AUTHOR
INTERVIEW
Perverse
by Larry
Rodness
Larry Rodness joins me today to share an excerpt from his latest book, Perverse,
and to discuss his writing.
Description
19-year-old Emylene
Stipe is a second generation Goth who, like every teenage girl, is trying to
find her place in the world. One night she comes upon an old painting in an
antique store and is compelled to purchase it. When she brings it home an image
of a young woman appears in the sketch and then magically materializes in her
apartment. Emylene nick-names her 'Poinsettia' and they soon become fast
friends. But Poinsettia has an ulterior motive for her sudden and strange
intrusion into her host's life which causes Emylene to question her whole
belief system.
Excerpt
The next day during her lunch break, Emylene returned to the
antique shop to find the sketch sitting on the dusty floor, leaning against the
grimy picture window. She looked at it more closely this time. The artist had
framed the winter scene by drawing a weathered old wooden fence that zigzagged
from the foreground all the way to a line of trees that met the horizon. In the
center of the sketch stood the subject of the picture, a great cypress tree
surrounded by a blanket of pristine snow. Aside from that there was nothing
distinctive about the picture at all except that Stelio seemed captivated by
it. And yet the more she looked, the more Emylene felt a strange emotional tug.
The sketch was serene and unsettling at the same time, evocative but
distant—just the right mix of perversity for the heartsick Goth.
Her mind made up, Emylene pushed open the paint-peeled door
that creaked as if it objected to the intrusion. The air inside hung heavy with
the smell of melancholia. The items on display, not so much antiques as other
people's castaways, were piled haphazardly onto shelves and tables in no
particular order. This was not so much a store as a graveyard of forgotten
relics and memories. And if that wasn't bad enough, Emylene sensed an air of
gloom emanating from the shopkeeper himself who was behind his counter, staring
sour-faced at her. He was a tall, gaunt man in his seventies with wispy grey
hair who had lived in the district for over thirty years and suffered them
all—the druggies, the hookers, and the hustlers. He took one look at Emylene
and made up his mind about her before she said a single word: Goths. If they
were so in love with death, why didn't they just slit their wrists and let the
rest of us get on with our own miserable lives? Nevertheless, Emylene
greeted him with a cheery hello.
"Hey there. The picture in the window, the one with the
tree? How much?" she asked.
"It’s not for you," he replied with a trace of a
European accent.
"How do you know? Maybe it is."
"Why? Why would you want it?"
"I dunno exactly," replied Emylene. "It just
kinda speaks to me."
"Really. And what does it say?"
"It says… 'I'm lonely, I need a friend, a nice place to
live.' So, how much?"
The storeowner stared at Emylene at first with curiosity, and
then with disdain. "A million dollars," he replied. "You got a
million dollars? If not, don't waste my time."
Emylene offered her prettiest smile while she lifted the
picture from the floor and eyeballed it like an appraiser from Sotheby's. There
was nothing particularly creative about it. Artistically speaking, the scale
was tipping more towards 'garbage' than 'antique.'
"I don't have that much, but I'll give you a
hundred," she offered.
"You really want it? Tell you what. You come back here
tomorrow…”
Emylene knew what was coming next.
"…dressed from head to toe in white. You wipe all that
black polish off your nails and the paint off your face, and you come here
dressed like…"
"…like a little lady?" asked Emylene.
"Yes, like that, and she's yours."
Emylene put the picture down where she found it.
"See you tomorrow then," she sang as she left the
shop.
Although she had never met this man before Emylene knew him
all too well. Her parents had taught her early on that whenever people were
confronted with something odd or strange, they generally went into "fear
mode." This man was afraid of something and desperate to keep control of
his domain. To do that, he needed to demystify Emylene by degrading and shaming
her into showing that beneath all the make-up and the gear, that she was as
dull and ordinary as he was. Emylene needed to show him that she was a
grown-up, and no one was going to push her around. Both were in for a shock.
The next day Emylene returned to the store as requested,
wearing the only white dress she owned and treasured—an exact replica of the
bridal gown Miss Lucy was buried in, after Dracula turned her into a vampyre.
When Emylene stepped across the threshold of the store, she looked more
frightening than she did in anything she had worn in black, and the look on the
store owner's face instantly faded to the same pallor of white as the dress. As
Emylene approached him she slowly opened her hand.
The owner drew back, fully expecting to find a beating heart
pumping away in her little palm. Instead there were five twenties. He hesitated
a moment, wondering whether to deny her the purchase and shoo her out, but instead,
he scooped up the bills. Emylene took the picture and exited the store. Not a
word was said between the two. After she left, the owner crossed himself, and
then oddly, tears began to roll from his eyes.
When Emylene returned to her apartment, she looked around for
just the right place to hang the sketch. There really was only one place for
it. A nail went into the plaster with two bangs of a hammer and the picture was
hung upon the wall opposite the main door of the apartment so that it would be
the first thing she'd see upon entering, and the last thing upon leaving.
That done, Emylene took a moment to appreciate her new
acquisition. Ignoring the slap-dash method with which the simple brush strokes
were applied, she concentrated on the basic elements of the scene—a
rickety wooden fence that zigzagged all the way back to a line of trees in the
distant horizon. A few wavy strokes indicating a blanket of unblemished snow,
and of course, the lone Cyprus that commanded center stage. So simpatico did
she feel to the tree that, for a moment, Emylene fancied the artist must have
had her in mind when he drew it—two lone entities against the world. That was
all and yet, there seemed more although she couldn't put her finger on what,
exactly. Perhaps it was in the hastily drawn strokes that she had all but
ignored until now. What was the artist's intention? Was it just plain laziness
or was there a sense of urgency? But then, because even Goths get hungry,
Emylene stripped off Miss Lucy's bridal gown and bounced downstairs to grab a
sub.
It was 8:15 when she returned. When her world changed. When
the glorious mystery of the picture began to reveal itself. When she gazed upon
her new treasure and noticed for the first time footprints in the snow
that were not there before.
Review
By Dii
Creative!
Imaginative! Clever and intense! Perverse by Larry Rodness has what it takes to
be called all of that and more! Have you ever heard of a second generation
Goth? That idea alone had me! Emylene Stipe is a Goth Princess, daughter to the
`royalty' of the Toronto Goths. Her Goth society prominent parents held sway
over the city from their Goth club. Little did Emylene know that her world was
going to shift into another dimension when she purchased an old sketch that
seemed to call to her, there was NO way the picture was changing or moving,
right? And what is it about the strange old shopkeeper who sold her the sketch?
After bizarre things begin to happen, Emylene knows there is something about
the picture that transcends the world as she knows it. The shop keeper, Lazlo,
tells her of a curse that only she can break, and it involves the sketch.
Laszlo and Emylene must team up to help save Toronto from the chaos that has
been unleashed upon it. But can she trust him? What if things don't go right?
Full of fantasy and
darkly intriguing, Perverse is a fresh escape from reality into a world that
Larry Rodness has brought forth with vivid details, a little humor and a lot of
eerie moments. His ability to hold my attention throughout is to be commended as
he deftly drew his characters and unfolded his plot, creating twists and turns
that rival the best mazes. Great YA reading with a dash of mystery, fantasy,
and a strong heroine who you can't help but love, right down to her black nail
polish!
Interview with the
Author
Hi Larry, thanks for joining me today to discuss
your latest book, Perverse.
Which writers have influenced you the most? None have really influenced me in my writing
because it all comes from within. However I do admire the following writers and
their works: John
Irving, Robin
Cook, Robert
Ludlum, Edgar
Allan Poe.
What age group do you recommend your book for? Those who would be most interested in this novel
would be from ages 15 to 30 interested in the paranormal.
What sparked the idea for this book? I noticed a picture a rather dull landscape in an
antique store one day and wondered what would happen if I glanced at the
picture a second time and saw footprints in the snow that were not there
before. Who would have made them, what would she be doing there? Then my
imagination took over.
Which comes first? The character's story or the
idea for the novel? Generally the idea
comes first for me and then the characters begin to write themselves according
to the predicaments they find themselves in.
What was the hardest part to write in this book? The genesis or the idea, and the first third of the
story came easily enough. I had to put it down for about 6 months because I was
not sure where to take the story (or where it was taking me). However, after
returning from a trip to Europe and becoming fascinated by the history of the
cities my wife and I visited the rest of the story quickly fell into place.
How do you hope this book affects its readers? I hope the reader will walk away having enjoyed an
unexpected journey. My favorite response from readers is that there were twists
and turns they never expected.
How long did it take you to write this book? All in all, about 5 years but that’s because I
could not devote myself entirely to writing. Life got in the way and I had to
make a living.
What is your writing routine? I travel every week so I tend to think about ideas
when I drive during the day and write in my hotel room during the evenings. My
wife and I have a rule that I do not write when I’m home.
How did you get your book published? This is my 2nd published novel. Naturally I went to
my original publisher with my second book who accepted it but his editor quit
on him mid way through the assignment for unrelated reasons. The publisher
could not find another editor and after 2 months I asked to be released. After
that I scoured the various writing sites for another publisher, got several
bites, and decided to go with Itoh Press.
What advice do you have for someone who would like
to become a published writer? Work with a group of peers and accept their criticism with a healthy
attitude. Write the best script you can, and by that I mean, do not send
anything out knowing you could or should fix something at a later date because
this is the version you will be judged on when you send it to publishers. Go to
sites like Preditors and Editors and send
query emails to the ones who are looking for your kind of story. If you are
fortunate enough to get a response, read their request carefully and send them
exactly what they want. Then hold your breath for 2-3 months.
What do you like to do when you're not writing? I have a couple of businesses I run because you
can’t expect to make a living at writing - at least not in the beginning. I
have also appreciated that every experience can be a source of inspiration at a
later date, no matter what business you are in. Just being around people every
day gives you opportunities to develop characters you may use later. Physical
workouts are also a great way of adding fuel to your life and energy.
What does your family think of your writing? They are supportive but I’ve learned that the
writing process can also be detrimental to family life because of all the time
a writer must live within himself. It took me a long time to strike a balance
so that one aspect of my life did not infringe on another.
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
I was born in
Toronto, Canada back in the 50’s. In the early 60’s my family moved to Los
Angeles to seek a better life. It turned out to be the worst decision we made.
Three years later we returned to Toronto where I have lived, married and raised
3 children with my wife. My first novel, Today I Am A
Man was written as a way to work through that traumatic time in L.A.
Did you enjoy school? My younger years were filled with being bullied.
When I turned 15 and started high school I decided to make a change with
myself. I took up wrestling and Judo, began singing in bands and acting in
local theatre which developed the confidence I needed to stop being a target.
Did you like reading when you were a child? No. I did however realize that I enjoyed school
exams that allowed me to write creatively. Math and science were never my
strong suits.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a
writer? I was given an
assignment in a university English course and got a failing grade. My professor
suggested I could either rewrite the essay or write something original that
would express the assignment I was given. I ended up writing a story and
received a B+. That was it for me.
Did your childhood experiences influence your
writing? For the past 20
years or so I have written musicals, screenplays and novels. The genesis of the
ideas generally comes to me as a “What if...” scenario. I can be walking down
the street and witness an incident. My mind quickly suggests, “What if this
happened next? ” So the present time is as rich as I need to find inspiration.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of
things do they say? I hear from readers
in the form of reviews they post after reading my work which is generally very
gratifying for any writer. Some find me on Facebook. But they are travelers on
their own journeys. We meet at the corner of
“When I write and they read”, spend a little time together, after which
they’re onto the next book, the next story, the next adventure.
What can we look forward to from you in the future?
I am working on two
different stories currently. The first is a ghost story set in a small village
outside of Toronto. The second is a story of 6 friends and their families who
get involved in a pyramid scheme as a last ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy.
Thank you for your time, Larry. I wish you every
success in your future writing endeavors.
About the Author
Larry Rodness began his professional career as a singer at the age of 19
working with various bands around Toronto. After studying musical theatre Larry
worked in summer stock where his love of writing began. From that point on he
wrote for dinner theatre, trade shows, and even ice skating shows. To date he
has written over 10 screenplays and has had 3 optioned. Today
I Am A Man is his first novel, a fiction based on his early experiences
about his family who moved from Toronto to Los Angeles in the 60's. His newest
novel is entitled Perverse,
a supernatural young adult novel about a 19-year-old second generation Goth
princess named Emylene Stipe. It was released December 2012.
Links
