TNBBC Presents - The Christopher Moore Author Q&A discussion

Place your questions for A Dirty Job here.

I just finished this book two nights ago (it kept me company in the wee hours of the mornings while I nursed my 2 month old daughter). Loved it. It's not Lamb, but it's up there.

I don't have a question, but I did want to comment that I loved the diversity of characters. Every race and nationality and walk of life showed up. It doesn't happen often in the books I've read. Lily was my favorite!

Looking forward to the next one!

Jo wrote: "I loved A Dirty Job. I was wondering where the idea came from. Also were the two ladies that lived in the building based on real people that you have met? (The chinese woman and the Russian woman)"

I had just taken care of a my mother, and then my girlfriend's mother, who had died in a period of two years and I thought I had learned something about death and dying and I should write a book. So I thought it would be funny to give a guy who was a hypochondriac the job of being Death. The Russian and Chinese ladies were completely from my imagination.

This was the first novel of yours that I read... and I became a fan immediately after.

Is there any chance of continuing this storyline? Perhaps about Sophie's misadventures as a teen? Charlie is easily one of the best characters I've come across.

I loved A Dirty Job! I loved the characters...Lily was a hoot! Where did you get the idea for the Hellhounds?....the feeding scenes were hilarious!
Two places in the book....the Star Wars line, and the whole scene about the dogs named Muhammad and Jesus...had me laughing to the point of tears...just caught me off guard...loved it!

DJ was my first book and, like Tisha, I became an instant fan. I know that the dogs and the Emperor were inspired by characters in and around San Franciso...I was wondering what brought you to know about them and then decide to put them in the story.

Tisha wrote: "This was the first novel of yours that I read... and I became a fan immediately after.

Is there any chance of continuing this storyline? Perhaps about Sophie's misadventures as a teen? Charlie is..."

I have thought about a sequel to this one. Inspector Rivera gets the big book of Death at the end of A Dirty Job and that poor guy has been carrying water for me since the first book. I think he deserves his own book. Of course I'd bring back the other characters, too. I love the hellhounds.

Shelli wrote: "I loved A Dirty Job! I loved the characters...Lily was a hoot! Where did you get the idea for the Hellhounds?....the feeding scenes were hilarious!
Two places in the book....the Star Wars line, an..."

I don't remember where I came up with the idea for the hellhounds. I think they just came to me in the night the way they show up in the book, but they are my favorite part of the book and one of the main reasons I want to see it in a movie.

Movie? Really? Is that a possibility? That would be an awesome movie!

Hi! I listened to A Dirty Job on on audiobook. It CRACKED me up, especially those sewer harpies! Fisher Stevens did an excellent job narrating it. Have you narrated or considered narrating any of your other books?

Also, I agree this would make a great movie. If you had your choice, who would you cast for it?

Jessica wrote: "Hi! I listened to A Dirty Job on on audiobook. It CRACKED me up, especially those sewer harpies! Fisher Stevens did an excellent job narrating it. Have you narrated or considered narrating any of..."

I don't read my own stuff very well. I like having actors do the reading.

I'm not sure about the cast for A Dirty Job, but that's a fun game to play. People come with the most illogical castings (like Margaret Cho as Lily -- not only is Margaret Asian, which isn't that big a deal, she's 40 and Lily is 16-21 in the book.

You guys play.

What? NO takers? Christopher basically asked you to come up with a line up of actors for his book, and no one bit?

Tsk tsk tsk

Some of my thoughts:
Charlie: James McAvoy or Shia Lebouf
Minty Fresh: I kept picturing a Harlem Globetrotter
Emperor: Steve Buschemi
Lily: Kristen Stewart (although I really don't like her) or Kelly Osbourne (I don't even know if she can act!)

I pictured Ving Rhames or Michael Clark Duncan as Minty Fresh. Thora Birch would make an excellent Lily! I think Shia Lebouf might be a bit too cool for Charlie. I think someone just this side of goofy would be great, but I'm not sure who. Steve Buschemi as the emperor would be hilarious.

Jo wrote: "I like Shia Lebouf for Charlie! I have been trying to figure out the name of a comedian that is perfect for Minty Fresh but i can't find his name anywhere. "

I like Michael Clarke Ducan, or even someone more lean. To be honest, when I imagined Minty, I thought of someone who looked like Michael Jordan. John Salley, an ex NBA star is an actor, and he really is about 7 feet tall.

Jo wrote: "I like Shia Lebouf for Charlie! I have been trying to figure out the name of a comedian that is perfect for Minty Fresh but i can't find his name anywhere. "

I think Lebouf is too young. I'd like John Cusack or maybe Topher Grace. I'd go for someone funny over the perfect physical look. Steve Carrell, even though he's not who I imagined.

I'm meeting with the producer next week, so this isn't completely an exercise for fun. If you guys have some good ideas, I'll take them to him.

Jo wrote: "Thora Birch would make a good Lily. "


This is a really good call. I like Ellen Page, too, but she might be past the Gothy teenager role.

Christopher wrote: "Jo wrote: "I like Shia Lebouf for Charlie! I have been trying to figure out the name of a comedian that is perfect for Minty Fresh but i can't find his name anywhere. "

I like Michael Clarke Ducan..."

Topher Grace would be perfect! He's totally a Beta Male!

Ooohh John Cusak. I adore him in everything he plays.

John Cusak does slightly baffled really well!

Not to gush, but I've been a big fan since Practical Demonkeeping and it is SO cool to actually see posts from Christopher - Thanks for doing this!

I kept picturing Charlie as my uncle, but I don't think he can act... :-)

The sad thing is that my aunt (his wife) pictured him as Charlie too!

Michelle wrote: "I pictured Ving Rhames or Michael Clark Duncan as Minty Fresh. Thora Birch would make an excellent Lily! I think Shia Lebouf might be a bit too cool for Charlie. I think someone just this side of g..."

That was exactly who I was thinking of for Minty Fresh. Both have that overwhelming presence.

I also like the idea of Thora Birch as Lily.

And, please not Shia Lebouf as Charlie. Plus, he always felt a bit older than that to me...what about John Cusack? He was would make a great Charlie.

LOL! I wrote my post before reading through them all.

I was trying to remember Ellen Page's name before it was said. I think she'd be great, although Thora Birch is also a good idea. Too bad Avril Lavigne isn't an actress! Or get one of the Gossip Girl type actresses and have her play against type; that might be fun.

For Charlie -- for the quintessential beta male -- you want someone that almost blends into the background. Like a younger Bill Macy. I -love- John Cusack, and he could definitely play beta male.

For Minty Fresh, I like Kel Mitchell, who was in Mystery Men with Bill Macy. He's a funny black guy that not everyone knows. Height isn't everything (they do tricks with cameras all the time), but I think he may be tall, although certainly not NBA tall.

I loved Mystery Men - too funny.

I like Cuba Gooding Jr. as Minty.

Also Omar Gooding would be good.

Christopher wrote: "Jo wrote: "I like Shia Lebouf for Charlie! I have been trying to figure out the name of a comedian that is perfect for Minty Fresh but i can't find his name anywhere. "

I think Lebouf is too young..."


Charlie: Jay Harrington
Lily: Thora Birch
CHarlie's sister: Maggie Gyllenhal
MInty Fresh: Malcolm Barret

That's all I got. I definitely saw CHarlie as a thirty something guy...and Jay Harrington plays ironic and disheveled but charming very well. See Better off Ted!

A book starring Inspector Rivera would be a GREAT addition to your San Fransisco series.