Comments on: JE and JC Tag-Team Dan Chaon

By: Brad Listi

Brad Listi — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:06:44 +0000

Christ, man. This was fun to read. And reassuring. I’ve got a big hunk of a novel sitting in my desk drawer that I’ve been working on (and fell away from for a spell, particularly as TNB 3.0 moved towards liftoff). And I left it at some point in the middle, wondering if it was gonna go anywhere, worried that it might just be a big old tub of shit, and I’ve sorta been avoiding it a bit, telling myself that I’m gonna get back to it as soon as I get a good weekend of sleep (as if that’s ever gonna happen). It’s sort of obvious (or should be, I suppose), that this sort of thing is common to the writing experience, but nevertheless it feels good to hear such a good writer say it. So thanks for that.

Great interview.

By: jonathan evison

jonathan evison — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:11:29 +0000

. . .this is a gem, gina:

“who often look at each other and say things like, “I don’t like your face,” but then sleep together in a huddle like baby rats)”

. . .wish i’d written that!

By: jonathan evison

jonathan evison — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:09:10 +0000

. . . he’s great, right?

By: Gina Frangello

Gina Frangello — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:40:17 +0000

As the mom of adopted twins (who would REALLY freak Dan’s brother out, and who often look at each other and say things like, “I don’t like your face,” but then sleep together in a huddle like baby rats), this is especially interesting to me, above and beyond the fact that I love Dan’s work and have for years and years, since first encountering it when he sent a story to Other Voices. I’ve often described my first experience of reading him as having the wind knocked out of me–it’s truly thrilling to encounter a writer over-the-transom like that who you simply know, irrevocably, is going to become a rock star of literature within the next few years, and it’s been a real pleasure watching that happen. Anyway, I’ve had Await Your Reply sitting on my desk for a long while waiting for my life to become slightly less chaotic (thanks TNB Fiction Section!) so I can read it, and am actually going away for the weekend this weekend and taking it with me, so this interview came at a great time. More intrigued than ever. Can’t wait for the next installment.
And btw, I love having Three Guys right here at our TNB home. You guys are making me so happy!

By: Susan Henderson

Susan Henderson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:11:07 +0000

Enjoyed this so much, Dan - the windows, the different personas v the true core, and what you had to say about adoption and about your wife. Thanks for your writing and for being here.