Fall Debuts

Ask the Author: Charlie Close

“Ask me a question.” Charlie Close

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One of the first books we discussed was Moby Dick, which you were reading at the time. Ever since then there seems to have been a proliferation of Moby Dick cartoons, mostly in The New Yorker, but maybe other places, too. The most recent had Captain Ahab, peg leg and all, in a book store at the counter, and the clerk is asking, "Have you tried the ocean?" Have you noticed this? Is it always this way?
Charlie Close Yes, I have noticed it, and I suspect it comes from the weird way humans allocate attention. People can overlook something over and over, and then once they finally see it, they see it everywhere. They can't stop seeing it. So, Moby Dick: not in your awareness. And now that you've noticed it (you're very welcome), suddenly it's ubiquitous. It's even in New Yorker cartoons.

Personally I haven't noticed it with Moby Dick, but I've seen actors, comedians, and writers seem to come out of nowhere. Or ideas. One day I see it in an article, and the next day all my colleagues are talking about it like it's existed forever.
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You're just a wonderful decent guy .. and that's one of the things I like about you very much. If you lived in my neighborhood - we'd all be friends - for real! Oops I need to make this a question to send this? Do you think this system of communication is silly?
Charlie Close I appreciate your kindness and generosity. It makes the distance between California and Michigan seem not so far at all.

I don't think this form of communication is silly. I like answering reader questions. But...maybe we should move the chatting back to the comments in your reviews, eh?

Thanks.

Charlie
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Why didn't you ever tell me you wrote these wonderful books? I just ordered your book about childish things. I adore you Charlie --and look forward to reading it. (I have to a bunch of books I must read with due dates first --but I 'will' read it when I can!
Charlie Close Hi, Elyse,

Thanks for asking. You've very kind.

Readers have different degrees of interest in being approached by authors. I preferred to trust that if you were meant to find my books then you would find them. I'm glad you did.

By the way, I answered the same question in a more tongue-in-cheek way in my story "Bob Square", which appears in my latest book, "Before the Ripcord Broke". A preview of the book, including that story, is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/reader/7083...


Enjoy "Childish Things". I look forward to hearing your feedback, whenever the time should come.

Happy reading.

Charlie
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