Francis Vol interviews Daniel Allen Cox

Francis Vol: Why are Smurfs portrayed as rebels in your book?

Daniel Allen Cox: Smurfs have always been outsiders. Do you know anyone who lives in a mushroom house? No, seriously, the real rebels in Tattoo This Madness In are the teenagers who break out of their Jehovah's Witness religio-cult using, among other things, Smurf tattoos. It's kind of fitting that these good-kids-gone-bad adopt cartoon characters that are typically considered innocent as their mascots.

The historical subtext is that in the 1980's the JW's unofficially banned Smurfs because of rumours that stuffed Smurfs had gone wild in a demon-possessed kind of way, biting kids and shit. I think the legend spread among panicky parents, beyond the control of church hierarchy, and folks either shredded or burned their Smurf records, toys, swimming pools, everything. Nowadays, former members collect
Smurf memorabilia, I guess, to symbolize their break with the JW's.

Vol: Is Tattoo This Madness In autobiographical?

Cox: In a recent interview a Montreal radio host asked me how my Canadian residency was coming along. I told him that unlike my characters, I'm not from Florida, that I chose Florida because it's as trashy as my story. The surface details might be fictional, but if I couldn't relate personally to every character in every scene, my work would be garbage. Yes, I was raised a Jehovah's Witness. No, I wasn't nearly as heroic as my protagonist. The point is that I know enough about the subject matter to make it a living experience for the reader. I think the definition of fiction lies more in the texture of the wording than in the fact-checkable qualities.

Vol: You must read balls-out transgressive fiction, because it seems that that's what you aspire to do.

Cox: Thanks for noticing what I 'aspire' to do.

Vol: No offence.

Cox: None taken. By transgressive, do you mean Smurfs?

Vol: More so the general sense in your book that every moral given can be questioned.

Cox: What was your original question?

Vol: What the fuck do you read?

Cox: Sorry. One of the best books I've ever read is Lynnee Breedlove's Godspeed. You can't read a page without wanting to go with her on her insomniac bicycle runs through San Francisco traffic looking for a fix and her dancer girlfriend. Sometimes I get my fix of Dennis Cooper, by picking up any one of his stomach-turning but fearless novels. He does write 'immorally' and from a very dark place, but I do think this kind of break-all-rules writing has an important place in literature. At the end of the day, however, it has to make you reach out to someone, or warm your insides, or re-affirm your belief in something, or it's pointless.

Vol: Do you need to escape your influences? Most writers do.

Cox: I try not to read two books in a row by the same author. Thank god I get bored of reading the same author usually after one book. Remember, I didn't go to writing school to get an edu-ma-cation, so I need to get my diversity in. Though I seem to be stuck in the muck of fiction, as my boyfriend lovingly points out.

Vol: Are you still religious?

Cox: No.

Vol: It was interesting how you just mentioned 'God'. Anyways, tell us about the life of a published fiction writer. How many swimming pools do you have?

Cox: Ha ha. You can say I'm transitioning. It may take me a while yet to even entertain the notion of taking time off work. Yes, the people who write the novels you read are the people who wash your car, deliver your pizza, mow your lawn, press your clothes, take your whiny customer service call. It's Fight Club out there. And yes, I made my friends buy multiple copies of Tattoo This Madness In. I hope they realize the reason I market to them is because I'd rather they help me become a full-time writer than help Margaret Atwood buy a second yacht.

Vol: How important is geographical location for you as a writer?

Cox: I used to think that it didn't matter where I was, that as long as I had a laptop and the internet I could bang it out. Then I found out about 'scene', and 'grapevine', and 'connections', and how the only sure-fire way someone will buy your book is if you personally put it into their hands. I would sum it up by saying that writing can happen anywhere, but publishing and selling stuff is best done in a big city with a reputation for books. Like Montreal.

Vol: Do you identify as a gay writer?

Cox: That's a dumb question, but I'll answer it anyways. I write stuff that is of interest to gay people. I have sex with men. I prefer the moniker queer writer, or even better, outsider writer. Too bad it doesn't roll off the tongue.

Vol: What is the future of queer fiction?

Cox: My next book.

Vol: That's it?

Cox: Well, anything Canadian.

Vol: How can readers get Tattoo This Madness In?

Cox: By visiting my book blog at www.dfmenow.blogspot.com, or by joining the first ever MySpace Book Tour at:
www.myspace.com/danielallencox

 

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Francis Vol's book reviews and interviews can be found in various university journals, and is proof that his University of British Columbia journalism degree can take him away from video games from time to time. He lives in Vancouver with roommates and even cleaner cats.