Shane Wilson and I are having a few joint book signings later this month. To get our readers acquainted with one other, we’re crossposting interviews with each other. Shane is such a great writer and friend, and I’m excited to share his answers with you.
About his new novel:
Let’s get the basics out of the way. Can you tell us the name of your book and give us a 2-3 sentence run down?
My new release is The Smoke in His Eyes. It’s a magical realism novel that explores the relationship between artists and their art, especially as that relationship relates to the origins of inspiration. [Watch the book trailer here]
What’s the backstory for The Smoke in His Eyes? How did it come about?
This new novel came out of the publication of my first novel in many ways. When I signed to publish my first book, A Year Since the Rain, I was suffering from a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. Who am I, after all? Just some guy, right? Who wants to read my little book? What am I contributing to the world?
At the same time, the desire to share that work was real, and I wanted to understand it. I wanted to understand the creative impulse and the compulsion that all artists (I think) have to share their work. The Smoke in His Eyes is an exploration of the different reasons we might create and share art.
Did the story end up like the one you pictured in your mind?
Oh…does it ever? This is tough because originally, I thought I was writing a piece of realist fiction, not light fantasy. I also had absolutely no idea how I was going to end it. The third act of the novel came directly from experiences I had at my first residency in the Appalachian Mountains. The cabin I stayed in there made its way into the story and influenced the novel in a major way. I’m not sure the story would have ended at all like it does if it wasn’t for the experiences I had there.
Reading and Writing:
Do you read a lot in your genre? If so, can you talk about how that influences you give us some examples of your favorite writers in that genre?
I try to read as much as possible. I think I probably write magical realism and low-fantasy because I spent a lot of time studying it in college—people like Salman Rushdie and Gabriel García Márquez. I did my masters thesis on Rushdie.
What is your writing process like? I mean all aspects–from how you actually write a novel, to your workspace—the room, the music, the ambiance. Where do you do your best work?
I am an absolute night owl–more creative the later it gets. I’m also a firm believer in writing drunk (or with a cocktail) and editing sober. A little whiskey helps loosen the inhibitions in social situations, and it works the same for writing. Something that seems ludicrous while I’m drinking coffee, well, when I have a little whiskey, I think I’ll probably give it a go. And I love music. If I’m writing, I like ambient or instrumental music. Or the blues.
In terms of actual process, I’ve traditionally been a pantser—not doing a ton of planning. I’m starting to play with some outlining techniques now, though. When I’m engaged in the writing, I like to decompress or think through issues in the text with my guitar. I think it’s a multimodal thing—my brain fires differently when I’m playing than when I’m writing, and it seems to help me work through some of the issues in the text.
What are three things that you can’t live without when writing?
- Late nights
- Solitude
- My guitar
What distinguishes your writing/writing style?
I like to think there is a poetry to my prose. I started publishing as a poet, and language is important to me, so I pay close attention to word choice and tone and aesthetic. That stuff is often more important to me—creating an experience—than making sure every little thing is error-free. I also like to work in a style that allows oscillation between vernacular or vulgar language and poetic language. I hope it creates a nice rhythm and surprises readers.
More about Shane:
Can you tell us a little about any other creative endeavors you’ve got going on?
I am working on becoming a renaissance man. Haha. I am working up some songs with a new band I’m putting together. We play around town some. I think I am also about to adapt my award-winning short story, “The Boy Who Kissed the Rain,” for the stage. I have a third novel finished awaiting revisions and I am starting on a fourth novel soon. It has been outlined, anyway.
Let’s play a fast round of favorites…
- Favorite color? Blue
- Favorite place in the world? My office
- Favorite author or book? This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz (I know he is not a popular choice right now, but the book is just so great.)
- Favorite word? Melancholy
- Favorite artist or song? This is so tough…I’ve put three names down already, so I’ll give you all three: Ben Folds, Jason Isbell, Childish Gambino
- Favorite food? Anything with pasta and sauce and meat
- Favorite film? High Fidelity with John Cusack based on the Nick Hornby novel by the same name
Do you have any upcoming events where your readers can see you live?
I have a book tour planned for this summer. Anyone interested can check out the schedule at www.shanewilsonauthor.com or at www.facebook.com/shanewilsonauthor
