10 Questions with Doworth Howard, author of Thick, Thin, What the Dragon Let In: Stories, Rhymes, and Reveries, now available in paperback and e-book.
1. With more than 80 original works, Thick, Thin, What the Dragon Let In is described as “a bouillabaisse of unconventional stories, poems, lyrics, and ideas.” What’s the weirdest thing that inspired a story or poem in this collection?
There were a lot of friends, I mean read a good chunk of the book, and you know something weird and weirder this way comes. But probably the weirdest ones come from one of those dreams where you wake up in a sweat, and you’re like what was that all about? But then you go back to sleep thinking you’ll remember it but you never do, and that’s what’s been an inspiration for a bunch of things, I wrote it down. As for which ones are weirdest based on dreams I’d say “Dinosaur Eyes” or “Williamstown Beach” are up there, and the one off the Jersey Shore is a runner up, but the top prize is probably “Succubus” that’s just a weird one I can’t explain.
2. If your book could have a theme song, what would it be and why?
I think they’ve become jerks but maybe they always were, no they definitely were but when you asked me that question, first thing that came to mind was “Jane Says” by Jane’s Addiction, and I don’t know why but maybe cause like the book it’s sad funny frustrating challenging grooving and lots of other things to different readers in between, and that song reminds me of that too where the story behind the lyrics is sad but then it’s like a song that used to lead to sing-alongs at frat parties in a certain decade. So it’s a broad spectrum of types of people that somehow relate to that song and I’d hope the book can too.
3. What’s the most challenging piece you wrote in this collection, and why?
Hmm if I go way back in some of the earlier pieces, it is probably “Transatlantic Footbridge” and probably didn’t fully succeed with that and that’s one of those story starts that I said I need to turn this into an epic action adventure or maybe not so epic but it was based on some random statement by my cousin made about some joke he tried asking people, and years later that stuck with me and I realized I should write it. I don’t remember the process or anything either but it came at the time and now through many administrations and interpretations that story means a lot to different people in a lot of different ways. And that lack of singularity is a big challenge.
4. Who is your ideal reader for this collection, and why?
Cool people. Anybody, no I mean I often feel that people with short attention spans as well as savvy readers will get into this book, and it made me go on back to what worked, what resonated or did not with the reader. There’s a level of trust that’s needed to read this.
5. What’s the most unexpected thing you learned about yourself while writing this book?
That I could see it through. This has been years in the making. Some of these stories I first wrote like more than 20 years ago, and I certainly wasn’t looking for a big deal or ever thought publishing something like this would be possible for an artist like me, but here we are.
6. If you could only save one piece from this collection, which would it be and why?
“Black Jeans,” which is this the rap song I wrote and want to do a song contest around where people try to turn the lyrics into a song and I would love to hear different interpretations. But it’s a song I’ve sung a lot to people I care about, and it’s catchy and they sing it sometimes too so that’s like a cool thing to see, precious in many ways.
7. What’s the most surprising reaction you’ve had to a piece in this collection?
My editor called the book a riot, and given the range of writings in the book, I appreciated that coming from a seasoned pro.
8. What’s the one thing you hope readers take away from reading this book?
I think there’s something for everyone in the book so I hope readers are willing to give it a shot and maybe it sparks something for them. And given the shortness of a lot of the stories I hope it’s something they feel they can get brief bursts of relief with from their crazy worlds and maybe they can savor and revisit and look forward to doing so from time to time.
9. What’s the next creative project you’re excited to tackle?
I’m working on a novel which is an entirely different endeavor but I’m excited about where it’s going and I do hope if the novel gets published that readers will give it a shot too.
10. What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to aspiring writers?
Keep writing is the practical one but it’s something I have struggled with at times but when I write consistently I have a whole flow and feel like a bigger purpose and that’s an inspiring kind of personal buzz to get behind, so that’s a must, at least when you can.
Thank you.
Buy Doworth’s book here.
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