LOU BEACH: Sporadically, with a modicum of enthusiasm.

LB: A old color postcard of The Arlington St. Church in Boston. I lived in the basement of the church many years ago. I was the janitor. Many wonderful things happened during my stay there….I met Muddy Waters, had my first one-man show, among other delights.

LB: XActo blades.

FYD: I recently watched A Murder of Crows on PBS; they are brilliant “feathered apes.”  What do you love about those birds and do you work the way the crow flies?

LB: Yes, I have a real fondness for the Corvid family…there are many in our neighborhood and they are fascinating. They carry a lot of mythic weight from various cultures. They talk, are social, make tools, look like beatniks. Crows, however, fly in straight lines (so it is said). I work in a meandering bee dance fashion. Here’s a young chap we rescued a while back …(see above).

There was always an itch to be a writer and I finally scratched it.

LB: I loved Mad Magazine (it was forbidden in my house). I was crazy for the Ernie Kovacs Show. Both of these informed my humor and rebelliiousness.

FYD: Do you watch any current TV shows or consider yourself a fan of pop culture?

LB: The usual suspects…Breaking Bad, Justified, Southland…I’m drawn to crime. I get sucked into dumb reality shows when I’m trawling channels…..pawn shops, car repo, hoarders.

FYD:  Seen any good films lately?

LB: I liked Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Pretty lukewarm Oscar choices this year.

FYD: 420 Characters! What a feat to illustrate and write your own book. Did you always know you had the writer in you?

LB: There was always an itch to be a writer and I finally scratched it.

LB: I can’t explain how the stories and personalities came about……most of my narratives occur in the early morning, on the teetering edge between dreaming and wakefulness.

FYD: Talk about your characters Ronnie and Jerome; I suppose we all have a bit in common with these guys.

LB:  Ronnie is a rather not-too-bright ne’er do well, a petty criminal and bully, but sometimes funny. Jerome is a hapless office worker who has difficulties with relationships.

Most of my narratives occur in the early morning, on the teetering edge between dreaming and wakefulness.

LB: I’m not good at giving advice……I feel presumptuous. I suppose just keep writing, and that suggestion holds true for whatever one aspires to……just put one foot in front of the other and keep going. It’s a job in many respects.

LB: Absolutely…you have to cut out stuff, even if it’s good, to keep the arc of the story going. A fine exercise in self control.

LB: They are all old pals who wanted to help out a friend. They are all genuinely terrific guys, unpretentioius, very talented and loyal. I was fortunate to be able to ride their coat tails.

(Listen to Jeff Bridges reading Hen)

LB: Hell if I know. Longer stories, a kids book, perhaps. I only know how to do a few things, so I guess I’ll just keep doing them….you know – stories and pictures.

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