All about his novel Father Sleep

What is Father Sleep about?

Interview

What inspires your writing?

Inspiration comes from anything. Walking with my dog, a funny comment by a stranger, a sweet memory flashing. I recently wrote a story just because I looked at a song title and my brain did that funny zooming thing and I saw potential and went with it. It’s one of the best things I’ve written. I wrote a novella (maybe a novelette?) because I was mowing my lawn and a rock kicked up under the blade and shot out. I had a whole weird idea just from that and it became this family drama. Inspiration is a constant possibility. I just think I see the world a certain way, and writing is kind of how I take my glasses and plop them on the reader’s head.

What drew you to writing?

I don’t know for sure. I’ve just always written. Always been oddly obsessed with English and language and little word relations. I remember hand-writing stories as a kid and letting my parents read them, like fan fiction before the internet existed. Looney Tunes wrestling or some such thing. It’s always been the only thing I ever wanted to do. Doesn’t mean it’s easy, but in my perfect world I’m writing books every day and someone cares and that’s enough. I’m a really simple person in that way.

How did you choose which character to centre the story around?

Wow, that’s a simple question I don’t have a great answer to. I think in the case of Father Sleep, Jeff is the character with the most questions. I’ve always found questions far more interesting than answers. He also has the most potential to hurt the reader. He’s just malleable enough that the reader can relate to him. I suppose a simple answer is he’s a man and I’m a man so there you go, but it’s honestly just the direction I walked. Jeff isn’t supposed to be me. None of them are me. But they’re all grown from thoughts I’ve had in that sort of split personality, separate brain lobe sort of way.

What was your process for writing your books?

I guess first it’s just recognizing an idea that has more legs than others. I was always intimidated by the size of a novel, the commitment to it. I usually wrote short stories but knew that novels were the true test for me. And one day, can’t tell you where it came from, but I had the idea about a man that dreams for the first time in his life at like 50 and he gets help, and it just seemed like that was an idea I could really run with. After that, it’s foot on the gas. Every day. Put a few interesting characters in the mix and let them steer the car. I had no idea where the story would go when I started, I just didn’t want to give up so I tried to write every single day. And understand that it’s not all done just because I get to the end. Revision is so, so important. But just being true to the characters no matter what and not giving up, that was my goal. It remains my goal with everything I write. Just don’t give up.

What is your approach to world and character-building?

That’s pretty easy for me because my stories, Father Sleep included, are pretty clearly set in “the real world” or however you want to refer to it. There’s a few things that are a little sci-fi in it so grounding them in medicine was fun because I have a medical background. I don’t get too specific with the world usually because that’s the sort of thing I like least in books. An early draft had Jeff identifying a tree in his backyard and after a bit I was like, “I would hate this if I was reading it,” so it hit the floor. I was reading a lot of “literature” at the time and that’s more about character and voice and allowing the reader to think, less about building a super immersive world. I’m taking a harsh turn with my current work though. We’ll see if I finish it, but it’s a lot more fantastic. I just drop information in and allow the reader to catch up, to put the pieces together themselves.

With characters, I just want to have a different points of view, something where characters will butt heads. Most of my stories are moved forward by characters talking. They’ve got to have different voices, unique perspectives. And they run the show. It’s not really about what I want. I try to show my hand as little as possible, and ultimately I like having my characters talk and tell the story for me without dialogue tags. If I’ve done a good enough job, then the reader will know which character is speaking because they understand their point of view and how they like to talk, whether they’re curt or foul or foolish, I hope I’ve led the reader to that point.

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

The epilogue for sure. The first couple drafts didn’t have it in there. Imagine that. I was torn because I felt the story was correct, like the general path from A to Zebra was the way the story was supposed to go, but… My wife read it and assumed I was setting up a sequel. Without giving too much away, that feedback, plus this lingering feeling I had that some characters weren’t, let’s say, deserving, I went back to write the epilogue. I think it’s the best part and there’s the perspective switch to first person, and it does a good job, not of undoing the story at all but just giving the reader a warm towel and a shoulder rub and being like, “it’s going to be okay.”

Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?

That’s tough. Like I said, none of the characters are me and they’re all me, you know? Maybe that’s a cheap answer. But honestly, I don’t tend to write heroes. These characters certainly aren’t. I see everything in greys. I can relate to Jeff for wanting to achieve his impossible goals, I can relate to Kate for being content with life and pursuing art as a way of personal fulfillment, and I can relate to Gilbert for being dragged down by a net of foolish human emotions. Maybe Kate. Today I relate a lot to Kate because she’s handling her business and bad things happen beyond her control. I can’t relate to her sleeping habits though. I wish. Hank’s a pretty good guy. Let’s just all relate to Hank. In all honestly, Gilbert was my favorite character to write by a country mile so take that as you will.

Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?

Let’s see. Writing? Yes. Writing helps me feel fulfilled, like I’m putting my time toward something valuable. Not wasting creative energy, I guess. Publishing a book? I don’t know. I’m still in this weird limbo where I know it’s happening but it hasn’t fully happened yet. It could be a launchpad or it could be a tripwire. What’s important is that Green Crow is taking a chance on me. In my head, and maybe there’s some psychological backdrop for this, it’s important to have external validation of my writing. Sure, my wife likes it, or sure my grandma says the stories are cute, but being published is different. Publishers have no interest in my life at all. They don’t care about my feelings so they have no reason to amplify my voice other than finding value in what I’ve written. I’ve been published a few times and every time it’s like, “Wow, someone else thinks this is good,” and that makes me feel alright for like twenty minutes.

Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?

I kind of always wanted to be a writer so I guess I’d have to say Green Eggs and Ham or something, right? But seriously, Denis Johnson and Raymond Carver, rest in peace. Their stories have such a warm place in my heart. I don’t know if the influence really comes in with Father Sleep but that’s something that can come with time because I’m still writing. I’m also not copying them. I write very different stories. I think, at least. Those are two authors that, when I read their work, I literally make these guttural noises, like I’m eating a perfectly cooked ribeye. Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson is my favorite book and really showed me what writing can be, that it can be visceral and drab and hurtful. And Cathedral by Raymond Carver, I still remember when I read it for the first time and I just sat back and breathed. Groaned and sighed and had to really collect myself. My cousin had just told me she was pregnant so it’s yoked to that in my brain. I had this really surreal moment with finishing that story and getting that wonderful news, I just think about it all the time. I haven’t read all of their work because the thought of not having more work of theirs to experience for the first time is… I don’t really want to go there.

What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book, and what advice were you given?

I could talk about this for days. You’re good enough. You can do this. If I can, you can. If you’re bored, so is your reader. I would also say to identify what you don’t like in books and just, like, don’t do that. As far as what I was told, I guess I was told a lot, but sometimes you have to fall in the hole to understand why falling in a hole is bad. Stephen King’s On Writing is a marvelous guide, but certainly a jumping-off point rather than a bible. One of the most helpful things to understand is that you aren’t always going to be inspired. You aren’t going buzz with lightning every day when you sit down to write. You can wait for those moments, I suppose, but if you’re anything like me then you won’t ever reach the finish line. Writing is a skill and must be practiced whether we’re feeling inspired or excited or not.

What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?

Easy answer: coffee. Iced hazelnut mocha. I typically write first thing in the morning so it’s a simple part of the routine.

Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favourite music?

Absolutely. If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a musician. Maybe I can be both one day but I have to focus on writing for the foreseeable future. I generally exist in the hip hop, r&b, jazz, soul realm, but lately I’ve been getting back into some rock. I don’t typically write to rock though unless I’m really trying to be energetic. But yeah, usually hip hop. Right now I’m listening to Kendrick Lamar, but Earl Sweatshirt is a favorite of mine, The Internet, Isaiah Rashad, Aesop Rock. I’m actually awful at listing awesome things. Looking at my Spotify I recently listened to Mk.Gee, Remi Wolf, Magdalena Bay, Baby Rose, JPEGMafia, Cities Aviv, Black Star, yadda yadda. While writing Father Sleep I listened to a lot of Steve Reich, who makes this airy, droning electronic music. I never would have found him but I heard Andre 3000 say he specifically enjoyed listening to it because it allowed him to think. It probably helped because there’s no vocals in it, but now I can write to kind of whatever.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

My wife. Hands down. She’s the biggest cheerleader in my life, easy. It’s not like anyone is unsupportive of my writing, but I just never believed in myself. The biggest struggle is that I don’t believe I can do it, so having her encouragement every day is the wildest thing. The extent of her support is hard to relay without getting into the weeds, but yes, easily, my wife, Mimi.