In TK, a garden figures quite prominently in the closing chapters. Can you dig it? Of course, gardens are rife with rich metaphorical possibilities, among them the paradox of death and …. Ok, enough with the literary lecture. Besides, in the last part of the novel Eddy’s thoughts do not dwell on paradox as much as they do upon shovels. I’ve come across another TED talk (Thank you, Debra) by a guy in South Central LA, a drug-infested, gansta-ridden, fast-food hood. He wants to resurrect the many abandoned public places with grow-your-own gardens and, hopefully, inspire people to eat real food, not Big Macs and other toxins. “Plant shit,” he says [the shit is metaphorical, of course], and then eat the good food you grow. Hmmm … Perhaps I see possibilities here for the third part of my trilogy, Trout Love, something about what Eddy has “planted” in the garden, and how it [he?] leads to his possible resurrection, and then …. Eddy, what does your garden grow?

Quote of the Day: “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.” John Locke

I file this under: The continuing trials and tribulations of a rookie author …
I’m visiting my hometown (Sutherlin, Oregon) next week to sign books, and a local paper, the Douglas County News, was going to publish my author profile/photo today but, alas, due to “technical difficulties” (according to a spokesperson at the paper), the profile did not get published. This qualifies as a “Dang It!” Nevertheless, I’d like to thank Trish Dias, a reporter for the DCN, for her hard work on the article. If you’d like to see the article, I’ve posted it on my About Page. (You’ll have to scroll down to find it.) You’re looking at the photo that didn’t get published, either. Double Dang IT!!

(Shakespeare’s Statue, Central Park, NYC)

I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from folks who’ve read Trout Kill (see Amazon reviews), and one frequent word I hear from them is the story is “dark.” I think readers mean that Eddy’s outlook on life is relatively bleak, his situation is precarious, he’s haunted by the past, and he’s not too adept at extricating himself from problems that he himself creates. Granted. Is my own outlook on life so bleak? No. Actually, I’m an optimist, at heart. However, I am personally attracted to “dark” stories because, in part, I taught them in high school for many years, and they generally deal with “serious” themes … and I’m a “serious” guy (Seriously!). At Canby High, I taught the classic Shakespearean tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar and Hamlet. I enjoyed everyone of them. (To hell with my students: It’s all about me!) So, I guess Shakespeare rubbed off on me, and he’s partly to blame for Eddy Trout’s dismal “darkness.”

Quote of the Day: “I always start writing with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind.”
—Patrick Dennis

The “dirt” in my mind is mostly doubt and uncertainty, along with a dash or two of chaos, sprinkled liberally with muddlement. When I write anything it rarely remains as is. More often than not, it’s modified, reduced in size, tone or posture. It morphs. It’s often deleted. It it looks suspiciously like “good” writing, I throw the damned thing out and, hopefully, replace it with something truer to the story. All this processing and reprocessing is, of course, anguishing, but it’s far better than the alternative: procrastination. I’d much rather spend a day honing crap than not writing crap. However, now that I’ve broached the dreaded “P”-word, here’s a handy list of 101 excuses to put off writing … not that I’d ever stoop to using them.

You may have noticed Eddy refers quite often to his hammer. (No, not that one … a real one for pounding nails.) Hmm … wonder where he gets that hammer thing from. I began my acquaintance with hammers when I was fifteen and started roofing for Norris Johnson in Sutherlin, Oregon. I worked for him several summers. What a character Norris is … a joke a minute, and he could outwork us teen-aged punks by miles. He taught me and countless other young men a fine work ethic, and that ethic has helped me through many a project, including the one in the photo, a little remodeling project on our home in Multnomah Village. Eddy, like me, is proud to be a builder, and if you look real closely at that level on my head, you’ll see it’s only half a bubble off.

Quote of the Day: “The process of writing has something infinite about it. Even though it is interrupted each night, it is one single notation.” Elias Canetti

The “Tweet” contest has officially ended, and my challenge was for readers of Trout Kill to write a critique of the novel in 140 characters or less. First, let me give a big SHOUT OUT! to all those who summoned the creative spirit and took the time to enter. I heard from some of you that it was harder than you thought. As the sole judge and jury, I had a tough, tough decision to make about the winner. Here are the top three entries:

Like a high speed joy drive down a twisting coastal road on a rainy night, Trout Kill serves up plenty of twists and bends. A thrilling read!—Rich Boley

Mechanical heart veteran-past memories cloud present-sis Em dead deer panties in pocket comatose wife friends in denial murder explosive.—Shirley Gauthier

Strangers we all know, fucked up yet normal. A story of unique yet everyday life, simplified to the point of beauty near the Oregon Coast.—Aaron Zarosinski

And the drum roll, please ….

The winner is Aaron Zarosinski!

Congrats, Aaron! I thought your entry was succinct (well, it had to be:), eloquent and insightful. I loved the tensions between “fucked up” and “normal,” and between “unique” and “everyday life.”

Aaron has opted for a unique prize: A free copy of my next novel, Trout Run, which will be released in about a year!

Quote of the Day: “If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.” Tennessee Williams

The overwhelming sensation I felt while talking about my novel at Canby High the other day was passion, a sort of urgency to explicate and learn, to share and listen. It’s close to the same feelings I often experienced when I taught “Prufrock,” The Great Gatsby, “The Scarlet Ibis,” The Lord of the Flies, Hamlet, Crime and Punishment and so many other fines stories and poems. Long live the passion!

Today’s the last day for your chance to win a Starbucks’ gift certificate or, better by far, a free copy of Trout Kill. The details:

1. The Challenge: In 140 characters or less, critique Paul’s novel Trout Kill. The “Best” critique, as chosen by the author, yours truly, wins.

2. The contest is open to all who have read, or who will read by the end of February, Trout Kill.

3. All entries are due by February 28, 2013. Entries must be submitted by commenting on this blog post. The winning contestant will get a reply from me by March 2, and receive a copy of Trout Kill, signed and personalized, OR a fifteen-dollar gift card to Starbucks. I may post submissions on Facebook (to prime the pump), and the winner forfeits all rights to his/her entry. (I may use it for marketing purposes.)

4. The winning entry will be posted in my blog, on my website and/or Facebook.