Susan Tepper: Stories written from the POV of the opposite gender fascinate me, and “French Kiss” is a beaut. You wrote the male POV really well here in first person. Did you have an inkling of your guy narrator before you began the story? And what does he look like?
Michelle Elvy: I did not know what kind of person he would be at first. The woman was much more clearly outlined in my head. But when I started writing, it all became obvious: he had to be somewhat reserved but definitely game. And more than a little taken aback. I knew I wanted to play with stereotypes- what he expected of her, being French, and what she does to surprise him and confound him. The fun part of writing this piece was that I can relate to both characters in some ways. We are all at times reserved, at times flamboyant. I like to push those things in my writing and in my own life. And I like testing my own limits in terms of the testosterone/estrogen balance, on paper and in life.
As for what he looks like? Dunno. Never thought of that. Except that he’s gangly. Bony knees.
Susan: Ah ha! So that’s why his knees were jammed into the dashboard! I like your idea of testing the levels of testosterone/estrogen via characters and real life. To be able to pull that off lends great strength for story telling. So your guy is a middle aged Biology prof having his big mid-life crisis? Or some such thing? A married man?
Michelle: Naw — I did not judge him so directly, not at all. I thought of him neither as middle aged nor suffering from a mid-life crisis. More that he’s a routine kind of guy, regardless of his age (I reckon he’s mid-to late-30s; that ain’t middle age yet, now is it?) and this breaks his routine in a big way. And most important of all: he likes breaking the routine, even if he did not expect it of himself.
Susan: No question that he likes this break in his routine. You start off by saying he wants sushi and she likes hamburgers so he gives in and they have burgers. Routine-wise, what is he breaking exactly?
Michelle: He’s a nerdy academic kind of guy (don’t get me wrong, they can be hot). But he’s a routine kind of guy in his work, in his expectations. He’s got some kind of idea of what a French woman would want, so he goes out of his way to make the date just right: thinks wine and sushi will do the trick and impress her. He wants it to go well, so he’s planned it, you see. She drips that mayo and it’s gross to him; she is not quite as refined as he expected. She’s not what he expected at all, in fact.
Susan: Do you think your character does this type of sexual adventure in the car frequently, or is this a one-shot (no pun intended) deal?
Michelle: Hmmm. Hard question. This story, while about these two particular people, is more about experimentation than anything else. It’s less about them as individuals than about this moment in which they find themselves together, and how they respond to each other. So I don’t know what he or she does outside the boundaries of this particular story- nor do I think it’s important. For me, finding a way for these two people to meet (however hapless he might be) was the essence of the story. I do not know the color of his socks or which side of the bed he sleeps on. I do not know if he’s a Pisces or a Virgo. I do not know if he calls his mother regularly. I do not know if he likes green eggs and ham.
But back to your question: I do not think he’s a serial car-sex-nerd, no. But perhaps I’ll have to consider that sort of character for another story.
Susan: Is he the type of guy who might eventually fall in love? Or is he a “serial dater?” I’ve known some serial daters who died as single men, after thousands of conquests, and that’s sort of scary to me- in the sense of a life led unable to truly connect with loving another person. A lot of those types love their dogs unconditionally.
Michelle: You find him much scarier than I do, Susan. I think he’s charming, actually (he’s a Waits fan!). He does not enter the date with an agenda other than wanting it to go well, whatever that means. And no: he is not a serial dater.
As for love? Of course he might fall in love- I’m a romantic at heart. He might even fall in love with her, so long as he can stomach a lifetime of mayo and Jaegermeister. Grinning and grinding happily ever after. Every story should end so well.
Susan: Right! And, yes, I do find him scary. But it’s a sign of strong story-telling that you bonded with your narrator. Reading this, what made the story such a wild romp was that I saw him getting exactly what he wanted. A girl who eats mayo sloppily then screws his brains out. Your guy, in my opinion, is the unreliable narrator to the hilt. And that is such a kick because those characters keep everything delightfully off balance.
He says: “She scared the hell out of me, from her rock-hard nipples to her abundant thighs to her curious tongue.”
I didn’t believe he was scared of her. And that he does this sort of thing a lot, maybe. Sexual jaunts in a parked car. I was thinking: well he’s a biology professor, can’t he afford a cheap motel room? This tall nerdy guy with this young French hottie squeezed into the front seat of a car. Not exactly your traditional dating milieu.
Michelle: Yes, but remember: this story is about the meeting, the coming together. It’s not about him or her, really, but about this particular moment. A cheap hotel room would not be his style, nor hers. This is all about spontaneity, not one agenda winning over another. In the end, the very idea of spontaneity wins. But I do think it’s interesting that each reader can take away such different things from a 250-word story.
Susan: Yep, that’s the beauty in it all.
Read “French Kiss” by Michelle Elvy
Monday Chat is a bi-weekly series in which Susan Tepper has a conversation with a Fictionaut writer about one of his or her stories. Susan is Assistant Editor of Istanbul Literary Review and hosts FIZZ, a reading series at KGB Bar.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
enjoyed this very much so…thanks
Mar 7th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
“French Kiss” is a solid piece of writing from Michelle Elvy. This Chat is a great discussion of character. Enjoyed this.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Wonderful, insightful interview! I remember FRENCH KISS, and appreciated the quirky coupling told from the male POV. Tantalizing — I know a lot of biology profs, and cannot imagine how they’d end up with an (un)sophisticated (in the way conventional wisdom might imply) young French woman as our hero does here. Which is why this story works so darn well! Peace…
Mar 7th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Linda, haven’t you heard this old joke:
Men will screw anything that moves and some things that don’t.
Sorry! I couldn’t resist…
“French Kiss” has brought out the naughty in me! Ha!
Mar 7th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Mighty interesting Q&A about a mighty fine story/writer.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I enjoyed the interview. Thanks to the two of you, two great writers. Like Sam, I think it’s a great discussion of character.
The Jaegermeister might have had something to do with the spontaneity of the sexual jaunt in a parked car.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Well, then, long live the Jaegermeister! (at least in his life)..
Mar 7th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
She selected the Jaegermeister.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
She’s the alpha dog in this story. She gets to pick.
Mar 7th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Fun and intriguing conversation to listen in on and a terrific story. Thanks Susan and Michelle, and indeed Michelle’s last comment is borne out by the exchange: …the very idea of spontaneity wins. Well, i’m off to see what comes up on Craigslist when i search for mayo and Jaegermeister. Cheers!
Mar 7th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Doug! It’s a dangerous combo!
Mar 7th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
OK, you guys, I have to bug out of here and live MY LIFE..
Check in with you later..
Meanwhile read “French Kiss” (and dream that it’s you in that car)
Mar 7th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
good interview from 2 good writers. Enjoyed French Kiss, Michelle can write as a male and female – Wonderful chat
Mar 7th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I enjoyed this exchange between two of my favorite writers and people. I also loved “French Kiss” and the choices made by Michelle. Nice work and I am really digging this Monday Chat venue on Fictionaut.
Mar 8th, 2011 at 1:05 am
Michelle Elvy rocks! Fascinating interview, Michelle and Susan.
Mar 8th, 2011 at 6:23 am
Really loved this, the series itself because it gives us a glimpse into the mind of an author and so derails the Barthes’ theory of reader as author, and because Michelle is such a great writer and her work so diverse that it was a treat to “meet” her mind. Great interview on your part too, Susan; you know how to get the most out of a creative personality and display it through your questions. Great job, Ladies!
Mar 8th, 2011 at 7:59 am
Great interview. We need to hear more from Michelle.
Mar 8th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Terrific interview, always love reading about the creation of character! Thanks Susan and Michelle!
Mar 9th, 2011 at 10:57 am
It’s an edgy little gem that Michelle wrote! So much layering in so few words. We had a blast doing this LIVE across the time zones, it was fun to think of her a day ahead, kind of surreal, actually.. like the Time Machine…
Mar 9th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
coming late to this party, glad i could make it – wouldn’t have missed michelle & susan’s mix for the world…”french kiss” is great but i can’t say more or else i’m going to say too much. enjoyed this very much. women writing from a man’s perspective…it always astounds me how we are reflections of one another without ever being the same. “coming together” isn’t just a theme, it’s THE theme, right on.
Mar 15th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Chatting with Michelle (who I pictured typing while on her boat as we did the Chat) was great fun. I love her story French Kiss which inspired this chat. Do read it if you haven’t already, it will definitely perk up your day!