One of My Most Embarrassing Moments at Writer’s Digest

The first author I ever interviewed for Writer's Digest was Richard Russo.

It stands as the only major author interview I've conducted in-person. Russo was serendipitously stopping in Cincinnati for a book signing at Joseph-Beth, just a couple weeks after he won the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls.

I prepared extensively and studiously. Aside from reading his books, I also read all previous interviews I could find.

On the day of the interview, when I left Writer's Digest offices to meet him at his downtown hotel, I was nearly out of gas, and had to stop to refill.

It was then that I locked my keys in the car.

And it was pouring rain outside.

And I was wearing a linen suit.

I abandoned the car at the pump, and ran a half mile back to the office so a coworker could drive me to interview Russo. All of my notes, my digital recorder, and his books were still locked in my car.

And so I arrived at The Cincinnatian (the poshest hotel in the city) looking like a drowned rat.

God knows what Russo must've thought when he saw me, but he was one of the most human, kind, and joyful authors I ever recall meeting.

I managed through the interview based on memory, and scribbled his answers as fast as I could manage on a small notepad.

The interview was featured in the February 2003 issue of Writer's Digest, and is now included in the newest edition of The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, just released this month.

Excerpt:

You can say that again.

I have several other pieces in the handbook, including:

Plus: Russo himself has a contributed piece, "Location, Location, Location: Depicting Character Through Place."

Go check out the book!