12/13/2005: "Interview at The Danforth Review"

Hi All,

Michael Bryson at TDR interviewed me recently. The interview is up at the site, if you want to check it out. Feel my wrath for the idiotic Flames fan! I have nothing against the rest of the Flames fans; only the idiots. Criteria: if you drove up and down 17th Ave, in Calgary, for two straight months during their remarkable playoff run, honking your horn like a jackass---you're an idiot. You're probably not just an idiotic fan, either: my bet is you're an idiotic human being, and should be sterilized for the health and advancement of the human race.

www.danforthreview.com/index.html

---Craig.

Replies: 5 Comments

on Thursday, December 15th, jlo said

No, there was a guy dressed up as Darth Maul. He was in the vacant lot next to the pick-up truck with the hot air balloon engine that was disguised as a flame-throwing Stanley Cup, and the hippy chick with really long dreads.

As I write that, I can't help but think, how could anyone NOT find that cool?

Yeah, 5min, I know, I know. If the Flames had won, would be so bitter? Not like you are a big Flames fan to begin with, but maybe that would have made it worth it? Or maybe the city would have kept celebrating for days following.

on Thursday, December 15th, Brett said

My vote, too, is for FIGHTING STOCK. Either of the other titles is probably used by quite a few other books, I'd suspect, whereas I can't think of another one called FIGHTING STOCK. So when people go searching for it, they'll find it lickety-split, rather than having to fight their way through the other books with the same/similar titles.

Do a search on Amazon and you'll see what I mean--tonnes of 'em called either BAPTISM OF FIRE or BAPTISM BY FIRE, but exactly zero called FIGHTING STOCK.

You'll notice I took this kind of thing into account when I named my three novels: IN AND DOWN, THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED, and RUNNING BENEATH THE SKIN. No other books called any of those. (There's a few BENEATH THE SKINs and one RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, though!) *laughs*

on Thursday, December 15th, Craig said

Hey Brett,

Well, time has passed.Im not quite so bent out of shape about it anymore. Back in Calgary now, actually, but in the suburbs, far from 17th. I'm very much at ease.

Hey John,

Yeah, when you were down I rallied myself. Was the Darth Maul that giant flame-spounting thing set up in the empty lot? I mean, it's fun for 5 minutes, but when you have to live next to it, it's not so sweet.

Yeah, it will probably be FIGHTING STOCK. Although "Baptism by Fire" and "Baptism of Fire" are two separate things---but, yes, if people are going to end up thinking I've gummed up the title, I don't really want that.

Best, Craig.

on Thursday, December 15th, jlo said

Oh, come on Craig, as you recall, we quite enjoyed the festivites...Remember Darth Maul and the flame throwing pick-up? And I have a photo of you throwing your hands up in dismay when the Lightning won it. Or maybe it was that they had won game six and forced a seventh game, thus prolonging the agony.

Title of the novel: Fighting Stock for sure. Baptism of Fire sounds too much like you are getting the cliché wrong.

Good review by Bryson, too.

on Wednesday, December 14th, Brett said

"The switch has been wonderful, but I still have some pretty gruesome horror ideas floating around in my skullcase. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to go back to that side of things. Or go on a cross-country killing spree to purge those thoughts. Only time will tell."

Haaaaaaahahahaaaa! Love it.

And yes, I suspect those Calgary fans are idiots all day, every day, not just when it comes to hockey.