Q&A with Julian Darius discussion

Discuss Julian Darius's favorite writers and influences, if you dare.

I know one if Brett Easton Ellis which I have to admit to never having read before.
But, I don't think I could pin down just one influence cause your works vary in tone and style sometimes. For instance Watching People Burn has a much more egalitarian tone and a lot of emotion. Then looking at something like Nira/Susa which is just so damn meaty. I can see bits of Nabokov, but also Chuck Palahniuk.

Bret Easton Ellis is a weird "influence" because, although I read American Psycho a while back, I didn't get into Ellis until about two years ago. The entire reason I did was because a friend said I wrote like Ellis! So I think Ellis is more a kindred spirit than an inspiration, although his prose style has definitely influenced certain passages. In particular, his "and and and" style of flowing sentences is very unique, and he somehow manages to make them work, although by rights they should feel like clunky run-ons.

I do try to vary my tone and style. Palahniuk taught me the power of short, punchy sentence-paragraphs, for example. He's so good at that, and no one really did that before them. They're usually his "refrains" or "here's a deeper meaning, but in a funny way" sentences. But they work, and they carry a percussive power that conveys the books forward.

Nabokov is more an influence on Nira/Sussa than generally. I don't like a decent amount of Nabokov's work. But what's good is very, very good.

Nira/Sussa was really the 21st century Lolita to me. So, yes, very Nabokov, although it didn't feel like I was one of the members of the jury and Julian Darius trying to convince himself and me (the reader) of his innocence and blaming it all on Nonette. But then again, I'm still reading this book.

And the cover, it's just gorgeous. It's what made me read this book in the first place.

Thanks, Meem! It means more than I can say!

I'm glad it didn't feel like the narrator (not me!) is trying to convince you. That's a delicate thing, but your take on it is very much mine. I don't think you should agree or disagree with any statement in the novel, and I really hope it doesn't come off as didactic.

Thanks also about the cover. It's Doug Smock's work, and he hit it out of the park!

Can't wait to hear what you think about the ending!

Julian wrote: "Thanks, Meem! It means more than I can say!

I'm glad it didn't feel like the narrator (not me!) is trying to convince you. That's a delicate thing, but your take on it is very much mine. I don't t..."

"His name is Julian Darius, which by great coincidence just happens to be the name of this novel’s author."

I also meant to ask you about that. What's the idea?

I think it adds a whole other layer to the story. There's a kind of creepy, confessional, OMG aspect to it when the narrator's name is on the cover. And this plays with the reader, because we know better than to think that someone's a serial killer for writing a serial killer, even with his name. But still... it's disturbing and interesting.

Do you agree that aspect works?

Oh, yes. It adds the element of (almost romantic) truth, and reality, which made me feel like I was reading a true story even when I knew I was not. Like lucid dreaming, I'd say. It teases you with it's possibilities. Is it whimsical or premeditated? There's that essence of drama, the hint of controversy you must have been trying to add. So yes, it is interesting.

Relieved to hear it, Meem! And thank you! I like what you've said here very much.

I do suspect that some people can't handle it, though... some readers have really reacted with horror to the narrator, and I'm sure that's worse because of his name.

A lot of people don't react all that well to Lolita either, even now.

I've seen that too. Always shocks me.

Julian wrote: "Can't wait to hear what you think about the ending!"

I loved the ending.
Like how I pretended with her, how I pushed her away, how I pretended I wasn’t helpless and clueless (Isn't that what we all do?) because I loved her, loved her, love her, love you. Nonette.
Be seeing you.

Wow. Thank you so much, Meem! I really struggled with that. It means the world, it really does! :)