A wonderful interview (and review). I really enjoyed the way Lopez-Barrantes talked about his writing process and about the importance of place. I will also be checking out the novel he recommended, El viajero del siglo, by Andrés Neuman, which sounds fascinating. Thank you!
Great job putting this interview together, Matthew, and excellent writing on your own part. I like Lopez Barrantes; I want to meet him! :-) I especially chuckled at his answer to the question about storytelling and culture lol.
This is a great interview, Matthew. It's always fascinating to hear about other authors' inspirations and writing processes. "Man's Search for Meaning" was instrumental in my own development as a person too, as I've mentioned before. Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany - thanks and glad you enjoyed this. I love Frankl's work. That small book has been read so many times in my home. Always something to discover there.
Great interview! I love the way you set your reading scene and describe the book's physical appearance. I think we judge most books (at least the ones we haven't read yet) by their covers and sensory appeal.
Maria - thank you for the kind words. I am a very tactile reader - I need the touch and smell of the books. I think that is why I had so much trouble with ereaders. I just couldn't get into them.
It was a treat to spend some time with your questions. Next time we’ll have to do it with our real life voices. And maybe I’ll interview you. Now that’s a thought
Thank you so much, Matthew and Samuel. This really was a treat to read.
I kept thinking: He's so gifted; all these different things he does.
"I find no faster way to remember what it is to be me than to enjoy a good book."
I find this statement interesting. I wish you would say some more about it.
Mostly because I found it fascinating that you're not only a writer, but also a musical performer, and a basketball player, and a tour guide, etc.
Question (for whenever you've got the time to respond): How you were able to have the freedom to pursue all these different things. When did you know when to do what? Was there ever pressure to concentrate on something, to choose other career paths; maybe even ones that are easier to earn a living from (and pay off student debt:-)
As a parent raising sons, I am keen for them to live out their very best selves.
When do you challenge them stick to something and not quit to pursue something else? When do you encourage them to move on to something else or to balance out many things.
How do they even know which of all of them is their (best) self?
Thanks for reaching out, Susanna, and for the thoughtful questions. I'm a lucky human to have two parents who always encouraged me to do whatever I pleased (and also to stop doing things that no longer pleased me ... I had piano lessons at 6, stopped when I was 8, and only rediscovered piano when I was 15).
As for finding myself in books, whenever I consciously choose to create time to read a good book, I'm a happier person, because I'm more connected to my internal self. I find books allow me to escape in a way that nothing else can really do, because it really is something that's all my own to experience the way I see fit. I also feel like every word of great literature I read is helping me become a better writer, so it feels like a valuable and active choice in that sense.
And re: freedom to pursue: I've always valued time over money to an at-times debilitating degree. That might seem like a trite answer, but I've spent many years living around minimum wage, but importantly not having to work minimum wage jobs to earn it (teaching English / part-time receptionist / translating / tour guiding ... when I started thinking in hourly rates versus monthly salaries, I realized how much freedom there was in being able to choose which kinds of work were actually worth my time). Of course, it took me about a decade to figure out how to balance it all, but I am quite a minimalist and anti-materialist, initially out of necessity, and now out of choice. We really are told to spend money on a lot of dumb things in my opinion. And I always remind myself: more money, more problems really IS a truth. I don't have kids, so that helps too of course :p
I always knew I loved writing as the act itself, but I didn't know I wanted to pursue it as a potential passion until I tried writing one book, and then a second, and a third, and a fourth, and so on (I hesitate to call it a career because I still have multiple other jobs / careers are rife with hierarchical disappointments). The fact that I don't have to rely on my writing to make a living liberates me from feeling like I have anything to prove to anyone. My first novel, "Slim and The Beast," is actually all about that pressure that society places upon us to become something that fits a certain mould (many people can replace society with "parents" but that wasn't my case), but as the son of two theater professors and artists, I was always destined to value time > money and consequently learn the value of canned vegetables, a Parisian baguette, and avoiding restaurants for many years. I'm never happier than when I have 4, 5, 6, hours / day to myself, which means I've had to find ways to only work 3-5 hours a day, which meant teaching when I was younger, and now means tour guiding (or teaching for better pay).
That's a lot to take in, but hey, you inspired me to respond! I appreciate you taking the time to read me and Matthew's chat. And I look forward to seeing some of your writing on Substack perhaps one day?
Nice interview. I love an iconoclast— someone just being himself in order to produce resonant work. How did you discover this author and book, Matthew?
Thank you for the kind words Abra. An iconoclast! I like the sound of it. I'm just trying to make the systems work for me to the best of my abilities. Not always easy, but so much more fulfilling when it works out
Well, what a treat. Two of my favourite voices on Substack in ‘conversation’. Great questions, Matt, and both thoughtful and thought-provoking answers.
I really need to try the discipline of writing. I always ‘let myself off the hook’ by tinkering around the edges, scribbling short pieces, interrupting myself constantly, and not getting my head down and doing the work. Excellent work, you two.
Thanks Barrie. It was a real pleasure getting to know Samuél a little better and his book is fantastic. If I make it over to France at some point, the three of us need to sit down for a coffee and conversation.
Fantastic
Thanks Dave - appreciate you taking the time to read. All the best.
A wonderful interview (and review). I really enjoyed the way Lopez-Barrantes talked about his writing process and about the importance of place. I will also be checking out the novel he recommended, El viajero del siglo, by Andrés Neuman, which sounds fascinating. Thank you!
Thanks Jeffrey - glad that this resonated with you. I have added Neuman's book to my list as well.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Nathan - I appreciate you reading.
Thank you, this was a great interview!
Priya - thanks so much. I enjoyed the book and the dialogue with Samuel. Glad you enjoyed it.
Great job putting this interview together, Matthew, and excellent writing on your own part. I like Lopez Barrantes; I want to meet him! :-) I especially chuckled at his answer to the question about storytelling and culture lol.
Thanks Don - I agree, he is a fascinating individual. If I ever make it to Paris, I am going to look him up.
Let’s have ourselves a coffee with Matthew in Paris someday
I would love that!
Terrific post, Matthew, with especially interesting results from your questioning of Barrantes.
Jay - sincerely appreciate the kind words. Samuel is a fascinating individual and I enjoyed the opportunity to hear his thoughts.
This is a great interview, Matthew. It's always fascinating to hear about other authors' inspirations and writing processes. "Man's Search for Meaning" was instrumental in my own development as a person too, as I've mentioned before. Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany - thanks and glad you enjoyed this. I love Frankl's work. That small book has been read so many times in my home. Always something to discover there.
incredibly interesting, thank you!
Trinity - I am glad you enjoyed. Thanks for reading.
Great interview! I love the way you set your reading scene and describe the book's physical appearance. I think we judge most books (at least the ones we haven't read yet) by their covers and sensory appeal.
Maria - thank you for the kind words. I am a very tactile reader - I need the touch and smell of the books. I think that is why I had so much trouble with ereaders. I just couldn't get into them.
It was a treat to spend some time with your questions. Next time we’ll have to do it with our real life voices. And maybe I’ll interview you. Now that’s a thought
Sound like a plan Samuel.
Thank you so much, Matthew and Samuel. This really was a treat to read.
I kept thinking: He's so gifted; all these different things he does.
"I find no faster way to remember what it is to be me than to enjoy a good book."
I find this statement interesting. I wish you would say some more about it.
Mostly because I found it fascinating that you're not only a writer, but also a musical performer, and a basketball player, and a tour guide, etc.
Question (for whenever you've got the time to respond): How you were able to have the freedom to pursue all these different things. When did you know when to do what? Was there ever pressure to concentrate on something, to choose other career paths; maybe even ones that are easier to earn a living from (and pay off student debt:-)
As a parent raising sons, I am keen for them to live out their very best selves.
When do you challenge them stick to something and not quit to pursue something else? When do you encourage them to move on to something else or to balance out many things.
How do they even know which of all of them is their (best) self?
Thanks for reaching out, Susanna, and for the thoughtful questions. I'm a lucky human to have two parents who always encouraged me to do whatever I pleased (and also to stop doing things that no longer pleased me ... I had piano lessons at 6, stopped when I was 8, and only rediscovered piano when I was 15).
As for finding myself in books, whenever I consciously choose to create time to read a good book, I'm a happier person, because I'm more connected to my internal self. I find books allow me to escape in a way that nothing else can really do, because it really is something that's all my own to experience the way I see fit. I also feel like every word of great literature I read is helping me become a better writer, so it feels like a valuable and active choice in that sense.
And re: freedom to pursue: I've always valued time over money to an at-times debilitating degree. That might seem like a trite answer, but I've spent many years living around minimum wage, but importantly not having to work minimum wage jobs to earn it (teaching English / part-time receptionist / translating / tour guiding ... when I started thinking in hourly rates versus monthly salaries, I realized how much freedom there was in being able to choose which kinds of work were actually worth my time). Of course, it took me about a decade to figure out how to balance it all, but I am quite a minimalist and anti-materialist, initially out of necessity, and now out of choice. We really are told to spend money on a lot of dumb things in my opinion. And I always remind myself: more money, more problems really IS a truth. I don't have kids, so that helps too of course :p
I always knew I loved writing as the act itself, but I didn't know I wanted to pursue it as a potential passion until I tried writing one book, and then a second, and a third, and a fourth, and so on (I hesitate to call it a career because I still have multiple other jobs / careers are rife with hierarchical disappointments). The fact that I don't have to rely on my writing to make a living liberates me from feeling like I have anything to prove to anyone. My first novel, "Slim and The Beast," is actually all about that pressure that society places upon us to become something that fits a certain mould (many people can replace society with "parents" but that wasn't my case), but as the son of two theater professors and artists, I was always destined to value time > money and consequently learn the value of canned vegetables, a Parisian baguette, and avoiding restaurants for many years. I'm never happier than when I have 4, 5, 6, hours / day to myself, which means I've had to find ways to only work 3-5 hours a day, which meant teaching when I was younger, and now means tour guiding (or teaching for better pay).
That's a lot to take in, but hey, you inspired me to respond! I appreciate you taking the time to read me and Matthew's chat. And I look forward to seeing some of your writing on Substack perhaps one day?
Thank you so much for your answer, Samuel. It is much more than I could've hoped for.
I really appreciate it.
Nice interview. I love an iconoclast— someone just being himself in order to produce resonant work. How did you discover this author and book, Matthew?
I found him here on Substack. I saw someone post about him on notes and I checked out his publication. The rest is history!
Thank you for the kind words Abra. An iconoclast! I like the sound of it. I'm just trying to make the systems work for me to the best of my abilities. Not always easy, but so much more fulfilling when it works out
Well, what a treat. Two of my favourite voices on Substack in ‘conversation’. Great questions, Matt, and both thoughtful and thought-provoking answers.
I really need to try the discipline of writing. I always ‘let myself off the hook’ by tinkering around the edges, scribbling short pieces, interrupting myself constantly, and not getting my head down and doing the work. Excellent work, you two.
Thanks Barrie. It was a real pleasure getting to know Samuél a little better and his book is fantastic. If I make it over to France at some point, the three of us need to sit down for a coffee and conversation.
I’ve read both of Samuél’s books this year. What a writer. And, yes to wine and chat in a Paris dive bar!