photo: Meredith Morris
A misunderstood piece of advice spurred Stephen Chbosky to a unique career. Leading up to the reading and book signing on Monday, November 25 at 6pm for his novel, Imaginary Friend, we had the chance to ask him a few questions about his new book and what’s coming next.
Q: Please tell us a little about your career? Is working in television and film very different or complementary to your work as a novelist?
A: My career happened as the result of the right advice taken the wrong way. When I was 12, I told my father I wanted to be a writer. He said, “Great writers are great readers”, then promptly left the room to smoke a cigarette and watch the hockey game. His advice was good. He was trying to get me to read more books. But I didn’t take it as advice. Instead, I took it as a rule. Since I was a very slow reader, I thought I wasn’t allowed to be a novelist. So, I thought, “Well, I watch a lot of movies. I guess I read movies. So, okay, I’ll write movies.” That misunderstanding is the foundation of my career. I am a born novelist who has trained exclusively in film. Now, the two art forms are very complementary. The combination of my novelist nature and cinematic training has led to richer movies and more enjoyable books.
Q: How did you come to write Imaginary Friend?
A: Because of my background, for years, I considered The Perks of Being a Wallflower something of a fluke. A 213-page monologue pretending to be a novel. Then, when I did the movie adaptation of Perks, I read the novel through an adult’s eyes. And what I realized was that I was meant to write books. Imaginary Friend was the proof that I could. Write something epic but intimate. Third person that feels like first. A different genre but with all the emotion I’m known for. I am very proud of this book.
Q: Any chance we’ll see Imaginary Friend on the big or small screen?
I can’t wait to adapt this for the screen! And knowing Hollywood, I would imagine by the time the 21st century wraps up, there will be at least two remakes and a TV show.
Q: What are you reading and recommending currently?
A: I’m on a real literary thriller kick lately. I just read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. Both were great. I love The Fireman by Joe Hill. And I thought An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen was fantastic. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Q: What are you working on next?
A: As I write the screenplay for Imaginary Friend, I am preparing to direct the movie version of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. I am very excited for 2020!