An Interview with Lemony Snicket Author About His New Novel

Synopsis – “Why We Broke Up”
This novel tells the story of Min Green and how she and Ed Slaterton met at a party, saw a movie, followed an old woman, shared a hotel room, and broke each other’s hearts.

Bio – Daniel Handler (Writer)
Daniel Handler has written novels for grown ups under his own name, including “The Basic Eight”, “Watch Your Mouth”, and “Adverbs”, and several books for younger readers under the name Lemony Snicket, such as those in A Series of Unfortunate Events and 13 Words. He was dumped at least three times in high school.

Bio – Maira Kalman (Illustrator)
Maira Kalman has written and illustrated books for grown ups, including “And the Pursuit of Happiness” and “The Principles of Uncertaintly”, as well as for children, including “13 Words” and “Fireboat”. Her heart was broken in high school first by a boy who looked like Bob Dylan and shortly thereafter by one who looked like Leonard Cohen.

Anyone who has ever been the victim of a break up or been the culprit of the breaking of another’s heart will most certainly relate to the lovely telling of Min Green and her months with Ed Slaterton before their inevitable break up. I’m not giving anything away. After all, it’s the name of the story. I was able to catch up with my friend and writer, Daniel Handler, author of Why We Broke Up, while he was on his book tour and he generously offered to answer a few questions. Here they are:

Daniel Handler interview – “Why We Broke Up”

N: First of all, the narrator, Min, is a teenage girl. How do you manage to sound so accurately like a teenage girl?
D: Eavesdropped, took a lot of notes, never forgot high school.

N: What inspired you to write about a girl’s first love and heartbreak?
D: I asked Maira Kalman what she wanted to paint, and she wanted to paint a bunch of small, ordinary objects. I knew her paintings would make these objects look magical and luminous, and I thought about what else makes ordinary objects look magical and luminous. The answer came to me immediately: when they are infused with romantic memories.

N: How is this story similar or different from your own adolescence?
D: Well, I was dumped a lot.

N: Your writing is obviously very different in this book than in the Lemony Snicket series. What do you enjoy from both styles of writing?
D: Actually I don’t find them very different. Both Mr. Snicket and Ms. Green are overcultured hysterics, much like I am.

N: You worked with the wonderfully talented illustrator, Maira Kalman. What was the process like working together on this book?
D: I’d fly to New York and head over to her apartment and we’d drink a lot of coffee and eat cake and laugh and talk about things we’d been reading and then I’d play the piano and we’d have more coffee and cake and then suddenly it would be cocktail hour and I’d have to go and I’d put my coat on and then we’d remember we were supposed to be working and we’d quickly sketch things out.

N: Min and Al seem to have a “Samantha and Duckie” type relationship. Why do you think she doesn’t consider Al romantically?
D: I have the same question for quite a few people I used to know.

N: It’s often mentioned in the story that Min is “different” or “arty,” but she claims she isn’t. Why do you think she scoffs at these labels?
D: She’s hoping to be considered a person rather than a type, as we all are.

N: What was it about the Lottie Carson storyline that intrigued you?
D: The romance of a long plan, a hopeless dream, following someone in the street.

N: If you had your druthers and could jump ten years down the road, where would Min and Ed be?
D: Happy.

N: The illustrations are so enchanting alongside the story. Do you see your future books happening in this same style – with illustrations?
D: Some books need illustrations and some don’t, but working with Maira is such a delight I can’t imagine we wouldn’t do it again.

“Why We Broke Up” is available for your Kindle or in hardcover from Amazon.

—

Nancy Kissam is a writer and teacher who lives in Los Angeles with her wife and pug, Georgie Frances.