Critical Mick

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Reviews by the Clown that All Other Critics Want to Strangle with a Black Turtleneck

Go With Your Imagination

Stingy Jack author R. Scott Taylor hands down the coconuts on New Orleans, new novels, booze and thieving. Also mentioned: book marketing, diplomatic immunity, legends, lawyers and sheep droppings. A Critical Mick unruly email interview, November 2007.

Critical Mick: OK- of the four faces in the lantern on Stingy Jack's cover, who's who?

Critical Mick's review of R. Scott Taylor's Stingy Jack

R. Scott Taylor: Adam Beesler, our protagonist, mans the top left. The ever alluring Clarissa Deleeuw is to his side. Beneath Adam resides our boy, Jack O'Keeffe and in the far right sits the ever incorrigible Nicky V. Simms. Though, these perceptions are my own. Should you see them in a different fashion, then go with your imagination. CM: Is Stingy Jack your first novel? RST: First 'professional' novel? Then, yes. CM: When was the novel written? RST: Between October 2005 and March 2007, according to the Gregorian calendar. CM: And how? RST: Very carefully with pen and paper before transferring onto my computer.

CM: After pouring drink into the spectral Irishman all night, main character Adam Beesler visits the library to research the ghost's story. How much research did you yourself do?

RST: None for the myth which Stingy Jack is based upon. I know that story inside-out, upside-down, having studied world mythology since sixth grade. For the settings, times and ways of thievery, I did about a month of research on each. A person of ill repute could make a killing with the knowledge I have acquired.

CM: Adam, his mentor Nicky, and of course Jack are professional thieves. Is that what line of work you're in, yourself-?

RST: I work for lawyers. Draw your own conclusions.

CM: Seriously, the passages spelling out the ways and means of cons and robberies were my favourite parts of Stingy Jack.

RST: It's amazing what a little research can uncover. Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where the criminal performs some ridiculous trite like blowing smoke to see infrared beams? A writer owes his reader some accuracy, even in fiction. Though, I did fudge a few things. After all, I'd rather not have government officials questioning me behind locked doors cause I have unknowingly wrote a how to manual instead of a novel.

CM: Lemme get this right. You live in New Orleans, but you've written a novel set in Boston, Las Vegas and Ireland-?

RST: New Orleans is a wonderful place; there really is no other place like it. My mentor set his self-published tome in New Orleans and eventually, I will do one as well. Besides, we're pretty set in terms of fiction and non-fiction settings (Poppy Z. Brite, Katrina, John Kennedy O'Toole, Tennessee Williams). Speaking of Katrina, I still have to laugh every time I hear Katrina and the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine."

CM: I understand you have visited Ireland. Any crazy, memorable stories? I got an email just today from award-winning author Kristina McMorris, all about "my Japanese immigrant father, trying to ask directions in his broken English, struggling to drive a stick shift with his left hand on the other side of the road (he's blind in one eye, BTW) in a mini-van (which takes up both lanes in Ireland, as you know)... and my sisters and I riding in the backseat with eyes closed, fearing for our safety and attempting to ignore the rank smell of four-day-old sheep droppings that our tires sprayed along the side of our van while out in the countryside."

RST: Holy crap! Unless I lie, I can't come close to that! I do have one story about Wales and by revealing this, I may have to change my name.

RST: During my whirlwind visit of the UK and Ireland, I partook in the annual Prisoner's convention (Portmeirion, Wales). I got a room in Criccieth, Wales and took the bus to Porthmadog, only to discover I missed the only bus to Portmeirion by five minutes! Naturally, I was upset. After trying to find a cab, I got pissed off and hoofed it. Walked several miles before stopping for directions. I was given the choice of either traipsing through private property for a mile or circumventing the mess via the highway for five. I took the road less travelled.

RST Nevermind that I was trespassing through pastures and dodging mud and sheep droppings. Forget that climbing in cheap sneakers nearly brought my feet to ruin. Just know that I nearly gave up, until I heard music from the convention. I ran in a panic to find...the Village! I was overjoyed, until the barbed wire fence stopped me.

RST: After failing to get any assistance, I got pissed off once again (there seems to be a pattern...) and scaled the barbed wire fence. The irony is, Patrick McGoohan's character spent most of his time escaping the village and here I was, breaking into the village.

RST: Ireland was nice too. Some of the most friendliest people I have ever encountered through my travels. I got lost countless times and the Irish...along with the Brits, Scots and Welsh, would go out of their way to help. For the particularly helpful, I always made sure to show my appreciation by offering Mardi Gras beads (I firmly believe that when you travel, you are not only a tourist, but an ambassador, but without diplomatic immunity).

CM: What's this I hear about New Orleans krewes chucking potatoes and cabbage off their Mardi Gras floats-?

RST: Ahh, you're referring to our St. Patrick and St. Joseph festivals (though a few Mardi Gras truck krewes do that as well). Can't actually 'throw' food anymore. Some people get sue happy. When I rode in Zulu earlier this year, we had to hand down the coconuts.

RST: Since my Mom's Italian, I've always fancied the St. Joseph festivals. Delicious cookies, Mick, and cannolis.

RST: Mardi Gras is more famous for cheap plastic beads, drunk tourists, drunker locals and then there's the French Quarter (a right fun mess and I do it every year proper in costume).

CM: I hear that the people of New Orleans love drink so much, they have a station called The Irish Channel.

RST: All Irish, all the time! Though we do love our drink (case in point, Abita brand beer, a large case at that), Surprisingly, not so many Irish live in that region (Irish Channel), unless you count St. Patrick's day. On that day, everyone's Irish.

CM: Have you read any Eric Wilder? He's written a couple of colorful books set in the Crescent City.

RST: I could lie to you, Mick, but you're like my second cousin. I'm familiar with Eric Wilder, but have never had the pleasure. Probably after New Year's Eve I'll get to him...after the eventual Smithwick and Grimbergen fueled hangover...oh cruel, cruel Grimbergen. Why must you be so tasty!

CM: What project are you working on now?

RST: On hiatus, trying to promote Jack. I do have a couple drafts, one in particular is about a rainmaker in pre WW1 California, seeking salvation for an accident that took someone from him years ago.

CM: What have you learned from Stingy Jack that you will use on your next project?

RST: That money makes money and I'm just about broke trying. Doesn't stop me from doing it over again. I have also learned that whether a book is self-published, traditionally published, or chiselled in stone, that you need to make sure it's your absolute best. Rewriting is hard (especially if you chiselled it in stone), but it's a necessity. Even Stephen King rewrites and though you may or may not like his style, it has gotten his a few fans.

RST: The next time around, I will have a better plan in terms of promoting. A little dose of reality to any writer: no matter who publishes your book, you will have to market. Even if a major publishing company prints your book, chances are that their marketing budget for your book will be miniscule. Remember, this is your baby and no one knows, or cares for it, better than you.

CM: What's on your nightstand at the moment?

RST: My orange cat (Blaze), half a can of Cherry Coke, cd of The Golden Virgins. You should've asked me that yesterday when I had all kinds of junk scattered upon it.

CM: Rob, are you a lush.

RST: No. I actually average five beers a week. In some circles, that would be a rookie level. I've known a couple that go through fourteen a week.

CM: Would you like to see Stingy Jack on the big screen?

RST: I think it would work better as an anime (i.e. Hellsing, Akira, Vampire Hunter D), but I wouldn't sneeze if someone offered a movie option. As long as they don't bastardize it in whatever format it may come to be, I'm alright.

CM: Many thanks, Rob!

RST: Many welcomes, Mick.

More information on Stingy Jack is available on R. Scott Taylor's site, stingyjack.net.

Yo! This interview transcript and all content on the DFA Guide site are copyright 2007 Mick Halpin. All links to other sites and documents are copyright to whatever source wrote something cool enough for Mick to give it a referral. Try to claim them as your own work and bad karma will catch up with you, baby. Believe it.

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This Page Was Last Updated On 28 November, 2007.