I'm having way too much fun to ever write a conventional mystery/thriller/whatever--one that doesn't depart an inch from the predictable expectations of the genre. Maybe I'd make some money if I played it straight (or kept a straight face), but I'd be bored out of my mind by the time I got thirty pages in. Really, as I've said, I'm writing dark comedies that loosely fit within the mystery frame—and the more I can subvert the conventional tropes and structures the happier I am. Most readers get the joke, but folks who insist on straight-up hard-boiled, or detailed procedurals, or sex/violence/profanity-free cozies probably won't like these novels. Fine with me—the (remaining) bookstores are full of perfectly satisfying comfort food for those readers.
Not that the Coffin mysteries don't contain elements of all of those things—they do, but I've never been interested in staying true to the demands of any particular sub-genre; much too limiting. If you wanted to get literary about it, what we're talking about is a kind of post-modern, post-genre pastiche—character-driven mysteries with whole scenes devoted to comedy, lots of sex, too many jokes, the occasional nail-gun crucifixion or human head in a lobster tank. Ultimately, as the man said, we write the books we want to read. Anything else seems like a waste of time.
4 comments:
"post-modern, post-genre pastiche—character-driven mysteries"
Aw, hell. I thought they were just fun to read. Am I going to have to re-evaluate my entire perception of your oeuvre to comply with the mores of contemporary literary scholarship?
Come on, Dana--you knew I was kidding as soon as you saw the word "pastiche," right?
Mr. Loomis,
I just gobbled up a dish of pastische you call Mating Season. Tasted a bit like Hiaasen--yum.
The world needs more human heads in lobster tanks. I wanna know that the bastard did to deserve it. :) It's a rare treat to find a mystery that's also chuckle worthy. The decline of Franks's mother is a great bit of dark humor amidst tragedy. Love how Frank sees the world - his mutterings and under the breath remarks. I enjoy his lovely sarcasm but wonder what lies beneath, he doesn't seem angry enough to be so cynical. Makes me want to know him better. Also really appreciate how the gay characters are written - some sane (Lola), some sad, a few nutty ones...just like real people. How Frank doesn't 'get it' but is cool - he doesn't seem to get most people (himself included). Looking forward to Fire Season!
PS - Have you heard Jimmy Buffett's song "Frank and Lola"?
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