 LaCrosse Talk: Chris Crutcher WIZM AM 1410 Radio Copyright © April 24, 2003 All rights reserved. Adult Published Read an Excerpt Crutcher talks about his audience and the fickle nature of "YA" designation on LaCross Talk in LaCrosse, Wisconsin with Mike Hayes. Excerpt April 24, 2003 WIZM AM 1410 Radio LaCrosse, WI Chris Crutcher on LaCrosse Talk with Mike Hayes HAYES: What is it that you think about your writing that is so appealing to young people? CRUTCHER: Well, I think it is the fact that a lot of it seems real and it’s kind of the harder part of life and a lot of times it’s things that kids recognize either in their own lives or in other people’s lives but know it doesn’t get talked about too much. HAYES: What is it about your writing that may set aside the age of your biggest fans, so to speak? Why young adults as opposed to, oh I don’t know, older young people or young old people. CRUTCHER: Young old people. Yeah. You know, actually, I get a lot of response from both adults and from so-called “young adults,” which I guess are adolescents -- teenagers. HAYES: Sure. CRUTCHER: Part of what happens is that that’s mostly a marketing decision that happens in bookstores and on the part of the publishers. The way they figure that is if the protagonist is under the ages of 20, it’s young adult, if they’re over the age of 20, it’s adult. But like I say, I get a lot of adult fans too. HAYES: And those young adults, maybe you ought to do some research to find out whether your biggest fan is the one with the most angst… CRUTCHER: There you go. HAYES: Young adults, the ones that are wondering off to find themselves and we all know some older people who are trying to do the same thing. CRUTCHER: Right. HAYES: Let’s talk a little about the six novels that you’ve written. What kind of focus do they have? CRUTCHER: Well, I’ve got a history working with families involved with child abuse and neglect. So there is certainly a piece of that, kind of a strain that runs through it. There is also a sports theme. I grew up in a real small town where if you could breath, you passed the physical to play sports. So there’s always, when I look back at my own history, I find a lot of football and basketball and things like that. And I was a swimmer in college, so there’s a background of sports in almost all of my stuff. HAYES: Wonderful. Critically acclaimed and very popular author, having written six young adult novels and a collection of short stories. Our guest is Chris Crutcher; he’ll be at Viterbo’s University Fine Arts Center recital hall tonight at 7:00 o’clock. There are no reserved seats, there is no cost for the seats, in fact afterwards, there will be a book signing, so if you’re interested I think you ought to stop by Viterbo tonight. Chris, thanks very much for joining us on LaCrosse Talk. |
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