After After Dark

This is the second time someone has won and chosen After Dark by Haruki Murakami, so I'll let Duncan J. of New Mexico take it away:

Duncan: My cat and I love Haruki Murakami for what I imagine to be the same reasons. From the very first novel of his we read, 'Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World' to his latest endeavor, '1Q84', we have been consistently if not surprisingly mesmerized by his eerily profound storytelling. Even for a long time after reading many of his works my cat and I had never been able to conceive the notion of a 'favorite author'.

Slowly, over time, and after continuing to read and reread Murakami's work we somewhat shamefully confessed to ourselves that we had been bested. That Murakami was and is our favorite author. That is why on April 8th, 2011 I requested my very first Breadline Book. Lost within hundreds of other entries I was overlooked for another whom I pray was truly meant to be chosen. Since that kneecap-shattering realization that with Breadline Books I would almost assuredly never be chosen, I went about my days as usual. Reading. Watching. Listening. Loving.

Then, out of nowhere, just days ago I was in my gmail account. I was notified that I had a new email and it was Breadline Books! A message to the masses, the ones proud enough to proclaim their subscription to the Breadline Books newsletter and what was more - the line was back open for business! I thought this was it. It's morning, I'm probably the only uncool person subscribed to this thing not nursing a hangover via screwdrivers and Netflix. I responded. And I won! And this is now wholly too long but THIS is why I received my FREE, BRAND NEW, BOOK FROM BREADLINE BOOKS!

Also, here's a picture of the cat I share with the love of my life.

In Line with Dan Chaon

That's right, we have an interview here with a big time writer. Dan Chaon is the bestselling author of novels Await Your Reply and You Remind Me of Me, as well as three short story collections. His latest book of stories is called Stay Awake, and was released in February. And oh yeah, he plays Skyrim.

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Breadline Books: A popular question seems to be When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? Have you ever not wanted to write for a living?


Dan Chaon: I wanted to tell stories ever since I was a little kid. I really liked pretend games that I would make up. Being a writer is just one of the quasi-legitimate ways that allows you to do that as an adult. Of course, there are times when writing is frustrating and boring and you want to beat your skull open with a brick; but generally I've been happy that I got a chance to do it for a living.  

BB: When it comes to writing, what do you wish you were better at? How do you work to improve that skill?

DC: I think that writing scene and action is the hardest for me. Obviously the best way to improve is through practice, but also through reading. I'm always looking for people who do scene really well. That's one of the reasons I'm enjoying Josh Bazell's book Wild Thing.

BB: Everyone procrastinates. How have you been wasting your time recently?

DC: Playing Skyrim on my PC.

BB: Do you write in areas other than fiction, like essays or poetry?

DC: I write poetry sometimes, but don't really publish it; I've also been working on screenplays, and I'm interested in comics as a medium. I write essays when I'm asked to for various things, but it's not really my thing. I'm especially not interested in memoir.  

BB: What authors or books do you enjoy that are most unlike your own work?

DC: I really like children's fantasy and adventure books. Some of my recent favorites are the Abhorsen books by Garth Nix and the Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud.  

BB: As a teacher of creative writing, what's the most important message you want to get across to your students?

DC: That learning is a spiral rather than a ladder. You're always circling around the same stuff, again and again. You don't ever "master" the craft.  

BB: You're working on a screenplay for Await Your Reply. Will we see it in theaters eventually?

DC: Ha ha. I hope so! I have been working really hard on it! But a lot of movie making is about money, and finding money, so I can't say for sure.  

BB: Aspiring writers look up to accomplished authors. Who do accomplished authors admire?

DC: There's always someone more accomplished than you, in one way or another. I admire people whose stories and characters take me somewhere I've never been before. That's the thing I want more than anything else--that feeling of being transported. If someone can do that for me, they are my hero.

BB: If you won a free book, what would you choose?

DC: I would probably choose Denis Johnson's book Jesus' Son, because the students are always stealing it from me and then I have to buy extra copies.

Blood Red Road

Congrats to Lacey K. of Charlotte, MI for winning the first book of March. She chose Blood Red Road by Moira Young, and in case you didn't notice, there's a picture of it right here.

"Blood Red Road sounds like it would be a great survival story that includes a quest," Lacey commented. "All books should include an epic quest, and for that matter all lives. What is my quest? I don't think I've figured that out yet, but while I wait I think I'll read a few more books for some pointers."

March Breadline Open

The March breadline is now open, so let the madness begin!

WKU's "Big Red". Best mascot ever?

As always, send requests to breadlinebooks at gmail.com. Remember, if you don't win one of the first two books, there will be a drawing at the end of the month for the third. Good luck!