Columnist for The Age, and children’s author Danny Katz leaps into My Book Corner today.
Could you tell us about you in 25 words or less
I am a Canadian man. (how many words is that? Five? Okay, keep going Danny, you can do better). I write newspaper columns and books and stuff (good work Danny, 13 words, you’re killing this). And I live in Melbourne with a woman and kids and furniture (25 words, done)
What makes you happy?
The sound of M & M’s being poured into a bowl. Going for a swim in the ocean and finding one of those warm spots that’s only big enough for you and you don’t know how it got warm and you don’t want to know. That glue they use in women’s magazines to stick on the free sachet of hair conditioner – that glue feels really great, all rubbery and stringy, like a booger, but not in a disgusting way.
Where have you always wanted to visit, but haven’t made it to … yet?
The Cook Islands. White sands, palm trees, coral reefs, pretty little fish, hotel resort breakfast-buffets with all-you-can-eat doughnut trays.
Where is your favourite place to write? Can you describe it for us?
I’ve got a bad back so I work standing up in my bedroom: it’s not a very glamorous environment. I stand barefooted in front of a laptop which is balanced on an easel, and I wear a posture-support man-bra to keep my shoulders straight. Not exactly Hemingway in Cuba.
What’s the best thing about being a published author?
Nauseatingly wholesome answer: the joy of seeing your name on a book-spine and knowing you created it all by yourself.
Disgustingly superficial answer: ELR/PLR, the annual government lending rights payment to authors (any author who says they don’t look forward to it, is a liar)
Who or what inspires you?
Everything: especially the boring stuff. Overheard conversations, people walking past, noises, TV shows, stuff my kids/wife/friends do, I always take notes of the little things. The real stuff of life.
What is your worst habit?
Picking my toenails while watching TV and then stacking them in a little Mayan pyramid on the coffee table.
Your favourite word(s) and why?
“Got” is my favourite word. I don’t like big, fancy, show-offy words, and this is the least-big-fancy-show-offy word you can use. All though my schooling, English teachers told me never to use “got” or “because”. They’re pretty much 55 percent of my writing now, because I’ve got nobody stopping me.
What is on your to be read pile at the moment?
A book called ‘Songwriters on Songwriting’. It’s got interviews with great songwriters, from Carole King to Bob Dylan to Michael Stipe. I like learning about how artists create their art, I’m fascinated by the process.
Did we forget anything?
I once ate ice-cream with mayonnaise on a ten cent dare. Easy money.
Just for fun
Tea or coffee?
Come on, I live in Melbourne, it’s the capital of brown boiled bean-juice.
Paper books or e-books?
Paper, I don’t know how else to read a book. One day I may learn.
Vegemite or Marmite?
As a Canadian, I’ve finally learned to love Vegemite even though no other life-form on earth will eat the stuff, including bacteria.
Write or type?
Type, while wearing my man-bra.
Poetry or prose?
Both, though I like my poetry in song-lyric form.
Beach or bush?
Beach please, Cook Islands please, doughnuts please…
Hot or cold?
We’re talking about food right? Everything tastes better cold. Including revenge.
Danny Katz’s latest books S.C.U.M and Mucked Up are published by Allen & Unwin.
Leave a Reply