, the same 2,000 years of Eastern literature. For, if you don’t know
what passed for good in the past, how can you know what passes for good today?”
Harrison nailed the secret of learning to write well—read, read, and then read
some more. And then write. All the rest is just noise.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Just a sincere thank-you. And remember—Christmas is just
around the corner and an Edgerton novel makes the perfect gift…
Fiona: Do you
remember the first book you read?
Actually, I do. It was a collection of short stories by
Guy de Maupassant. Never did the Hardy Boys or Run, Spot, Run thing.
Fiona: Other than
writing do you have any hobbies ?
Reading. When I’m not writing, I’m almost always reading.
Fiona: What TV
shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Don’t watch much TV and haven’t been to a movie theater
in probably ten years. There are three things though, that I never miss on TV.
Notre Dame football, Indiana University basketball, and San Francisco Giants
baseball. Sometimes I watch the show all outlaws watch—Antiques Roadshow…
Fiona: Favorite
foods / Colors/ Music
Favorite foods are Oysters Bienville and Oysters
Rockefeller and Marlboros. Favorite color is black (is that a color?). Favorite
music is jazz and country. Old-jazz—no fusion, no electronic stuff--and old
C&W like Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Been an
outlaw. Oh, wait! I did that. Well, you can do both at the same time, y’know...
I’ve also always wanted to be a stunt man in porno movies. It pays great, has
short hours, and they never see your face. The only drawback is you have to
like large animals...
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
A blog on writing at www.lesedgertononwriting.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much, Fiona—you ask great questions!
Blue skies,
Les
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