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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 > 2011 > June > 09
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Come on and feel the noise…
Over the years I have interviewed many authors over the telephone. Back when I used to do a live radio show on weekday afternoons I had minimal control over the quality of the phone connections I was making with the authors. They could be noisy connections. Very noisy. You took what you got.
I started interviewing authors in 1994. Cell phone sound quality has improved quite a lot since then. There were many interviews done via cell phone. One author was driving her car through Beverly Hills. Her voice kept fading in and out. Another author was on a moving train passing through New Jersey. You could hear the station announcements and his fellow passengers in the background.
Buzz Aldrin called in on his cell phone from the train station in Philadelphia. That was noisy. Garrison Keillor called in from a pay phone at the Dayton airport. You could hear the flight announcements: “final call for United Airlines Flight 3727 to Benghazi at Gate 22b….”
Even when cell phones are not involved you can have lots of background noise. Dogs barking. Sirens. Air conditioning units. Horns honking. One author sounded like he was inside a closet with his dog.
Recently I taped an interview with Tom Franklin. Now that we tape my interviews in advance I have the luxury of being able to clean up bad sound. But that de-noising can only go so far. My interview with Tom Franklin was noisy. We were talking about his latest novel, “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” and he was at home in Mississippi.
Now I understand that Tom Franklin has several young children. That could explain his decision to take his portable phone outside for the interview. He lives in a busy neighborhood. We were able to edit out a lot of the background noise. But not all of it.
If you listen to the interview this Sunday morning at 11 on WYSO (91.3fm) you’ll hear what I’m talking about. Birds are singing. Planes are flying overhead. Big trucks are passing by. His phone is creating static. You can hear him smoking a cigar. We edited out the coughing. Come on, feel the noise.
And you can follow me now on Twitter: @BookNookVick
(And no, I was not inspired to get on Twitter by the hijinks of a certain Congressman Weiner.:)
Vick Mickunas
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