A Stolen Interview with Tim Hall
Right away, let me say that this interview is fake. For the real, and much more interesting interview between Tim Hall and Scott McClanahan, click here. Why fake an interview with Tim Hall? I’m procrastinating work on my current novel.
Tim Hall (TH): Your book is built around my two favorite themes of creative writing: autobiographical fiction mixed with a geographical/sociological postcard of a place. It’s like a portrait of the artist in the “staycation” from hell. What made you decide to “go Winesburg” and create the semi-fictional town of Rainelle, WV to tell your stories?
Caleb J Ross (CJR): Did you even read my book? What they hell is a Rainelle? Is that some kind of gazelle? It should be. Maybe I’ll write a story about that. Then I’ll put that story in a collection that is both autobiographic and postcard-like so it fits your summation of my book.
TH: Long Island, where I grew up, certainly has a lot of the same types of people and problems that you describe in Stories; it’s almost a spectacularly evil place, filled with horrible people who have been driven insane essentially by traffic jams and a culture of pure consumption. You write about some pretty intense, damaged, but very recognizable and human types in your book: what would you say drives the extremes of their behaviors? Do you see Rainelle’s problems with drugs and teen pregnancy, for example, as something unique to to the local economy or demographics, or [due to] more universal American qualities?
CJR: So, first you call my stuff autobiographical and they you say the book is full of horrible people? Your are some piece of work, my friend. I’ll have you know that my life is full of kind, gentle people who are only occasionally horrible. Except my Uncle Ned. He’s horrible all the time. He’s drunk all the time. Meaning, all drunk people are horrible. I’m gonna get a beer.
TH: A lot of the people who move to the big cities are those who came from towns or families where being an artist, or gay, or just different could get them beaten or worse. So it’s certainly understandable and even necessary for them to go someplace where they find like souls and feel secure to be themselves. Have you thought about leaving West Virginia and relocating someplace else, like L.A. or NY or S.F.?
CJR:I thought about leaving West Virginia once. It was two minutes after I got there. Take that state I’ve never actually been to (but would love to; call me West Virgina (smiley-emoticon)!
TH: Thanks for your time, Scott. Last question(s): What are you working on now? Also, anything else you’d like to say about your book before we sign off?
CJR:I’m working on two things. One, changing my name to Scott to help continuity here, and two, a novel that should have my attention, instead of this stupid stolen interview.
For more information on Scott McClanahan please visit his website and for more from Tim hall please check out his blog.
