Wednesday Lee Friday

answers the Usual Questions

According to Wednesday Lee Friday's web site, after deciding against being a ballerina, an ichthyologist, and a famous singer, she decided to become a novelist just before starting kindergarten.

Wednesday worked many varied jobs including fast-food manager, reptile wrangler, tarot reader, radio commentator, activist, cashier in a natural foods market, community organizer, video store manager, phone sex operator, violin sales professional, and concierge to name a few.

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

Wednesday Lee Friday

I don't really do conventions. Crowds of people exhaust me. But I do hear from readers via Email and social media. I have found that as much as I love getting notes from people who have enjoyed my work, I feel super-inspired when people send me hate mail. In a weird way, I find that to be a greater validation of what I do.

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

I've been told I'm going to hell, or that people like me are why there's so much misery in the world. I don't believe in hell, but I really did sit and think about whether or not something I've written actually adds misery to the world. I don't think horror does that. In fact, I think a lot of horror leaves readers better prepared for what's out there -- the good and the bad.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

It's probably trite to say Stephen King. But, the answer is Stephen King. His short story anthologies taught me a tremendous lot about story structure, how to reveal information, and the many ways to endear a character to readers in just a sentence or two. I didn't realize it until it had been out a few years, but my first novel is heavily influenced by Rage (technically a Bachman book, and is permanently out of print). These days, rereading Carrie, or Salem's Lot or Misery feels like hanging out with a former classmate. "Remember when that scene scared the hell out of me? Yeah -- that was awesome."

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

Oh Jeez, I want to say Jack Ketchum. But the truth is I'd probably be too intimidated to talk to him -- like that Community episode where Troy meets LeVar Burton.

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

I think if I had to be stuck in a small space with Rush Limbaugh, I would almost certainly murder him.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

It might be cheating to say I'd bring a Kindle, but I would. Having books on hand to suit my every mood would stave off Space Madness for at least the first few years. That's assuming grape Tang is already on the ship.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

I want people who read my stuff to think about it long after they've put it down. My hope is that it will impact the way they interact with others in real-world situations, since one of my most pervasive themes is that we never really know what's going on inside someone.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

I think of myself as being intuitive, which I hope makes my work more truthful. That's my favorite part of writing any fiction -- where the plot and theme combine to create something truthful that readers can connect with.

submitted by Wednesday Lee Friday

7 August 2014

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: November 24, 1970. Royal Oak, MI USA
Resides: Ann Arbor, MI USA
Bibliography/Awards:
A Stabbing for Sadie (2008, 2013)
The Cat's Apprentice (2008)
Kiss Me Like You Love Me (2010)
The Finster Effect (2013)

Web site:
wednesdayleefriday.com

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