As appeared online 5/27/16

Interview with author PG Lengsfelder

Why do you write?

Writing is my drug of choice. Nothing propels me through a day quite like writing. And even if it’s only for 30 minutes (though I prefer 5-6 hours), the day has had meaning and I am revitalized.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was seven years old. I even have the original text somewhere. Telling stories, of course, is at the core of it, but there is something about making it real when it hits the paper (or more recently, when it hits the screen) that is terribly satisfying. I say terribly because writing is ego driven and yet (I’ll rationalize) it makes me a better person to look into myself and into others, to find what is most human about us all.

What genre are your books?

Except for my nonfiction writing, my work tends to have a dark (but not violent) caste to it. I think that’s because I think most humans have secrets, things they hide –sometimes even from themselves. Unearthing that dark loam is fertile territory for storytelling and for self-revelation, which, so far, is what my books are about.

My books are also very atmospheric because I naturally steep in the places I visit. And those places, too, have histories and hidden secrets – even the ostensibly jolly places . . . if you look closely enough.

How long does it usually take you to complete a book?

Beautiful to the Bone took me three+ years to complete, but that was because I was also running my business and was constantly interrupted. The latest book started off more quickly, until I got slowed by the logistics of the book launch. But I expect I can finish the current book in about 18 months. (Now that I’ve said that I’m doomed.) Author’s note: Sure enough, though OUR SONG, MEMENTO MORI should have been out in two years, life (and near death) interceded; it’s taken four years.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

Anytime I can clear some uninterrupted time, I like to write. My preference? Probably 10AM to 5PM. But that’s not often possible.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I’d like to believe that I’m ever more cognizant of my readers and especially the flow of their lives. We all have so many distractions, so many have to’s in our daily lives, that I want to make it easy for the reader to become engaged in the story when they can, and to put the book down when they have to, and then be able to pick it up again without feeling lost. That may not sound like a creative choice (and only my readers can confirm if I’ve accomplished that), but it’s one of the things I’m trying to learn and integrate in my writing.

Do you listen to music or watch TV/movie while you write?

Music (which I love): seldom, because it can distract me. Television? What a buzz kill and major distraction for original writing (even the best shows). So, no, no TV.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just seeing where an idea takes you?

Mostly the latter. I always know the beginning and I always know the end of a story. But the journey in between is as much a surprise to me as, I hope, it is to the reader.

Do you design your own book covers or have someone else? If you use someone else would you tell us who/website?

I designed my nonfiction book covers, but on Beautiful to the Bone I worked closely with Ian Koviak and Alan Hebel of The Book Designers (www.BookDesigners.com), who will absolutely design my next cover. They’re talented and it was a pleasure working with them.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Love it or leave it. Because it’s not for the faint of heart.

Where do your ideas come from?

Everywhere. And the best I can guess is that I’m a channel for all of it.

Which writers inspire you?

Elizabeth Strout, Jonathan Safran Foer, Julian Barnes, David Sedaris, Robertson Davies, Beryl Markham. I could go on . . .

You mentioned you’re writing a new novel. How about a teaser?

Hmm, tempting. I better not; I do a lot of tweaking and editing. Okay, okay, I’ll tell you this: It’s about a guy who commits suicide and has to live with it. And the priest who has to figure out why.

Who is your favorite character in Beautiful to the Bone and why?

Eunis, my protagonist, because she’s a strong woman who stands up against incredible odds.

Who is your least favorite character and why?

As most writers will tell you, I love them all.

Do you have any “how to write” type books/instructional you’d like to recommend?

So many, but I’ll start with The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri), Writing Down The Bones (Natalie Goldberg) and The Writer’s Journey (Chris Vogler).

If Beautiful to the Bone were made into a movie, whom would you cast?

This is a subject of much and continuing debate. As I come from a very cinematic background, I have wrestled with who has the bandwidth (and could handle the necessary disfiguring makeup) for the role of Eunis. Because she was extraordinary in Monster, I often think of Charlize Theron, but I honestly don’t know. Though I know the complimentary characters.

What one person from history would you like to meet and why?

My father. I hardly knew him even though he lived to 76.

If there was one thing you could do to change the world, what would it be?

Spread education and wealth. (I guess that’s two, but what the hell.)

Do you have any fur babies to brag about? You can include a picture if you like.

My rescue dog, Lakota.

What book are you currently reading or just finished?

I’ve just started In the Red, a book by Elena Mauli Shapiro (she’s a friend of a friend) and I think she’s a terrific writer.

What do your fans mean to you?

Do I have fans?

Is there a book you love you’d like to recommend to others?

West With The Night (Beryl Markham)

Tell us something unique about you.

I have a rather unique ability to remember and identify a lot of music—within the first note or two.