Signs & Limits Author Interview
This is a new genre for you - why the change?
I write the stories that want to get written, there is always one trying to get my attention. I never think of myself as a “genre” writer. I’ve tried (and am willing to try) almost anything.
How was writing in this new genre?
I loved it. I am always trying to push myself as a writer, and this was a great chance to try new things. This was a chance to try a new voice, a new setting and a new style. I had fun plotting the ... (oops, spoilers). One of the most exciting things for me is to learn about new characters. I am an organic writer and generally start out with an idea of who a character is, but let the story teach me about them.
Where did the inspiration for the Extreme Prix come from?
The story has been in my head for years, decades actually. I grew up on stories about racing, my parents raced sports cars before I was born. I loved movies about racing. I must have seen Grand Prix (1966) a dozen or more times. I wanted to drive Formula One when I was a kid. I was disappointed when I realized there were no female F1 drivers, but I planned on being the first. Unfortunately, things got in the way, but the idea of driving was always there.
When I was a reporter in the Southwest I was on my way to work and the Ferrari Team truck was pulled off the road, fixing a tire. I used my job on the paper as an excuse to stop and talk to the crew. Once again, the idea of racing was back. I started wondering what it would be like to race something like a “regular” (not race car) Ferrari or Bugatti on some of what I considered "fun to drive roads". The seed was planted. Then, about eight years ago, my brother loaned me his car to go to Eastern Washington. On the way home I decided to see Stonehenge. I'd never been, it was on the way, and it was a fun road. Somewhere between Stonehenge and Vancouver the Extreme Prix was born.
Where did the inspiration for the name René 'Curves' Carver come from?
Rene has been a favorite name of mine since I was ten or eleven. There was a character in a story named Rene. I loved the way it sounded. I loved who the name became in my head. Off and on over the years, I've had a Rene in a story, sometimes shortened to Ren. When I was writing Signs, the name came back to me. I think it is uniquely suited to this character. Rene means reborn and it fits Rene Carver and his story so beautifully.
Curves has been with me for as long as the idea of driving a race car. I used to play a Grand Prix arcade game, and I got really good at making up lost time in the curves. In the "commentary" that my brain offered during the race, I quickly became "Curves" in my head. Later, the silent commentary still running, I would take my car on weekends and zoom (no other word for it) along a gravel highway. I loved the curves in the road, they really tested my skills and the name in my head stuck. I hadn't really intended to give it to Rene, it just happened and I think it fits.
A theme that can be found in many of your novels is finding your identity or destiny. It seems to be something you feel strongly about?
I do feel strongly about it. It's been a major theme in my writing since I first started. More than that, it's a major theme in my life. Finding out who I am, where I belong and what feeds my passion is a lifelong search. Rene says it at one point in the book, “I am myself without apology.” It’s something I am working on every day.
And some fun questions:
What's your own favorite car?
Oh, that's a hard one. Can I have three? I dream of owning a McLaren. I have several configured, just waiting for that lottery win.
I love the new Dodge Challengers. They are a blast to drive and have enough space in them to qualify as practical.
One of my all-time favorite cars is a 1965 Pontiac Catalina. I owned one a thousand years ago. There is something about that engine sound, that huge engine purr-growl that I fell in love with and it still gives me goosebumps to hear (okay, to be fair, most 1960's big engines make me happy). I would love to have one again and it's big enough that should I ever get my McLaren, I can park it in the trunk.
Scariest road you've ever driven?
That's a toss-up between two. One paved and one gravel. The gravel one is on the way up to Hat Point, the Hell's Canyon Overlook in Oregon. The road climbs up along the canyon walls, it's only wide enough for one car most of the way and there's no guard rail. It's a long, long, long way down and very, very tight curves. It's also fun to drive for those reasons.
The other is not fun at all and I will try and never drive it ever again. It's on Mt. Rainier and it's part of a "scenic" byway. It's a long way up the mountain and the road just hangs off the side, or that's what it feels like. There is a small wall along the edge, but I doubt it's enough to stop a bicycle, let alone a car. The road is way above the treeline and you can see all the way down, thousands of feet. I was shaking by the time I got onto less terrifying ground. Never again!
Craziest kitchen gadget you own?
The Amazing Apple Machine. It peels, cores and slices apples. I know, that sounds handy. It's really not. Why? The coring and slicing are incidental. The Machine exists for the peel! It is designed to remove the peel so you can make fun apple peel braids and baskets, there are instructions on how to create amazing apple peel garnishes. It even comes with the Apple Weaving Tool to help make an apple peel basket! And really, doesn't everyone want apple peels for Christmas?
I write the stories that want to get written, there is always one trying to get my attention. I never think of myself as a “genre” writer. I’ve tried (and am willing to try) almost anything.
How was writing in this new genre?
I loved it. I am always trying to push myself as a writer, and this was a great chance to try new things. This was a chance to try a new voice, a new setting and a new style. I had fun plotting the ... (oops, spoilers). One of the most exciting things for me is to learn about new characters. I am an organic writer and generally start out with an idea of who a character is, but let the story teach me about them.
Where did the inspiration for the Extreme Prix come from?
The story has been in my head for years, decades actually. I grew up on stories about racing, my parents raced sports cars before I was born. I loved movies about racing. I must have seen Grand Prix (1966) a dozen or more times. I wanted to drive Formula One when I was a kid. I was disappointed when I realized there were no female F1 drivers, but I planned on being the first. Unfortunately, things got in the way, but the idea of driving was always there.
When I was a reporter in the Southwest I was on my way to work and the Ferrari Team truck was pulled off the road, fixing a tire. I used my job on the paper as an excuse to stop and talk to the crew. Once again, the idea of racing was back. I started wondering what it would be like to race something like a “regular” (not race car) Ferrari or Bugatti on some of what I considered "fun to drive roads". The seed was planted. Then, about eight years ago, my brother loaned me his car to go to Eastern Washington. On the way home I decided to see Stonehenge. I'd never been, it was on the way, and it was a fun road. Somewhere between Stonehenge and Vancouver the Extreme Prix was born.
Where did the inspiration for the name René 'Curves' Carver come from?
Rene has been a favorite name of mine since I was ten or eleven. There was a character in a story named Rene. I loved the way it sounded. I loved who the name became in my head. Off and on over the years, I've had a Rene in a story, sometimes shortened to Ren. When I was writing Signs, the name came back to me. I think it is uniquely suited to this character. Rene means reborn and it fits Rene Carver and his story so beautifully.
Curves has been with me for as long as the idea of driving a race car. I used to play a Grand Prix arcade game, and I got really good at making up lost time in the curves. In the "commentary" that my brain offered during the race, I quickly became "Curves" in my head. Later, the silent commentary still running, I would take my car on weekends and zoom (no other word for it) along a gravel highway. I loved the curves in the road, they really tested my skills and the name in my head stuck. I hadn't really intended to give it to Rene, it just happened and I think it fits.
A theme that can be found in many of your novels is finding your identity or destiny. It seems to be something you feel strongly about?
I do feel strongly about it. It's been a major theme in my writing since I first started. More than that, it's a major theme in my life. Finding out who I am, where I belong and what feeds my passion is a lifelong search. Rene says it at one point in the book, “I am myself without apology.” It’s something I am working on every day.
And some fun questions:
What's your own favorite car?
Oh, that's a hard one. Can I have three? I dream of owning a McLaren. I have several configured, just waiting for that lottery win.
I love the new Dodge Challengers. They are a blast to drive and have enough space in them to qualify as practical.
One of my all-time favorite cars is a 1965 Pontiac Catalina. I owned one a thousand years ago. There is something about that engine sound, that huge engine purr-growl that I fell in love with and it still gives me goosebumps to hear (okay, to be fair, most 1960's big engines make me happy). I would love to have one again and it's big enough that should I ever get my McLaren, I can park it in the trunk.
Scariest road you've ever driven?
That's a toss-up between two. One paved and one gravel. The gravel one is on the way up to Hat Point, the Hell's Canyon Overlook in Oregon. The road climbs up along the canyon walls, it's only wide enough for one car most of the way and there's no guard rail. It's a long, long, long way down and very, very tight curves. It's also fun to drive for those reasons.
The other is not fun at all and I will try and never drive it ever again. It's on Mt. Rainier and it's part of a "scenic" byway. It's a long way up the mountain and the road just hangs off the side, or that's what it feels like. There is a small wall along the edge, but I doubt it's enough to stop a bicycle, let alone a car. The road is way above the treeline and you can see all the way down, thousands of feet. I was shaking by the time I got onto less terrifying ground. Never again!
Craziest kitchen gadget you own?
The Amazing Apple Machine. It peels, cores and slices apples. I know, that sounds handy. It's really not. Why? The coring and slicing are incidental. The Machine exists for the peel! It is designed to remove the peel so you can make fun apple peel braids and baskets, there are instructions on how to create amazing apple peel garnishes. It even comes with the Apple Weaving Tool to help make an apple peel basket! And really, doesn't everyone want apple peels for Christmas?