I was tagged recently by friend and writer David Erik Nelson to do this self-interview on current projects. So, here goes.
Q–What is your working title of your book?
Byzantium: Stories
Q–Where did the idea come from for the book?
Well, as this is a story collection, the answer here could be somewhat lengthy, to account for every story. But happenstance plays a role. While researching one of my stories (“Borden’s Meat Biscuit”) I came across a short account in a history of Havana that inspired another story (“The Don’s Cinnamon”), which I won’t mention here as that would give away the story’s central mystery. I’m also often drawn by place or a particular moment, feeling my way from there to the characters.
Q–What genre does your book fall under?
Literary fiction, I suppose, though I do try to push that a little by bringing in more plottiness than might be expected–borrowing here and there from detective stories or adventure tales.
Q–Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
That’s too hard to answer–difficult for me to think of my characters that way.
Q–What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
My editor came up with this one, so I’ll repeat it as it’s much better that what I could produce: “Ben Stroud’s historical reimaginings twist together with contemporary stories to reveal startling truths about human nature across the centuries.”
Q–Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’m represented by the Wylie Agency, and the book is coming out with Graywolf.
Q–How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I started on the first story in this collection in Fall 2005, and sent the final version of the manuscript to the publisher in Fall 2012–so seven years. But it was a bumpy, winding road, with a failed novel along the way.
Q–What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I’ve been inspired by a lot of different writers, but I suppose the range I strive for is closest to that in Jim Shepard’s recent collections, which are amazing. In fact, I went home and wrote the first draft of “Eraser,” the earliest story in this collection, after going to a reading he gave at Michigan. But it’s hard to compare yourself to other people–so hard to see your own work–and then to put yourself next to towering figures like Shepard (or Steven Millhauser, or Hilary Mantel, or David Mitchell, or, or) who’ve inspired you along the way just seems impossible.
Q–Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I think some of the answers above cover this, so I’ll withhold here to keep from repeating myself.
Q–What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Hmm, a tough one–I think it can be hard for a writer to play salesman, since you know all your own failings and kind of offer up the book with your face turned away. But here’s a pitch, which I once gave to a friend over barbecue while feeling pretty desperate about the book’s odds in the world–“Travel…in your mind!”
So, again, thanks to David Erik Nelson for tagging me with this. As part of the chain idea, I’m supposed to in turn tag five other writers. Rather than compel anyone to do the interview itself, though, I’ll just add some links to five websited writers you should keep your eye on for great current and forthcoming work: Randa Jarrar, Kodi Scheer, Scott Geiger, Kyle Minor, Andrea Lochen.