Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright talks about novels in 2023 Mr. Texas It will be released Nov. 14 as part of the Georgetown Public Library’s Hill Country Author Series. Mr. Wright currently lives in Austin and is a staff writer for The New Yorker. He has written 11 nonfiction books and three works of fiction. During the event, he spoke about his novel and the long journey it took to tell its story.
“This book has a serious purpose,” said author Lawrence Wright. Mr. Texas. “I came here because I love Texas and I want Texas to be the best it can be.”
Mr. Texas The main character, Sonny Lamb, is an unlikely political candidate, portrayed through his career in the Texas State Legislature. The book satirizes Texas politics as Sonny views his own personal values as those of unethical politicians.
“More or less, the author’s message is there,” Wright said. “I hope this humor will appeal to people who strongly disagree with my stance.”
Wright said he repeated it many times. Mr. Texas Even before it became a book. At first it started as a script, then it became a play. Following the advice of Broadway producer Margo Lyon, Mr. Wright rewrote the story into a musical, but it was never produced. Wright said the show was rewritten as a television show and sold to HBO, but was “scrapped” after a staff change.
“I called my agent and said, ‘I can’t get this story out of my head,'” Wright recalled. “What can you do with it?[My agent]said, ‘Podcast!'”
Wright and his son turned the musical into a podcast and wrote 53 songs during the pandemic. But Wright said the production costs made a podcast unfeasible.
“It was like building a ship in the basement. Now I can’t even walk up the stairs. That’s when I finally realized that I was making a living writing books. I was a little curious. “Well, why didn’t I think of this a few decades ago?” he said.
Wright said writing the novel was one of the “most enjoyable writing experiences” he had ever had. He said he realized the power of novels compared to other storytelling mediums that focus more on scenes than characters or story.
“[Before I wrote the novel]I already had a story and I had characters and dialogue,” he said. “No other format can do what a novel can do.[Novels]allow you to get inside the reader’s mind. It opens up the hearts and minds of the characters in a way that no other format can.”
Mr. Wright’s skills as a nonfiction writer influenced his fiction writing. He said he spoke with members of the Texas Legislature, including former House Speaker Pete Rainey, for inspiration on how to create the protagonist.
“I believe in well-rounded characters. They’re not stereotyped,” Wright said. “I intentionally call out historical figures that we all grew up with. I like my fiction to be close to the truth, so there are areas that are easier for you to recognize. .”
Mr. Wright continues to advance in the field of nonfiction. His next article is new yorker The film tells the story of a group of Catholic nuns from Waco who are called by a Catholic deacon to minister to female death row inmates in Gatesville, Texas. The deacon wanted the nuns to teach women how to live with one another in community.
“Is this a story of good and evil? Is it a story of redemption? I didn’t know what it was, but I knew there had to be a story hidden under that rock. And certainly (there was),” he said. ” new yorker They were looking for about 8,500 words and I submitted 40,000 words. ”
Wright said he is aware that length is likely to be an issue, but is anxiously awaiting feedback from editors on his work.
Wright said he also became involved in politics. He is working with lobbyists in Austin to turn Camp Mabry into a park.
“(Camp Mabry) is 385 acres in the heart of Austin, but at this point it’s really just a large office park for the National Guard,” he said. “They’re not using it for military purposes at all, so this is a bit of a political issue.”
About Mr. Texasthe author said he continues to explore future storytelling possibilities.
“Last week, I got a call from Opera Theater in Austin and asked if I would be interested in performing. Mr. Texas To the opera. ” Wright said, drawing laughter from the audience. “I like the idea that someone can see the potential of this in a different way. So I’ll keep you posted.”
