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Today we are interviewing Shawn Goodman, the author of Kindness for Weakness.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest meets Catcher in the Rye.A fifteen-year-old boy from an abusive home desperately seeking his older brother's love and approval starts pushing drugs for him and suffers the consequences.
Interview
What type of books did you read as a child? Who was your favorite author and why?
Roald Dahl was my favorite. I loved his stories, of course, but what really appealed to me was the mix of danger and uncertainty that many of his characters had to face. There was magic and wonder, but there was also danger, just as there was in reality (monsters and nightmares, car crashes, divorces, and bullies).How often do you get to read? Do you read YA books?
I read every day, often through a mix of print and audio. The Ithaca library has a good collection of audio books, but because I’ve already plowed through my favorites, I’m now forced to read/listen outside of my comfort zone. I’ve had some great surprises this way. I don’t read as much YA these days, mostly because I’ve been working on an adult psychological thriller, which means I’ve been reading dozens of books in that genre to see how the greats have done it.What moves you about a story as a reader? As a writer?
I consider myself a pretty simple reader. I read slowly, and often at a rather superficial level, especially if it’s a good engaging story. Actually, the better the story, the less likely I am to “read like a writer.” I’ll sit back and follow the story and just enjoy. And if a book is entertaining and it makes me think and feel… well, I’ll gush about that book and push it on anyone who will listen. Seriously, like people I don’t even know. But that good are pretty rare. I’m also a sucker for a likeable character, or ones who aren’t necessarily likeable but interesting. Great villains, too.
As a writer (reading books) I’m drawn to the people who take risks. Chuck Palahniuk is a great example because he’s always pushing things. He pushes form, and he pushes his readers. It’s challenging to read one of his books – and I haven’t been able to make it through several of them – but I always appreciate what he’s trying to do. I’m also drawn to books with good rhythm. People often cite Elmore Leonard for the dialogue, and he’s fantastic. But so is Richard Price, and I’m endlessly blown away by the way his characters talk. It’s so cool. Pacing is another thing that I pay attention to in others’ writing. When the pacing is tight, when it’s working… I lose myself in the story and start to feel as though the real world (outside of the book) is maybe less important, less real.What is the best thing that has happened to you as an author?
Definitely winning the Delacorte Prize. Other best things: late nights with my laptop and a drink, and getting to know and become friends with other writers.
Tell us about your latest novel. How does it differ from other YA novels?
This Way Home will be out in September, 2015, by Delacorte Press. I wrote it with Wes Moore, who is flat out an incredible person. And I just finished a really dark, psychological thriller that’s a radical departure from the character driven, realistic fiction I’ve done so far.What motivated you to write Kindness for Weakness, a story that is mostly bleak? What motivates you to write the stories that you write?
KFW comes directly from my experiences working in NY’s juvenile justice system. I’d heard a story about a boy in one of the facilities I worked in who was physically restrained repeatedly until he stopped breathing. Eventually he slipped into a coma and died. There was a court case, but it was settled with a nondisclosure agreement, which meant that the family couldn’t talk about it afterwards. The story kept nagging at me, and one day I caught a glimpse of the first scene of what eventually became Kindness for Weakness. As for the bleak nature of the story… it was based on some pretty bleak events.What motivated you to write Kindness for Weakness, a story that is mostly bleak? What motivates
you to the stories that you write?
KFW comes directly from my experiences working in NY’s juvenile justice system. I’d heard a story about a boy in one of the facilities I worked in who was physically restrained repeatedly until he stopped breathing. Eventually he slipped into a coma and died. There was a court case, but it was settled with a nondisclosure agreement, which meant that the family couldn’t talk about it afterwards. The story kept nagging at me, and one day I caught a glimpse of the first scene of what eventually became Kindness for Weakness. As for the bleak nature of the story… it was based on some pretty bleak events.
Other books by Shawn Goodman
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