Hawthorne Books

Identity and Fear: Talking with Scott Nadelson about The Next Scott Nadelson

Sally McPherson interviews Scott Nadelson for PW Book Lovers:

Sally McPhersonAs you were revising passages in your book, did you ever think “I need to be more honest, more revealing, about this”? Or did you think, “That’s too painful or private to reveal; I need to rein it in”?

Scott NadelsonWhen I committed myself to writing a book in which I was the main character—after debating for a while whether I was really up for it—I decided I’d only do it if I went all in, if I wouldn’t let myself hold anything back, and if I’d probe as deeply as possible to make sure I was being honest with myself each step of the way. In part, I’ve always seen the book as a comedy, and the best comedy requires full disclosure; I went out of my way to embarrass myself as much as possible. And as I was writing and revising, the revelations never felt painful. Instead, a kind of giddiness took over, and I’d sometime cackle out loud as I typed away. Only now that the book is out, and other people might read it, am I occasionally horrified to think what I put down on paper.

To read the entire interview, please go to NW Book Lovers.