Written Interview: Don Winslow (“Savages”)
Excerpts from a “Scott Butki’s Book Time” interview with writer Don Winslow whose novel Savages premieres this weekend.
How did this story come about? Was the plan always for your next book to be a prequel to Savages or did it just work out that way?
I always knew the story that became The Kings of Cool–it informed the characters in Savages — but I didn’t make the decision to write the book until much later. I wanted to write a story about families — what happens when these young people have to choose between their biological families and the family that they have formed with their friends.
Right after this book comes out the movie version of Savages is coming out, directed by Oliver Stone. First, was it planned for those two things to come out near each or did it just work out that way? Second, how involved have you been in the film adaptation of your book? Have you seen the finished product and what did you think of it?
It was very much planned that way. I co-wrote the screenplay with my friend and partner, Shane Salerno, and Oliver Stone. I have seen the film — I think it’s a good movie with some terrific performances.
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What have been the high and low points of your career? I’m wondering where Savages fits in there.
Savages is definitely one of the highs. Low points? You know, all writers go through them. My first book was rejected by the first fourteen publishers who saw it. I probably felt pretty low after the twelfth or thirteenth. But then I just got mad and made me more determined. I put myself on a clock for feeling down — two hours tops — then I go back to work.
Good way to deal with disappointment. Give yourself two hours, then get your ass back to work!
Evidently Universal felt confident about Savages, moving it up from a fall slot to a July 4th weekend release. Perhaps some of that has to do with the tone of the story. Check out Winslow’s novel-writing style:
Burly guy.
Big, sloping shoulders.
Sandy, receding hair combed straight back.
Kind of old school.
In fact, he was wearing one of those ‘Old Guys Rule’ T-shirts, which totally miss the obvious point that if old guys really ruled, they wouldn’t have to proclaim it on a cheap T-shirt.
They’d just, you know, rule.
These are guys who can’t figure out social media technology, so Ben figures their days of rule have gone the way of the compact disc.
Anyway, this guy who looked to be in his fifties sat there staring at Ben.
Very high creepiness rating.
Ben was like, do I know you, am I supposed to know you, is this some sort of weird early-morning gay thing? Or is this guy just one of those ‘I’m a people person’ tools who thinks it’s his human duty to strike up conversations with people sitting alone at restaurants.
Ben is not I-like-to-meet-new-people guy. He’s I’m-reading-my-freaking newspaper-and-flirting-with-the-waitress-so-leave-me-the-fuck-alone guy.
Distinct narrative voice that also has the feel of a screenplay, doesn’t it?
For the rest of the interview, go here.
Here is a trailer for the movie Savages.