7 Questions for Author Jamie Ford

Jamie Ford is one of a kind. He is a graphic novelist turned author of the New York Times Bestselling novel The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. We sat down with Ford recently to discuss the success of his latest novel and his writing process.

1.) Thanks for agreeing to an interview. You’ve gotten a lot of press recently for your New York Times bestselling book The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Tell us a little bit about it and how the story came about.

The novel itself began as a short story––about a young Chinese boy named Henry, who is sent to an all-white private school by his parents, ostensibly to become more “American,” in the wake of the bombings of Pearl Harbor. There he meets a young Japanese girl named Keiko, sent by her parents for similar reasons. Together they form a very simple affection––that’s interrupted when Keiko and her family are rounded up and sent to an internment camp. But it’s also the story of a Henry, now in his 50s and a widower––a man living with his lament. And he’s forced to reconcile his past with his present, to think about the things he did or didn’t do, and the things he said or left unspoken. At its heart it’s a love story.

2.) Did you have to do any research while writing?

Tons. From buying vintage maps on eBay (if you want to navigate the streets of Seattle circa 1939, I can hook you up) to pouring over the archives at the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle. I also read a ton of non-fiction, including a great book about Seattle’s International District, but that wasn’t enough, so I met with the author, Doug Chin. And of course, I spent time at the Panama Hotel, talking with the owner and exploring the basement. They had an 8-person tour minimum, so I paid for eight and went by myself. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What can I say? I love research. Saying you love research is akin to saying, “I love doing my taxes,” but I do. I absolutely love it.

3.)    How has your experience as a graphic novelist affected this latest book? Was it hard to a switch? Do you prefer one style of writing over the other?

Actually, I’ve only had one recent foray into the graphic storytelling medium, but it was a joyous experience. Before that I did commercial art and design. But as far as going from a visual medium to a written one, it really wasn’t as odd of a transition as it sounds. I like writing from a deep 3^rd person point of view, basically seeing the story from the inside out, it’s a very immersive and sensory way to write. I’m sure a lot of that comes from my background in art.

4.) Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer? Any books that you’re currently reading?

I’m such a Harlan Ellison fan-boy at heart. Not as much for his fiction, which is great, but I love his non-fiction––particularly his essays from the 70s. The writing is simple and beautiful and caustic and emotive. It’s a hard trick to pull off. Plus, since I’m a self-taught writer, I find comfort knowing that an autodidact like Harlan has done so well for all these years.

I also love Sherman Alexie. His writing is lyrical and beautiful, but never gets in the way of the story. They’re both such different writers, but both have the ability to be angry, beautiful and poetic in the same sentence.

As far as what I’m reading, um, well, I’m pouring over some out-of-print historical books I’m using for research. Terribly dry books that are only interesting to terminally geeky writers like myself. I’d give you the names of said books, but I don’t want to slight the writers who I’m sure labored long and hard to write these finely footnoted tomes.

5.) We’ve been asking everyone…what do you think about the Twilight series?

A year ago I suggested that Stephenie Meyer will eventually outsell J.K. Rowling and people thought I was nuts. But I’m sticking to that prediction, especially since Meyer accounted for 16% of ALL books sold last quarter. It’s incredible.

As far as the Twilight series, I must confess, I’ve only skimmed the first book (though I did read The Host, which I enjoyed, though I thought it was a tad too long).

I know people have bashed the Twilight series, but I’m a big proponent of letting the readers decide what is good or bad. And as far as I can tell, most readers LOVE it. And what’s more significant is that this generation weaned on reality television and video games––is actually reading. There’s nothing wrong with that in my eyes, especially after all the impenetrable reads most kids are forced to slog through in school. It’s a wonder we have any readers left with that kind of school-board-mandated aversion-therapy taking place.

6.) Give us a little insight to your writing process. How long did it take you to write your book?

A typical writing days looks like this. Wake up at 6:00am, check email, facebook, twitter, etc. Drive kids to school at 7:15. Hit the gym, grab some breakfast, a quick shower and I’m at my computer, writing around 9:00. Email is in the off position. (This is KEY!) I try to write until noon, catch up on correspondence over lunch, then revise and edit until around 2:00. I tend to edit as I go. That’s it, on a good day. On a bad day, not so rigid…

7.)    Last, but not least. Any advice for the hopeful writers out there?

Writing is a craft. Storytelling is an art. Figure out where you’re strong, where you’re weak, and merrily go from there.

Wags Revue: A Triumph in Online Literature

By now, I’m sure that you’ve all realized that I don’t post here very often…hardly ever. Most of the time, reviews and news stories are compiled by our group of editors (which are then synthesized and later posted by our web editor, Tom). But, after checking out Wag’s Revue I felt compelled to express my own personal delight over what I found to be an absolute triumph of a literary magazine. Unlike Narrative Magazine (which I somewhat despise), Wags Revue is a curious blend of infectious creativity that is neither pretentious nor overly self-important. There is an aesthetic confidence in its presentation that I noticed from the very first page… and the accompanying literature that followed did not disappoint. The interviews were well-constructed and engaging; the photography was profound and subtly perceptive; and the literary content was of an extraordinary caliber that is a rare find in today’s slosh-pile of hopelessly misguided creative endeavours.

Although they have only published two issues thus far, overall I found Wags Revue to be an absolute gem to read and I look forward to the forethcoming release of their third issue. By the time I finished reading the last story from the Spring Issue, all I had to say was one thing:

Well, it’s about time.

STUDY: Skip Breakfast…And You’ll Lose Your Virginity

Okay, Okay, so we know it doesn’t have anything to do with writing. But we saw this headline and we just had to share. According to a Japanese study, people who don’t eat breakfast during their early teen year lose their virginity roughly two years earlier than those who eat breakfast. Why? Click here to read the full press release (it’s pretty interesting).

RIP: Senator Ted Kennedy

Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, passed away late Tuesday evening CNN reports. He was 77. Senator Kennedy was the brother of both former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy who was later assasinated in 1968. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the Kennedy family.

MFA Spotlight On: The University of Texas at Austin

It may not be New York University or Columbia but the University of Texas at Austin’s graduate creative writing program is certainly one to be noted. Unlike most schools who offer only an MFA or PHD in creative writing, UT offers both a two-year MA (Master of Arts) program in creative writing, sponsored by the English Department and a three-year MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program in creative writing sponsored through the Michener Writing Center. There are major differences and things to note about these programs and it would be rather tiring to list them all. However, below we’ve listed a few major talking points for interested individuals.

Master of Arts (M.A) Program in Creative Writing

Location: Austin, Texas

Sponsorship: English Department

Application Deadline: December 1, 2009 for Fall 2010 admission

Funding: Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships. Some students may also qualify to receive the Michener Scholarship during their second year of study, which pays full tuition and a generous stipend.

Program Length: 2 years (33 credit hours)

Specialization: One Genre

For more information on the M.A. in Creative Writing please click here.

Master of Fine Arts Program (MFA) In Creative Writing

Location: Austin, Texas

Sponsorship: The Michener Center for Writers

Application Deadline: December 15, 2009 for Fall 2010. UT would also like to note that they only accept 10 students per year, which is less than 2% of it’s applicant pool.

Funding: All students admitted to the MFA program receive a generous $25,000 stipend per year as well as full payment of tuition and fees. The goal of the Michener Center program is to allow writers to devote all of their time to their craft. Thus, admitted students do not teach or receive assitstantships. The 25K is paid monthly and covers living expenses in Austin.

Program Length: three years (53 credits)

Specialization: All students are required to have a primary and secondary literary specialization. The five areas offered are playwriting, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

For more information about the MFA program and the Michener Center for Writers, click here.