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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > August > 09 > Entry
Genuine moon walkers are hard to find…
This is my 260th weekly Book Nook column — spanning 52 columns per year over five years. Actually, I only wrote 51 last year. I missed one in September when that freak windstorm knocked out my electricity.
Which means I’m a week late in writing this fifth anniversary column. Prior to my stint in print, I was at WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs. Some readers might recall the radio incarnation of the Book Nook.
I’m looking back at 15 years of books — at WYSO, I did more than 1,000 author interviews. And I’m still doing them for this column. Talking with writers about their work is one of my greatest joys.
I have interviewed politicians (Gary Hart, John Kasich, Barbara Boxer, George McGovern, John Glenn, Byron Dorgan and Mario Cuomo); some movie stars who are no longer with us (Peter Ustinov, Janet Leigh and Charlton Heston); astronauts (John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin and Gene Cernan); and musicians (from the Doors and the Rolling Stones to the Animals).
I have conversed with fascinating people. Some authors don’t like to discuss their work. Their creative process can be mysterious. Early on, I discovered a trick to get them to open up; I demonstrate knowledge of their work. That can lead to a real exchange.
The art of conversation survives. I want to be respectful, but sometimes questions must be asked. I spoke to Jim Lehrer and inquired about how he asks really tough questions on PBS? He said he just goes ahead and asks. So I did that. I don’t think he liked it too much though when it was being done to him.
My favorite interviewer of authors is C-Span founder and Book TV host Brian Lamb. I had a chance to interview him. I don’t think he liked being the one answering the questions, however. Interviewing can be a one-way street. Asking the questions is the fun part.
Here are a few of my favorite interview memories: Buzz Aldrin telling me what it was like to step out on to the surface of the moon. Terry Waite describing what it felt like to be held hostage in Beirut. He craved books. He would sit in the darkness and imagine that he was reading his favorite books. Janet Leigh said Alfred Hitchcock filmed her shower scene in “Psycho” with very cold water over multiple takes.
John Glenn was my longest interview. We talked for more than an hour. This childhood hero of mine told me about almost flying his jet into Chinese airspace in hot pursuit of an enemy plane during the Korean War. He recalled his amazing orbit around the earth in a space capsule that now seems so primitive it is hard to believe he even made it back.
Gene Cernan never thought that he would be the last man up on the moon. Fifteen years ago, Pat Conroy said that his next novel would probably be published posthumously. It is finally coming out next week. Hang in there, Pat.
Thanks for listening, and thanks for reading.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By Mark from St Paul
August 12, 2009 11:44 PM | Link to this
Only five years? I guess the blog and the radio interviews have blended together in my memory, thanks probably to the overlap. Any clue how many authors you interviewed on the radio whose books you’ve reviewed here?By Raoul
August 10, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
Keep up the great work Vick. Congrats! What’s neat about your blog is sometimes we even get to talk about books. I plan to keep checking out your blog as long as long as you keep going.By vick
August 10, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. TRS, I have been interviewed. Of course I kept thinking while I was being interviewed that I might be asking some different questions. But then one can always “guide” a good interviewer to the areas that you think might be of the most interest. A good interviewer will respond to those sorts of cues. In 1999, Laura Dempsey interviewed me for the DDN and she did a splendid job. I was also interviewed by the DDN’s Jim DeBrosse after Steve Spencer purged me from WYSO. Also during my WYSO years I was interviewed by a wonderful old-time journalist from The Springfield News Sun. He retired shortly after that. I’m blanking on his name? Jim something? When I did my 1000th interview on WYSO (with the historian David McCullough) I was interviewed by Diane Chiddister from the Yellow Springs News and she also did an excellent job of asking the right questions. I have thought that just for the sake of frivolity that I could interview myself and post the Q&A? Now that would be a hoot!By TRS
August 10, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
As with the others, I too congratulate you on 5 years Vick. Book Nook is cool. Your comments did bring a question to mind. Question - have you ever been interviewed and did you have the same reaction as some of those you mentioned? If so, did it change the way you set about inteviewing? Just curious.By irishguy
August 9, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Vick! Wish I would have found your blog earlier.By lmj
August 9, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on five years, Vick. I hope you have many more years ahead of you.