Q&A with Garth Stein discussion

Hi Garth, where did you get the idea to write from the dog's point of view in The Art of Racing in the Rain? Thanks!

Hi Garth! Joy's got a great question, and I'd like to add to it: how did you come up with such an endearing voice? Enzo connected with everyone I know that read the book. All anyone has to do is mention the name Enzo and everyone knows you are talking about The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Joy and Diane,

The book came about because of a film I saw called State of Dogs, which is about the Mongolian belief that dogs reincarnate as people. Combine that with the Billy Collins poem, The Revenant (narrated from doggie heaven), and....voila!

As for how Enzo got to be Enzo, that's just the magic of writing. Enzo started out much edgier and more sarcastic. The more I wrote, the more his true voice came out of loving, caring, sensitive, naive and idealistic philosopher. Part of the writing process is discovery, and a writer must be adaptable and flexible to listen for what the character is trying to tell him.

Hi Garth! The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time! I teach 6th grade literature and I wish I could share it with my students, but obviously the themes are a bit too mature for 12-year-olds (well, at my Catholic school they are anyway).

I was wondering if you'd ever considered writing any YA or middle-grade fiction? I think you'd be fantastic at it given how much you managed to get everyone who read "Racing" to love Enzo so deeply.

Beth: We're working on a "tween" version of ARR right now. I'm not sure of the pub date, but look for it! The title will be: "Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog."

Suitable for 12 y.o.'s And Catholics. ;)

Hi Garth- thanks for your message 3. I am going to google The Revenant, but since it's from Doggie Heaven, I think I'll wait until I'm at home...wouldn't want to start bawling at my office cubicle.

Googled The Revenant - love it!!! And ARR is now my all-time favorite book! Having difficulties finding State of Dogs, though.

Carolyn wrote: "Googled The Revenant - love it!!! And ARR is now my all-time favorite book! Having difficulties finding State of Dogs, though."

It was never released in the US. (There were some "legal" issues, which I won't get into.) Look for The Cave of the Yellow Dog, which has a nice slice of life in the Mongolian high plains.

Garth - Thanks for that. I just added it to my Netflix queue :)

How did you come up with the name Enzo for a dog?

What challenges did you encounter when writing from Enzo's point of view? Were there times when you had a difficult time envisioning how a dog would interpret a scene?

Thank you so much for talking about your experience writing about Enzo in "Rain.." Enzo was so endearing and believable as a dog with a voice of his own. I love Billy Collins poetry and really enjoyed reading that you were inspired by his stuff as well. HOW do you come up with your great titles? I've noticed that in all of your books.

Do you race cars, or was this something you had to research for the book?

Lisa wrote: "How did you come up with the name Enzo for a dog?"

Enzo Ferrari, of course. Check out my website for the backstory. I won't repeat it here, but it's kind of funny. www.garthstein.com

Shel wrote: "What challenges did you encounter when writing from Enzo's point of view? Were there times when you had a difficult time envisioning how a dog would interpret a scene?"

Not really, Shel. I knew Enzo, the character, and I didn't really think about his dogness. Or at least I didn't worry about it too much. Enzo told me what to do!

Ruth wrote: "Thank you so much for talking about your experience writing about Enzo in "Rain.." Enzo was so endearing and believable as a dog with a voice of his own. I love Billy Collins poetry and really en..."

Thanks! Sometimes they're easy, sometimes hard. I knew the title of ARR before I started writing it, so that goes in the easy category....

Michele wrote: "Do you race cars, or was this something you had to research for the book?"

I raced for four years. I don't any more. SCCA, SM class. I was the points champ in the NW Region in 2004! (It just means I showed up to all the races and nobody else did....)

Garth, this is such a great Q&A. Learning so much about you -- like that you raced!