Leslie Gay
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Hello hello! From your wonderful "homicidal nutjobs librarians" primer, is the anecdote for David predicated on a Stephen King story? I am dying to know. I found your Reddit Q&A only now, and enjoyed it immensely - all elements of it - but so pleased I picked up the book knowing nothing about it! I have gone back and re-read portions (cough, the whole book) several times. Worth the 30 years. Your fan, - Leslie
Scott Hawkins
Hey Leslie,
Yeah, good eye. The thing about David killing a small town was a Stephen King in-joke. At one point King was talking about writing a followup to 'Salem's Lot. He's since said that that's not going to happen, but the gag was that Father was a huge King fan and had been waiting for the sequel.
Eventually he got tired of waiting and sent David out to start killing small towns in the area to hopefully spark some inspiration in King. David had just gotten back from one such trip when he went to visit Carolyn in her room.
I took it out because I figured King is probably sick of people bugging him about the sequel. But I do like the image of Father sort of drumming his fingers and glowering down at Maine from on high as he rereads 'Salem's Lot. Hmm. What can we do to hurry this up? "David! Front & center--I've got a job for you."
Scott
Yeah, good eye. The thing about David killing a small town was a Stephen King in-joke. At one point King was talking about writing a followup to 'Salem's Lot. He's since said that that's not going to happen, but the gag was that Father was a huge King fan and had been waiting for the sequel.
Eventually he got tired of waiting and sent David out to start killing small towns in the area to hopefully spark some inspiration in King. David had just gotten back from one such trip when he went to visit Carolyn in her room.
I took it out because I figured King is probably sick of people bugging him about the sequel. But I do like the image of Father sort of drumming his fingers and glowering down at Maine from on high as he rereads 'Salem's Lot. Hmm. What can we do to hurry this up? "David! Front & center--I've got a job for you."
Scott
More Answered Questions
Christopher
asked
Scott Hawkins:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
part 2 Did you know that for first people hunter-gatherers, animals they hunt become their first gods, partly from the guilt of killing them as empathy reliever ( eating flesh of a god, becoming, evoving etc)? I'm a Joseph Campbell fan so your theory blew my mind :) Congrats, your new fan :)
(hide spoiler)]
Ben
asked
Scott Hawkins:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
Congrats on Mt. Char being named #1 in Buzzfeed's best fantasy novels of 2015 list. I wondered if you might provide a little context as to your decision-making process in having Carolyn replace David with Steve as the sun at the novel's end? I thought it was a courageous and fitting choice, though I can't imagine it was an easy one. Looking forward to reading whatever else you might produce.
(hide spoiler)]
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