Comments on: Jim Tomlinson http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/ where writers come to play Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:40:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Pamela Erens http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1701 Pamela Erens Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:37:05 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1701 I'm coming in late here, but this is such a nice interview, and it was fun, Jim, to hear a little about your path as a writer and the genesis of TKTLB. Not to mention the Illinoisian local color (speaking as a Chicago girl... a different kind of Illinois, but still). Thanks, Susan and Jim. I’m coming in late here, but this is such a nice interview, and it was fun, Jim, to hear a little about your path as a writer and the genesis of TKTLB. Not to mention the Illinoisian local color (speaking as a Chicago girl… a different kind of Illinois, but still). Thanks, Susan and Jim.

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1080 Susan Henderson Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:13:58 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1080 Carolyn - Thank you. It was my pleasure to do the peeking. Gin - So glad you're hear, and what a wonderful thing to say! Aurelio - Inspired me, too. In fact, I need to get down to work in minutes. Kesey - Thank you. I'm afraid Chloe's still my favorite, though. Vote for Chloe! Charlotte - I agree. The stories are direct, but not in a jarring or aggressive way that's usually the style of direct writing. Thanks for being here. Lance - It's a great hangover, eh? Mary - I wonder if Jim is all pink in the ears yet? Pia - I thought that, too. I plugged your Ron Carlson interview in the Weekly Wrap because it's the best I've read in a long time. Jim - I wasn't sure if it was okay to out Kesey, but yes - at least one man crush here. Maybe four. Greg - I think your Cats lost to NY last night. Otherwise, you're right. Maybe there needs to be a booth of Kentucky writers and Kentucky-based books at AWP this year. Jordan - I hope all this praise gets Jim going on his next book. Sarah - Also, it's short! I should have included. Carolyn - Thank you. It was my pleasure to do the peeking.

Gin - So glad you’re hear, and what a wonderful thing to say!

Aurelio - Inspired me, too. In fact, I need to get down to work in minutes.

Kesey - Thank you. I’m afraid Chloe’s still my favorite, though. Vote for Chloe!

Charlotte - I agree. The stories are direct, but not in a jarring or aggressive way that’s usually the style of direct writing. Thanks for being here.

Lance - It’s a great hangover, eh?

Mary - I wonder if Jim is all pink in the ears yet?

Pia - I thought that, too. I plugged your Ron Carlson interview in the Weekly Wrap because it’s the best I’ve read in a long time.

Jim - I wasn’t sure if it was okay to out Kesey, but yes - at least one man crush here. Maybe four.

Greg - I think your Cats lost to NY last night. Otherwise, you’re right. Maybe there needs to be a booth of Kentucky writers and Kentucky-based books at AWP this year.

Jordan - I hope all this praise gets Jim going on his next book.

Sarah - Also, it’s short! I should have included.

]]> By: Sarah Roundell http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1075 Sarah Roundell Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:02:50 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1075 What's left to be said here? I agree with everyone that this was a very beautiful interview, that certainly does make you eager to read Jim's book. I think this part more than anything makes me want to read the book: ~~~Ah, I see Jim Tomlinson, the man, is not unlike Jim Tomlinson, the author, who has compassion for all of his characters. Even as characters fail and disappoint and inflict pain on each other, you also show their vulnerabilities, their secret dreams, and all the ways they are trying to do better. I think this open but honest heart is what makes this collection so potent.~~~ What’s left to be said here? I agree with everyone that this was a very beautiful interview, that certainly does make you eager to read Jim’s book.

I think this part more than anything makes me want to read the book: ~~~Ah, I see Jim Tomlinson, the man, is not unlike Jim Tomlinson, the author, who has compassion for all of his characters. Even as characters fail and disappoint and inflict pain on each other, you also show their vulnerabilities, their secret dreams, and all the ways they are trying to do better. I think this open but honest heart is what makes this collection so potent.~~~

]]> By: Jordan http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1073 Jordan Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:42:42 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1073 There was nothing in this interview that changed my suspicions about Jim being one hell of a stand up guy, with a big heart and a whip of a pen. Thanks for having him, Sue! J There was nothing in this interview that changed my suspicions about Jim being one hell of a stand up guy, with a big heart and a whip of a pen. Thanks for having him, Sue!

J

]]> By: Greg Downs http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1071 Greg Downs Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:01:18 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1071 Wonderful interview, Jim and Susan. Jim's a great writer and a great guy, too. I loved the tales about Sycamore, Illinois in the interview, and of course you know I'm with you on the richness of Kentucky front. Kentucky's been doing pretty well in literary fiction lately; now if we can just get the Cats back into gear... Congrats, Jim. Wonderful interview, Jim and Susan. Jim’s a great writer and a great guy, too. I loved the tales about Sycamore, Illinois in the interview, and of course you know I’m with you on the richness of Kentucky front. Kentucky’s been doing pretty well in literary fiction lately; now if we can just get the Cats back into gear…

Congrats, Jim.

]]> By: Jim http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1070 Jim Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:29:22 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1070 Michael, it's good to hear the stories and characters lingered on. I live with them for weeks at a time myself during the writing. They're there at the breakfast table. Susan-- are you counting man-crushes, too? Carolyn -- yes, when I'm reading, too, it's the even-handed stories I love! They keep me unbalanced in a good way. Aurelio -- You're right, I don't embrace it all, this apparent success, the award. I really worry about what I'd write from too settled a place. Roy and Lance -- Thanks, guys! Miss Charlie -- Kisses and hugs, dear heart. Mary and Pia -- two marvelous short story writers, thanks so much to both for your kind words! Michael, it’s good to hear the stories and characters lingered on. I live with them for weeks at a time myself during the writing. They’re there at the breakfast table.

Susan– are you counting man-crushes, too?

Carolyn — yes, when I’m reading, too, it’s the even-handed stories I love! They keep me unbalanced in a good way.

Aurelio — You’re right, I don’t embrace it all, this apparent success, the award. I really worry about what I’d write from too settled a place.

Roy and Lance — Thanks, guys!

Miss Charlie — Kisses and hugs, dear heart.

Mary and Pia — two marvelous short story writers, thanks so much to both for your kind words!

]]> By: Pia http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1064 Pia Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:09:41 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1064 Beautiful interview, you two. Not to look away from Jim's cemetery-nakedness, but I love the urgent detail of "grabbing up the hot brass." He answers questions as compellingly and open-heartedly as he writes. Beautiful interview, you two. Not to look away from Jim’s cemetery-nakedness, but I love the urgent detail of “grabbing up the hot brass.” He answers questions as compellingly and open-heartedly as he writes.

]]> By: Mary Akers http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1063 Mary Akers Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:20:30 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1063 Wonderful interview. Thanks Susan, for showing us a little more to adore about Jim and his talent, and thanks, Jim, for giving it freely. Wonderful interview. Thanks Susan, for showing us a little more to adore about Jim and his talent, and thanks, Jim, for giving it freely.

]]> By: Lance Reynald http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1062 Lance Reynald Thu, 09 Nov 2006 07:35:15 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1062 sorry I'm so late. been nursing the good old election hangover. great interview to you both. just taking it all in and loving this place. xo-LR sorry I’m so late.
been nursing the good old election hangover.

great interview to you both.

just taking it all in and loving this place.

xo-LR

]]> By: Charlotte Alexander http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1058 Charlotte Alexander Thu, 09 Nov 2006 03:17:28 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/08/jim-tomlinson/#comment-1058 a wonderful interview. Respect given and received and perpetuated. Jim is in his stories, in their honesty and their palpability...in the directness of the truth. Miss Charlie a wonderful interview. Respect given and received and perpetuated. Jim is in his stories, in their honesty and their palpability…in the directness of the truth.

Miss Charlie

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