Ask the Author: Kevin Cole
Answered Questions (15)
Kevin Cole
No, not yet, unfortunately.
Kevin Cole
Hi Tabitha,
Nice to hear from you! I've been busy. I'm writing again and it takes up a lot of time I'd otherwise spend on GR. Hope you're well and the school year is off to a good start for you.
Stay sane!
Nice to hear from you! I've been busy. I'm writing again and it takes up a lot of time I'd otherwise spend on GR. Hope you're well and the school year is off to a good start for you.
Stay sane!
Kevin Cole
I understand the dark attraction but it's not for me.
There are two characters in DOTG who are living transgressives. They're completely repulsive. Oddly, though, they were fun to write.
There are two characters in DOTG who are living transgressives. They're completely repulsive. Oddly, though, they were fun to write.
Kevin Cole
Hi Maria, thanks for asking. Knowing the intellectual heavyweights you normally read, I consider it an honor you liked DOTG!
The teenage world is a world apart. I think my intention was to capture a mentality and sensibility most forget when they reach adulthood. They forget it for good reason too. You can't function as an adult with the honest chaos of an adolescent mind. It can be a beautiful thing, but it's one doomed.
I also wanted to write something smart that would also be fun :-)
The teenage world is a world apart. I think my intention was to capture a mentality and sensibility most forget when they reach adulthood. They forget it for good reason too. You can't function as an adult with the honest chaos of an adolescent mind. It can be a beautiful thing, but it's one doomed.
I also wanted to write something smart that would also be fun :-)
Kevin Cole
I've been waiting for someone to ask me something like that, and the answer is "No, no directly."
There are a few characters in the novel who profess to love Throbbing Gristle, the British band from long ago. And one song in particular, "Persuasion," is mentioned in some detail. And two characters were inspired by Genesis P-Orridge and Cosey Fanny Tutti. But other than that, no, the story's mostly about growing up in Texas at a certain time and all the stupid things high school kids did in that ridiculous era.
I want to mention too that when the eBook was first published, I tweeted that fact directly to the official Throbbing Gristle Twitter account. I didn't have to have their blessing, but I was hoping they would be flattered anyway. Fortunately, they (or whoever's in charge of that account) favorited the tweet and retweeted it. I guess it's okay by them.
There are a few characters in the novel who profess to love Throbbing Gristle, the British band from long ago. And one song in particular, "Persuasion," is mentioned in some detail. And two characters were inspired by Genesis P-Orridge and Cosey Fanny Tutti. But other than that, no, the story's mostly about growing up in Texas at a certain time and all the stupid things high school kids did in that ridiculous era.
I want to mention too that when the eBook was first published, I tweeted that fact directly to the official Throbbing Gristle Twitter account. I didn't have to have their blessing, but I was hoping they would be flattered anyway. Fortunately, they (or whoever's in charge of that account) favorited the tweet and retweeted it. I guess it's okay by them.
Kevin Cole
I hesitate to answer for fear of litigious reprisals ;-)
No, I make everything up. That sounds better :-)
No, I make everything up. That sounds better :-)
Kevin Cole
In DOTG, I modeled characters on people I knew. Some are amalgams of different sorts. Others were inspired by just one. I also made up some characters, which was harder to do. In those cases, I took an aspect of myself and built a character around it.
For me, the challenge is not creating characters so much as making them intelligent, even when they're stupid. It's no work to ridicule someone. But to make him sound smart, even if he's the only one who thinks so, now that's a good character!
For me, the challenge is not creating characters so much as making them intelligent, even when they're stupid. It's no work to ridicule someone. But to make him sound smart, even if he's the only one who thinks so, now that's a good character!
Kevin Cole
¡Hola Pepperpots!
How's your Spanish coming along? :-)
What motivates me is fear. The fear that I'll die without having written at least two good books. Three, if I'm lucky.
I know that sounds odd. But if writers were rational, they wouldn't be writers.
How's your Spanish coming along? :-)
What motivates me is fear. The fear that I'll die without having written at least two good books. Three, if I'm lucky.
I know that sounds odd. But if writers were rational, they wouldn't be writers.
Kevin Cole
Believe it or not, as long as that book is, it was originally twice as long, almost running 800 pages. I hated to 'shorten' it, but did so after I asked myself, "Would you, Cole, read an 800-page novel?"
But here's the funny thing: People still think I've written an 800-page novel because Amazon is counting it in Kindle pages!
My question back to you: Do you, Jo of Newcastle, write several versions of your reviews. Or do you let it all out in one gust of creativity? :-)
But here's the funny thing: People still think I've written an 800-page novel because Amazon is counting it in Kindle pages!
My question back to you: Do you, Jo of Newcastle, write several versions of your reviews. Or do you let it all out in one gust of creativity? :-)
Kevin Cole
I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said if there's a fallen tree blocking your path, walk around the tree.
Kevin Cole
I really don't see an upside.
Kevin Cole
Every moment you spend talking about writing is a moment you could have spent writing.
Kevin Cole
A historical novel, but one easy on the facts.
Kevin Cole
I’m not an articulate person. If I didn’t write, I’d explode. Annoying people, too, inspire me.
Kevin Cole
My adolescence sucked. DOTG was therapy. Or revenge. Or atonement.
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