Interview with Brent Hartinger

Author of The Otto Digmore Decision

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born near Seattle and lived there for many years. But my husband and I are now “digital nomads,” which means we don’t have a permanent home. We travel continuously! We usually stay in a new country anywhere from two to three months. Currently, we’re in Mexico City, but we’ve previously lived in Malta, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Bulgaria, Georgia (in Eastern Europe), Thailand, and Vietnam. Later this year, we’ll be in Columbia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and, well, who knows?!

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Honestly, we were appalled by what was happening in America. So we left.

But we’d always traveled, and had been thinking about doing it full-time for a while. Trump just advanced things a bit.

And it’s absolutely hands-down the best decision we ever made! We love our life now, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. World travelers often debate the question: Are humans more alike than we are different? I come down firmly on the “more alike” side of the argument. That said, the differences are what make this planet and our species so interesting!

I still think what’s happening in America right now is terrible — a collapse into what seems to me to be nationalism, xenophobia, racism, meanness, and general stupidity. But seeing the rest of the world has given me hope. There is so much goodness out there still.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first novel, GEOGRAPHY CLUB, came out in 2003. It was one of the first novels about LGBTQ teens that broke out in a big way (and it even became a feature film in 2013).

It was based, in part, on my own life — I was a gay teenager! But I also helped found one of the world’s first gay-straight alliances, in 1990, in my hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Working with LGBTQ teens, I often thought, “If this was a story, it sure would be a good one! Who doesn’t love the story of an underdog? And there is NO ONE more of an underdog than a gay teen. Even their parents and their religions are often against them!”

The world has changed a lot since then, but it was exciting to be a writer that got to help spread that particular story to the larger culture.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I try hard to write books that are page-turners, and movies that are fast-paced and accessible. If I had to describe my own writing projects, I would say, “Strong central concept, strong plot, strong character and voice.”

Basically, I see myself as a storyteller. But I think “story” is a lot more than “beautiful language” or complicated camera angles, which I often find self-indulgent and distracting. In most cases, I think the important thing for a writer or filmmaker is to get out of the way and just tell the damn story.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I have to say, I get emails from people all over the world, all ages, all genders. Anyone interested in decent characters generally trying to do the right thing?

I also often write on LGBTQ topics and mystery-thrillers.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Just how crazy and unpredictable it all is. I’m an American, and I was raised with this idea that we’re all in control of our own destinies. But that sure doesn’t feel true in publishing. You can do your best on a project, and then you definitely hope for the best. But then you have no idea if something is going to connect or not. I’m not even sure “quality” has all much to do with it. It feels to me like timing is EVERYTHING. And since the zeitgeist is constantly shifting, timing can’t be predicted in advance.

This used to upset and depress me. But once you make a mental leap — once you accept that artistic success really IS out of your control — that you can sort of kick back and enjoy the ride. I mean, I absolutely try to write the best book or movie I can. But now I’ve finally accepted that I can’t control how people react to it. So I go with the flow. And now I sleep much better at night. Most of the time.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Take the work seriously, and take the business seriously too, although don’t take any one part of the business all that seriously. There is no one “big break” in this business. There will be lots of opportunities, and even more failures. But no one person, or book, or failure matters all that much in the long run. In the end, what will be will be.

Also, try not to compare yourself to others. The wheel is constantly turning, and everyone with talent usually gets a chance to be on top for a little while.

Finally, don’t be a jerk. I don’t think I’ve ever been a jerk, at least I’ve tried not to be. But I think it really is the single most important thing a person can do — not just for your career, for selfish reasons, but just for the world in general. We need more love and kindness, not more cynicism and bitchiness. Be the change you want to see.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I used to think, “Everyone!” But now I think I’d rather have a smaller group of passionate readers. Which is basically what I have!

I guess I wouldn’t mind a few more. Before I die, I would like to make a major cultural impact at least once.

That said, in all seriousness, I know a few very famous people, and their lives seem very, very stressful to me. I’m not sure it’s worth it.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Well, I’m a screenwriter, in addition to being a novelist. And getting a movie made is literally the most frustrating thing in the world. At this point, I’ve heard and done it all. And making movies also involves making endless compromises — in the work, I mean, not with your ethics. Well, sometimes with your ethics, at least in small ways.

And then when you DO get a movie made, that can be frustrating too, because things never turn out as good as you’d hoped. That’s true with novels too. It’s this constant striving for perfection, trying to realize a vision, with infinite obstacles in your way.

In the end, once again, you just do the best job you can possibly do, then you have to sit back and try to enjoy the ride.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I think I’m a pretty good plotter! And I think I come up with pretty good ideas. For my 2005 novel DOUBLE FEATURE, I told the same story from different points of view, in a “flip” book.

When it comes to marketing, I like to think outside the box. For example, to promote the release of my 2014 novel, THE THING I DIDN’T KNOW I DIDN’T KNOW, I had my musician-friend Brett Every write a song based on the book, and then I produced a music video for the song/book. For my 2016 novel, THE ROAD TO AMAZING, I wrote and sang a song myself, and included the lyrics of the song in the book as part of the story. (I did the same thing for my 2004 novel, THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK, but I haven’t yet recorded it.)

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Sometimes I think I think too far outside of the box. I think it’s been a real problem for my “brand” as a writer: I work in lots of different genres and mediums. I think my life would have been much simpler, and my career much better, if I’d stuck to one genre, rather than write young adult, and middle grade, and adult fiction, and thrillers, and fantasies, and screenplays, and stage plays.

But hey, I am what I am.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m in the process of writing two books at this very moment! A travel memoir and supernatural thriller. Plus, I’m writing two screenplays. Oy!

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Hybrid. The days of the “gold rush” in self-publishing are long over, but there’s still a place for certain titles, and I occasionally still self-publish. But I’ve had luck with traditional publishers too. For better or for worse, that’s really the only place you can make much of a cultural impact these days.

Read more by and about me (or follow me on social media!) at www.brenthartinger.com