by Gary Dickson
AUTHOR Q&A
Q:What inspired you to write An Improbable Pairing? Why did you choose this setting and time period?
A:An Improbable Pairing is my first novel, and quite simply I chose to tell a story with the kind of characters and settings that are very familiar to me—one that encapsulates so many of the places that I love.
Q:Do you have a favorite character in the story? If so, what is it about this character that you most appreciate?
A:My favorite character, which I assume comes as no surprise to those who have read the book, is Desirée. Desirée is that impossibly perfect fantasy that possesses all the qualities and more that I admire in a woman: beauty, self-confidence, empathy, romance, social adeptness, and independence.
Q:What was your favorite chapter to write and why? Were there any chapters that were challenging for you to write? If so, why?
A:My favorite chapter to write was the one in which Desirée and Scott finally get together in Gstaad. The interaction between the two of them dictated by their attraction for each other, while each jockeys for position is revealed through their playful repartee and wry innuendo. Desirée’s ability to first hold him off, then later allow him to seduce her, is indicative of the architecture of their relationship. This episode was difficult to write to keep the action elevated but still sexy.
The most challenging sequence in the novel is any encounter that Scott has with Desirée’s mother, Madame de Bellecourt. When Scott first meets Madame in Mougins, he learns of the full extent of Madame’s displeasure with the relationship, and later, when the pregnancy is reveled, Scott must persuade Madame of the only course possible.
Q:Was there a character in An Improbable Pairing that you relate to the most? If so, who and why?
A:I relate most to Scott. In effect, the story itself is an amalgam of my own experiences, fantasies, and imagination. At his age, I admire his cool head, his intelligence, and his flexibility.
Q:Did you have to research in preparation for this book? If so what parts? What kind of research did you do?
A:Very little research was required to write this story. It’s one that has been with me in one form or another for some time, and over the years, I have continued to reinforce my memories by continuous visits to the locales and situations that set the scenes in the story.
Q:What do you want readers to take away from this book?
A:I didn’t write this book with any great message. Look for no soapboxes; there’s no subtle agenda here. Most of all, I hope readers will find joy in a story about how love and respect between two people of disparate backgrounds can triumph over long odds and determined naysayers. Additionally, perhaps readers can peek into the Europe of the 1960s, the golden years. They can participate voyeuristically in the elegance of the settings and the traditions of courtesy and manners that were present at a time before commercialism and corporate acquisition disrupted the charm, delicacy, and grace of old Europe.
Q:Can you describe your writing process? Did writing energize or exhaust you? Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
A:My writing process is based more on thinking and reflection than sitting before the keyboard. A healthy breakfast, followed by a long walk, allows me to ruminate and argue with myself regarding plot directions and character development. I restrain myself from trying to write anything until I have worked out the next sequences in my head. Only when the story is at the tips of my fingers do I seek out my MacBook.
I’ve read a lot about various writers’ quirks and habits, but I don’t observe any preconceived repertoire regarding time of day, word quotas, writer’s block, etc. But when I’ve had a good day, I reward myself and thank my wife for her patience by going out for a nice dinner where we have a good bottle of Burgundy or Bordeaux.
Q:Was there anything you edited out of this book? Or something you wanted to include but didn’t? If so, what was it?
A:I’ve found that in the writing of a novel, many of the trails that seem promising turn out to be box canyons. At that point, there’s nothing to do but circle back or hit the delete key. But not all is lost; rather the situation that didn’t work goes back into the mental inventory where it might work the next time.
Q:How did you choose the names of the characters? Were any based on real people?
A:Choosing the names of the characters was the most fun of all, except for coming up with a title. I found that both are harder than they might seem. For my characters, I used the names—either first or last—of people I actually know. But the characters in the book have no connection to these real people, their personalities, occupations, or physical characteristics. If my friends read the book, I’m sure they’ll be tickled to be included. On the other hand, the names Desirée and Scott were chosen based on my perception of their traits.
Q:What authors do you like to read? Did any of them have any influence over this story?
A:I read when I’m not writing, as much nonfiction as fiction. I’m not aware of any tendency that my writing exhibits, but over the years, I’ve enjoyed authors such as: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Roth, Salter, Nabokov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Austen, Fellows, and since I read in French, Flaubert, Gide, Stendhal, Sagan, and de Beauvoir.
Q:Do you have any plans for a future book, or do you perhaps already have something in the works?
A:Shortly after finishing An Improbable Pairing, I wrote its sequel, A Spy With Scruples, a blend of romance and espionage yet unpublished. Currently I’m writing the sequel to the sequel, which has the working title St. Sucrose. I also wrote a novel that deals in mystical circumstances entitled, An Oddity of Some Consequence. Additionally, at the suggestion of a friend in Paris, I have written a small book of French poetry based on a loose Alexandrine metre with English translations and supporting recipes which celebrates French food specialties and my acquaintance with same: La Poesie De Bonne Bouffe or The Poetry of Good Eats.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GARY DICKSON IS AN INVETERATE TRAVELER and a Francophile sans merci. Educated in the United States and Switzerland in history, literature, and the classics, Gary lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Susie.