Assuring everyone that her first book's rather wicked story bears no resemblance to her own childhood or parents, Gillian Flynn, daughter of two retired - and much beloved - Penn Valley teachers, appeared before a standing-room-only crowd at the Carter Arts Center on the evening of Monday, October 23.
While working her day job as Chief TV Critic for Entertainment Weekly, Flynn became an overnight sensation with the publication of her novel, Sharp Objects, a first-rate mystery thriller endorsed by Stephen King himself.
As the crowd sipped wine and munched on cheese and crackers provided by Rainy Day Books, Flynn, cheerful and appealing as the girl next door, thanked her family and supporters for helping with her success. She read from her book, then answered questions and signed copies.
Asked if she likes to play music while she writes, like Stephen King, Flynn said music is too distracting for her. She said she gets inspiration from reading the work of great writers.
"I like to read writers who write like I'd like to write," she said. She said that she was very fortunate to have found an editor who gave her plenty of suggestions, but also the freedom to make her own choices.
 Gillian Flynn |
She said she'd learned "you don't want to bore people when you're writing a thriller," and the audience laughed.
Flynn said the characters she created in Sharp Objects still haunt her. While Sharp Objects does leave some openings for possible future development, she said she's not doing that now.
Flynn was nearly mobbed by fans and friends before and after the reading, wishing her well and seeking autographs.
Yet, by penetrating heavy layers of security and mystery surrounding the author and contacting her directly by email, Spectrum was actually able to scoop Walt Bodine for a brief but cutting-edge interview:
What's your favorite color, ice cream flavor, and season?
(Ha, I like this one [it plays on a scene in the book].) Yellow, black walnut, and autumn - when I was in LA there was no such thing as the last two, so I'm very happy to be living back in the midwest (Chicago).
How much did you know about Sharp Objects before you began to write it?
I started with my character, Camille, who I knew was going to be a slightly unreliable narrator and a fairly troubled woman, but one with a sense of humor and some guts. I wasn't sure if she was going to be in a mystery or not, but once I got the idea of Wind Gap in my head - this poisonous town where cruelty had been festering too long - I started realizing what Sharp Objects would be - I let it take shape as I was writing, no outline or anything. I didn't even know who the murderer was for a while.
Do you have a favorite place and time to write?
I write best at night--I'm a real nightowl, my brain just works better.
What's your next novel about? Will it be a mystery?
My next novel is a mystery - but not a sequel. It has its basis in a (fictional) tabloid murder case of the '80s, and some surprising repurcussions that are rippling through some twenty years later.
Do you read the pro and reader reviews on Amazon.com?
I read everything! I'm a critic for a living so I feel like I need to be brave enough to read what people have to say about my stuff.
How did you react when you first saw the Stephen King blurb for your book?
My mom was visiting me for St. Patrick's Day up in Chicago and I got the email and screamed. Then I assume there was some jumping up and down. Stephen King is a writer I read from a kid on - in junior high we'd read
Since your parents were both teachers here at PV, did they have any influence on your writing?
They absolutely did. My mom, Judith, taught reading and my dad, Matt, taught theater and film, so I grew up in a house filled with books and movies and stories. My mom encouraged my appreciation of a good novel and my dad taught me to love telling a good tale - he's an extremely creative guy. Between the two of them, I was always pushed to be curious and use my imagination - it's a nice way to grow up.
Do you have any memories of Penn Valley when you were growing up?
Definitely! My dad would bring me over sometimes and I'd sit in on his lecture or watch one of the movies he was screening for his class; in the summertime if I was bored I'd walk over and have lunch with one of them. Penn Valley is definitely a strong part of my childhood memories - it was always exciting to pay a visit.
What do you think of Kansas City, now that you've lived in Chicago and L.A.?
I love Kansas City - one of the reasons I moved back to Chicago was to be closer to home. When I was in New York, people would sometimes tease me because I'd say hello to anyone who caught my eye - because that's what you do in Kansas City. I love that friendliness. When I bring friends back here, they're always surprised at how beautiful it is - the hills and the fountains and the architecture. And as I show them around, I generally give them a lecture on our history, which is a fascinating one. I do like Chicago and LA and NYC though - you can walk out of your house at 2 in the morning and get a great meal, a bouquet of flowers, and then go to pilates class. I'm a night owl and an insomniac, so never-sleep cities are good for me.
Any advice for aspiring student writers? Classes or jobs you'd recommend?
The very, very best advice I can give is just to keep writing. I have two or three novels I've started over the years and just abandoned when they got too tricky. You've got to remember you're going to hit really hard spots and you just need to keep writing - don't go back and revise (which is very tempting) - keep moving forward. As for jobs, any job where you get paid to write is a good one. It's a privilege to make a living putting sentences together. And it will make you a better writer, because if you're doing it for a living, you learn not to get overly precious about it.
Read our review of Sharp Objects here.
Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College