Completely Conspicuous 164: The Story As I Was Told

Part 2 of my podcast conversation with special guest Christian Douglass as we discuss the story behind his new novel. Listen to the show below or download it directly (right click and "save as").



The show notes...

Topics:

- Christian wishes he started writing books 10 years ago

- Plenty of life experience

- Learned most from time spent writing the book

- Jay: You learn by doing

- Christian credits The Teaching Company, which sells college lectures on tape

- Realized in '99 that he could write books

- Christian's wife Kerry says hi

- Best way to get published is through a writing program

- Or go to conferences or the "slush pile"

- Tried to write book while working full-time in 2001-2003 and failed

- Hopes to start writing second book in April or May

- Wanted to write "something good"

- Christian: I didn't like this book until 3 or 4 weeks ago

- Christian uses YouTube to capture characters' voices

- Scott Sigler turned his books into podcasts and then got traditional publishing deal

- Book's down to 330 pages, just doing final edits

- Christian's going to Alaska to visit his mom

- She lives near Sarah Palin's hometown

- Christian's going to research a story while up there

- Bonehead of the Week

Music:

The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness

Obits - Shift Operator

The Raveonettes - Forget That You're Young

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review! Check out and "like" the show's page on Facebook.

The show is sponsored by Budget, the country's premier car rental service with 900 locations. Go to Budget.com/CompCon and save 10% off any reservation or $30 off a weekly rental.

The Strokes song is on the forthcoming album Angles on RCA Records. Find out more and download the song for free at the band's website.

The Obits song is on the forthcoming album Moody, Standard and Poor on Sub Pop Records, where you can download the song for free.

The Raveonettes song is on the forthcoming album Raven in the Grave on Vice Records. Download the song for free at Pitchfork.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blogs Clicky Clicky and Keeping Some Dark Secrets. Additional music used in the show is by Me and Boris the Bull, which is the brainchild of the mighty Mark Campbell. Thanks to Bob Durling for the album art; find out more about his photography at his blog. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous is a Tan God Production. Word.