Interview: Author Christopher Moore - Page 3

Well, I assume you mean Lamb, which was actually written before Stupidest Angel. I wasn't setting out to attack anyone's faith, but to tell a great story. I'd read that there were 30 years of Christ's life that hadn't been covered in the Gospels. I though, "Some one should write those years." And since I knew nothing about religion or history, I was that someone. Once I did the research I realized that all of the people in the U.S. who were using Christianity to pursue a political agenda where going completely against the teachings of Christ, so if there was any point I wanted to make, it was that the thing Christ railed about, was hypocrisy, not prayer in school or gay marriage. But mostly I just wanted to tell a good story, and as I said before, funny stories are what I do. I didn't see either book as making fun of religion so much as having fun with religion.

Although your books are predominately humorous, you will occasionally interject moments of pathos or seriousness into the proceedings. Is this because you're trying to make a particular point (usually) or is there another reason?

Not make a point, just engage the reader. Humour can be a great device for disarming a reader, and then once their guard is down, you can break their heart. I just like to do that for fun. 

Which comes first - the title or the book? For example, did you write the Lust Lizard's story first, along with the good folk of Melancholy Cove, or do you sit around inventing really weird titles to see if you could write a book about it?

Actually, that book was supposed to be called Munching Wackos, but my editor at the time didn't like it, so I had to change it. I ended up having a contest with my readers for a title. Finally I chose components of suggestions. So, the answer is, I usually come up with the story, then think of the title as I'm working on the book.

Some of the creatures who terrorise your characters come from mythological or biblical backgrounds. Do you research them or have you extensive first-hand experience with the majority of your book's inhabitants?

A lot of research. My only first-hand experience was with the humpback whales in Fluke.

You're very accessible to the public. Aside from this interview taking place, what other regrettable incidences have occurred that may have made you rethink the practice of publishing an email address in your books?

Article Author: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of the forthcoming book What Will Happen In Eragon IV? and has had his work published in print and on line all over the world. The not so long-haired Canadian iconoclast writes reviews and opines on the world as he sees …

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