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CarrollBlog 5.16
I'm just back from a book tour in Poland to promote my new collection of short stories there, THE WOMAN WHO MARRIED A CLOUD. Here's a link to one of the interviews I did while there: CarrollBlog 4.27
Polish readers-- I just heard from the publisher that the official release date of my new book is May 8. It will first appear in all Empik stores there. I'll be in Lodz/Warsaw/Krakow May 9- 12 to say hello and sign whatever you want. CarrollBlog 4.25
Hey you, dragging the halo- Jeffrey McDaniel CarrollBlog 4.21
I've started doing interviews with various Polish publications in preparation for my trip there in May. Here's one of them
The novel I’m working on now is very different from the ones I’ve done in the past—it has many more characters and the story I’m trying to tell takes place in more than one dimension. I’ve run into difficulties telling this story and had to cut and change many things along the way. That is why it’s taken longer to finish. But here’s a secret—one of the stories in my new collection is the first chapter of the book I will write after *this* one is finished. So hopefully the wait for the next one won’t be so long. Just remember what Hannibal Lector said in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS—“All good things to those who wait…” 2. To paraphrase the sentence from your blog - is your newest book addressed to anyone in particular? The book about to be published in Poland is a collection of short stories I’ve written in the last few years while working on this latest novel. I do that often when writing a novel—take time off from the novel and write an original short story to clear my mind of the longer work. Then I can return to that larger work refreshed. That said, the story collection is not for anyone in particular but the new novel is addressed to, well, someone special. 3. I’ve heard that trips to Poland are always a treat. [What exactly do you mean by that? Book tours can be boring and annoying. But I’ve never felt either when visiting Poland because the audiences there are enthusiastic, their questions are informed, interesting or witty and usually fun to answer. The courtesy and generosity of spirit extended to me each time I have been there is humbling. Also the Poles were really the first to read my books with great devotion and seriousness of purpose. For that alone I will always be grateful and glad to go to say thank you. 4.Do you have any favourite places in Poland? One of my favorite things to do in the world is sit in the great square in Krakow on a sunny day and drink as much coffee as I can while watching the world go by. I particularly love the contrast in Krakow between the ancient buildings and the young beautiful faces of the many students there. A perfect combination. I have done it often and hope to do it more in the future. Also one of the greatest meals I have ever eaten was at Restaurant Bazanciarnia in Poznan. I’m hoping to do that again too in the future—more than once. 5.You are mainly known for novels and short stories. However, you post to your blog many poems by various artist. [What’s the deal with you and poetry?] I taught literature for many years and have my advanced degree in both writing and world literature. Before I start writing every day I read poetry because when it is good, it reminds me to be vigilant and careful with what I write. As a result, when I come across poems I like very much I often post them either on my blog or Facebook page. Judging by the enthusiastic responses of readers there, people like these poems too. 6.You are not a fantasy writer, that’s for sure. But years ago someone said that if you’d been a Latin American writer with a three-part name, your books would’ve been described as magical-realist. Do you agree? Wouldn’t that be “impossible realism”? Categories like that are for bookstores and literary critics. In my career I’ve been called a Magic Realist, a fantasy writer, a horror writer, a mainstream writer, a Slipstream writer… the list goes on and on ad nauseum. But the criteria is simple—is the book and the writer any good? If they are, it doesn’t matter at all what “category” you think they belong in.. 7.Do you have a favorite time of the day to write? Early in the morning when my mind is freshest and full of coffee. 8.Do you know/like any Polish writers? I’m asking because few years ago [in 2009] you were mentioned in I taught Tomasz when Lem and his family lived in Vienna. Tomasz read and liked THE LAND OF LAUGHS and gave it to his father. Lem was the one who gave the book originally to Fantastyka magazine and then his German publisher, Suhrkamp. We became quite friendly when he was here and had a lively correspondence. He asked me to write the screenplay of his novel FIASCO. Both he and Tomasz were very supportive and generous. I’m forever grateful for what they did for me. As to Polish writers, I have read many of them from Szymborska to Lec, Herbert, Milosz, Bruno Schulz, Anna Swir, Halina Poswiatowska.. many others. 9.Biography is an enormously popular genre now. Have you changed your mind about your biography, or is it still just “Jonathan Carroll lives in Vienna”? There are many women in Poland between age 18 and 30 waiting, you know… I think women generally like it more when you’re a little mysterious than when you tell them everything about yourself. I have always been skeptical of these writers who say things in their biographies like “Carroll was at one time a lumberjack, a racing driver, an undercover policeman, a champion scuba diver AND bartender…” It always seems like they’re only showing off. To me the best way a writer can show off, tell a reader who they are, and make them fall in love with you a little bit is by writing a good book. 10.Nowadays many authors use Facebook to keep in touch with their fan community. Do you even consider that? I’ve had a Facebook page for two years and have a very large following there. It can be found under either “Jonathan Carroll” or “Jonathan Carroll writer”
One night five people, friends and strangers, share exactly the same dream.When they wake the next morning all of their lives are changed forever. There are great dogs but they don’t talk, gods appear but they don’t interfere (much), love triangles, and otherworldly complications but hopefully they’ll all work themselves out in the end. Federico Fellini films. He’s my hero. CarrollBlog 4.20
Polish readers-- Here's the schedule for my trip there in May. Some changes will probably take place but this is the general idea: May 9 LODZ
WARSAW May 11 KRAKOW May 12 WARSAW |
