Tuesday, August 3
No Fake Howl
Q: What’s the plot of Generation of Strainers?
A: “I curdled. It rankles.”
Q: You’re bitter.
A: I’m not even pissed-off.
It’s funny.
“No Fake Howl.” That’s the plot.
The fakes inside celebrating Howl. Bunch of losers outside, protesting.
That should be me in there. I should be an emeritus.
What is not in the open street is false, derived, that is to say, literature.
Do I look bitter?
Q: You look like an emeritus. I’m not sure an emeritus what.
A: An emeritus is retired. I’m still active.
Professor of Cracker Studies, without portfolio.
Who’s going to give a Professor of Cracker Studies a portfolio.
Q: Emeritus means earned. You earned your chops.
A: Thank you.
WRITER is about earning your chops.
Not getting discouraged.
Not quitting, selling out, or turning bitter.
You can’t quit or sell out.
But you can’t turn bitter either.
Q: Generation of Strainers: Don’t Quit, Sell Out, or Turn Bitter.
A: In the Arizona Saga the family keeps fighting the syndicate.
And the harsh environment and the Indians. You just want it to go on and on.
Q: I love a series of books like that.
A: They just go on and on.
Q: So Generation of Strainers is about authenticity.
A: Fidelity.
Semper fi.
Joe Brown says, “I’m a Marine. All the heroes are dead.”
Q: That’s what you learned in the service.
A: Yes, even in the Air Force, in the Cold War.
In college, when Nixon came in, and shut off the Great Society money.
Junk Bonds and Corporate Raiders. Camille Paglia.
Q: “Academe in the Hour of the Wolf.”
A: It felt like the wolf where I was.
I went out to the charcuterie for forcemeats.
On my bicycle.
Househusbands do get weary, dusting in a French maid’s uniform, a big prong out in front of him.
Q: Generation of Strainers: No Fake Howl.
A: Now that’s funny.