Robert Jackson Bennett's Blog, page 16

CultureMap Austin

Here’s a fun interview I did with CultureMap Austin. It was live, which is a rare thing for me to do, so a lot of what I said was off the cuff. Like:

The tall, quiet 27-year-old, who just won a 2012 Edgar Award for his second novel The Company Man, spent much of his childhood in Katy, Texas, performing on the viola before an audience. Bennett claims that he, like a lot of kids who perform at an early age, was intolerably arrogant. Speaking to CultureMap about his latest novel, a coming-of-age tale called The Troupe, he deadpans, “Part of the fun of writing [the teenage protagonist] was getting to punch 16-year-old me in the face.”

Lynn’s Books Review, and an American Gods rec

The Troupe gets a very enthusiastic review over at Lynn’s Book Blog:

This book is without a doubt, not a shadow of it, brilliant.  It is going on the list.  If this book isn’t on best of year lists for many, many people, come the end of 2012 then all I can say is that (a) what is wrong with everyone!  or  (b) we must have had some damn fine books for the rest of the year.  This read is intriguing, it’s compelling and I will just say, by way of warning, don’t pick this up unless you can put your life on hold and dedicate a few days to it whilst ignoring all your friends, family, work, dogs, social life, etc, etc.  You get the picture.

Which happifies me quite extensively.

In other me-me-me news, Justin Landon has recommended The Troupe if you’re the sort of person who liked American Gods, and of course you are, don’t be a dummy.

While George has almost nothing in common with Gaiman’s Shadow, there are many similarities between Silenius and Mr. Wednesday. A withholding of knowledge and a larger understanding of the workings of the world, create a mystery that enfolds the entire narrative, unraveling a page at a time. In both novels there exists a palpable alternate reality beyond the pale of the average human experience. They are also steeped in myth, more obviously in American Gods, but also in The Troupe, with appearances by elemental forces, fairies, and primordial chaos. Beyond the superficial similarities, there’s a very Gaiman tone — dark tones and moments of tenderness all the more poignant for there scarcity.

I’m kind of tired of talking about myself so here’s a picture of a duck!

Shock Totem review, things, reading

There’s a nice review for Mr. Shivers over at Shock Totem:

I will say that this is one of the strongest debuts I have read in some time. Bennett’s prose and use of language is fantastic. Poetic and downright lyrical, at times. I loved the details regarding the etiquette of hobo society and the starving beast that was America in the thirties. I was riveted the entire time, could not read fast enough, which is something I don’t often get to say.

The climax, while somewhat expected, was deftly handled and a good fit for the story. I suspect if Steinbeck had penned The Stand, it would have shared the same gritty feel as this novel. No higher praise than simply declaring Mr. Shivers a wonderful read.

If you are curious, yes, I still find it weird to read reviews of old work. It’s nice, but weird – it’s a dislocated feeling. (At the same time, I do wonder how much my blog readers need to see these things – the older the work, I assume, the less interest those already familiar with me will have in hearing thoughts on it. Would this be correct?)

Am doing things right now. Lots of things. Will tell you about things when things can be told about.

In the meantime, this is a great little essay about how sometimes self-interest and the public good dovetail, and when that happens you should put your shoulder to it and push as hard as you can:

Some have (on the listserv I belong to) argued that increasing literacy is social policy and not the province of business. I would argue (and I did) that in publishing in particular, you don’t have to separate the two. Our business is predicated on education – if fewer people are educated, then the market shrinks by definition. The more people who can read, the more books will be sold. Ignoring that, or saying that it’s not a concern of the business, is short-sighted. And we’re in this for the long game.

Shock Totem review, things

There’s a nice review for Mr. Shivers over at Shock Totem:

I will say that this is one of the strongest debuts I have read in some time. Bennett’s prose and use of language is fantastic. Poetic and downright lyrical, at times. I loved the details regarding the etiquette of hobo society and the starving beast that was America in the thirties. I was riveted the entire time, could not read fast enough, which is something I don’t often get to say.

The climax, while somewhat expected, was deftly handled and a good fit for the story. I suspect if Steinbeck had penned The Stand, it would have shared the same gritty feel as this novel. No higher praise than simply declaring Mr. Shivers a wonderful read.

Am doing things right now. Lots of things. Will tell you about things when things can be told about.

10 Pieces of Writing Advice That Could Be Sex Advice

People will tell you all about how to do it before you actually try it, but it’s not worth listening to them – just find what feels good and comfortable for you, and experiment.
On your first time, you won’t be sure what to do – you’ll have a vague idea of what goes where, and when, but not much more. That’s okay! Just keep trying it, listen to criticism (constructive criticism!), and you’ll get better every time.
If you feel like you’ll be judged, you’ll probably freeze up, and be unable to finish. You can’t think about that. Definitely DON’T think of what your parents will think of you. Do what you feel.
Some people will want you to be more diverse with ethnicities and gender. Keep an open mind, but always do what feels best for you.
There isn’t a specific style that you HAVE to go with. And there isn’t a specific type, either. Do it the way you want to – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to others’ comments.
It’s not all about you. Remember, it’s a shared experience, so keep your audience in mind.
Try something new every time, to keep it fresh.
I wouldn’t advise paying for help and advice, unless it’s your absolute last resort.
Trying it in groups can be informative and helpful, but it can also be awkward if you butt heads with someone too much, and if you don’t feel comfortable making so many people part of such an intimate, vulnerable act.
Selling it can be extremely tricky and difficult. If you get an interested bid, consult legal advice before going forward.

Special Needs in Strange Worlds

I’ve made a guest post about special needs in speculative fiction over at Bookworm Blues. After a while I decided it’s not about special needs, but really just needs. If that makes any sense.

So this has been a very odd week or so.

Last Monday, at around 11 PM, we finally published the extremely silly non-book advertisement “A Sexual Experience,” something my friends and I have had in the works for about two months now. I wrote the script, Galen Dara made the wonderful cover, my wife made the prop book when my arts and crafts skills continued to fail to exist, my friend Jake Sam did the filming and the amazing editing job, Josh Brewster did the lighting, and my friend Jameson bought roses in the middle of the day, did legwork and handiwork, and cooked sausages. It was fun to film, and I am, bizarrely, quite proud of it.

Then it went and got retweeted by Neil Gaiman, John Scalzi, Warren Ellis, and others, and it went from 75 views in one day to 1,300. It hasn’t hit those numbers since, but it’s been getting a nice turnover.

Then I went off to New York for the Edgars. Wednesday I had lunch with the great Nick Kaufmann, whose brilliant idea for an Existentialist Choose Your Own Adventure book must happen or I will HAUNT HIM. Then Thursday I had lunch with my editor, Tom Bouman, my publicist, Ellen Wright, and Rose Fox from PW. It was a great chat, and I’m looking forward to going back again some day.

Then I got glammed up for the Edgars. I aired out my tuxedo, which I hadn’t worn since I was 18, and my wife and I headed downstairs.

And this happened.

This is a photo of me failing to make a good speech because I did not expect to win because it was enough that the MWA made the gesture of nominating what I thought to be a silly little sci fi novel. I thought I’d show up, wear nice clothes, get fed, clap for some extremely famous people, and go home. I had a bunch of speeches in my head – about four – and they all seemed like they’d be easy to make, provided I did not win. But then I did, and they all suddenly seemed very hard. I failed to thank anyone specifically, since names suddenly seemed very very hard, so I just said THANK YOU very loud and sort of wobbled off the stage.

So this is a photo of me later still not believing this happened.

I met a lot of folks I never would have expected to – Michael Dirda, Martha Grimes, and I saw Maureen Johnson and Sarah Weinman from afar – and then I happened to see a tweet from Neil Gaiman about how he was putting on his tails, and upon seeing him and walking up to him in the lobby before the awards, he looked at me and said, “Hello, I retweeted you, didn’t it?”

So it comes full circle.

We had a very nice, normal conversation. Later, at the after-awards reception, I hoped to get a photo with him holding a sign saying SORRY LEE because I lost my mom’s anniversary edition of Good Omens and she’s still pretty mad about that. But unfortunately I missed him, but I think my mom is pretty happy anyways.

EDIT: this post about my reactions is 100% true.

A Sexual Experience

PRESENTED WITHOUT COMMENT

A SEXUAL EXPERIENCE

BY ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT

Review, and New York

The Troupe has received a nice review from Marissa Lingen, who was a bit perplexed to receive my book, not knowing her blog had been recommended to me. I checked it out, thought she’d like The Troupe, and promptly sent it to her.

Because this is a book whose jacket cover choice and whose author’s previous works made me think that it might well be too far over the line into horror for me, and while there are dark moments and creepy elements, The Troupe is a much broader-palette fantasy novel than that, with a lot more leavening of other emotions and a different type of focus than what my horror-fan friends have led me to expect of horror. If it’s horror at all, it’s the type of horror from back before horror and fantasy diverged particularly far.

Which is nice to hear. I like hearing the thoughts of people who’ve never heard of me before.

And over at Bookworm Blues, Sarah gives an enthusiastic review to Mr. Shivers, which is a bit of a blast from the past:

However, in the end it’s Bennett’s incredible descriptions and his ability to bring this very stark, lonely, every-man-for-himself period of history to life for the reader. It’s his descriptions that resonate with me long after the book was finished. His use of the Great Depression, hobo culture and the Midwest really added some incredible atmosphere to Mr. Shivers. Yes, this is a subtle book and no, Connelly isn’t the most compelling character in all of creation, but he doesn’t need to be. Mr. Shivers is a story about revenge and Bennett’s skill with the written word is capable of chilling even the most jaded reader.

Goody.

Tomorrow I will be waking up at 4 AM to fly to New York for the Edgars Banquet as I am a nominee. I’m excited, because I will essentially be seeing Homebase for most of my publishing peeps. I don’t particularly care if I win, but I do plan to have a lot of fun and meet a bunch of people while wearing a tuxedo. (I cannot explain to you how shocked my wife was to learn I owned my own tux. The benefits of a once-music major, I guess.) But if New York isn’t anything like this.

…and incidentally, keep your eyes on this site. Something fun should be up here in a couple of days.

Geeks of Doom Review

The Book Slave over at The Geeks of Doom has given The Troupe a very lovely review:

Told with affection and vivid prose, The Troupe submerges you in a world of time out of mind and place, and makes you wonder what the hell it’s all about, this life on Earth business; whom or what exactly put us all here and why? Will it ever end? Could it? While you may not find answers to the Big Questions here, The Troupe will certainly keep you enthralled until its very satisfying end.