Interview with D.C. Greschner, Author of Out of Tune
About a year ago, I discovered D.C. Greschner's work and I was thrilled. Her novel Out of Tune is an epic science fiction, space-opera story that mixes a slew of themes that are dear to my heart. Environmentalism, alien species and cultures, diversity in its most extreme forms, rampant capitalism, corporate short-sightedness, aging, and yes, of course... music and singing. I loved the idea at first contact!
Danielle Greschner's writing is packed with something I particularly enjoy. A tremendously high level of quirkiness, along with a highly incisive, targeted sense of humor. It’s always to the point, efficient in wrenching laughs out of me, but also, always hitting home to underline so many of the absurdities in our present-time existence. I have no qualms saying this would have Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett cracking a huge, approving grin.
So I proposed an interview, and Danielle agreed. I am so grateful! I signed up for her blog and I enrolled in her Kickstarter project - which recently came to a happy conclusion, by the way, resulting in the awaited publication of Out of Tune. But I didn't have to wait too long to read it, as the author kindly provided me with an advanced reader copy.
But then... Life happened on my end. Delays. Things health-related, like burnout and other whatnots. Also, pushing my way through the second half of my novel, Seven Drifts, and needing to focus all my energies into it at the time. All the while, I kept Danielle Greschner's book in mind. I was going to come back to Out of Tune, and to having a fascinating conversation with its author. So here we are, finally. I’m looking forward to seeing Danielle’s unique take on these topics!
NL- D.C. Greschner, I'd like you to feel free to kick things off by introducing yourself. What planet are you from? What phylum (and so on)? What inspired you to become (a singer, a performer, and) a writer in the first place?
DCG-
Planet: Earth (as far as I know…)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primate
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: Homo sapiens
I grew up in the small town of Kamloops, British Columbia, during a magical time when smart phones and social media didn’t exist (yes, I’m that old). My family didn’t even have a computer, let alone internet, until I was 10 years old. As such, I spent a lot of time playing outside, inventing games, and nurturing my imagination. I think my affinity for creative endeavors, whether it be singing, acting, or writing, can be attributed to this upbringing. I’ve also managed to maintain a child-like sense of wonder for the small things, like seeing a cool plant or animal. I live next to a forest and see deer, squirrels, rabbits, eagles, hummingbirds etc. all the time, but I still get excited every time I see them!
NL- What are you most proud of in your writing journey so far? (No matter how small!)
DCG- Finishing the dang thing! I think a lot of people think about writing a book, or even start writing a book, but actually following it through to its completion is another story (pun intended). I have countless files on my computer of uncompleted projects that maybe I’ll revisit one day, maybe I won’t. But Out of Tune is one that I can officially say is done and out there for all the world to read. It was definitely a marathon, not a sprint. It took me 8 years, and it was very on and off. During those 8 years, I moved, went back to university and got my teaching diploma, became a teacher, performed in 5 musicals and 2 plays, and worked myself into burnout numerous times. I think most new authors/ those who don’t (yet) make a living writing know the struggle of balancing writing with a full-time job and other responsibilities. Long story short, I’m most proud of sticking with it and seeing it through.
NL- How did you come to define your writing style, and choose your writing genre - or genres?
DCG- While writing Out of Tune, I didn’t put too much thought into my writing style, I just sort of let it come out naturally. In everyday life, I am the type of person who tends not to take things too seriously and I maybe even overuse humor as a defense mechanism, and this is exactly what the book is. The thematic content of the book is actually quite dark, as it deals with big issues like climate change and corporate greed, and the battle between environment and economy in our current political landscape (at least in North America). However, the writing style is very light-hearted and comedic, and full of strange descriptions and odd comparisons. So I suppose I’ve inadvertently created a strange juxtaposition between the seriousness of the main themes and the humor in the writing.
NL- I can't remember where I read it, but Terry Pratchett used to say that he was angry pretty much all the time, and that this was the source of his humor and satire. I can relate to that myself, as I like to underline things I feel powerless about and try to get at least a chortle out of them. Would you say this ties in with your use of humor as a defense mechanism?
DCG - I wouldn't say that I'm angry all the time. However, there are circumstances that frustrate me and, like you said, I sometimes feel powerless to change them. Things like news stories and world events or certain election results . . . And yes, this does tie in with using humor as a defense mechanism. Luckily, I have some ideas stewing to incorporate some environmental activism into my book promotions. For example, I'd like to hold a fundraiser for an environmental organization and enter all donors into a draw to win a copy of Out of Tune. If anyone else has any ideas, please reach out and let me know!
NL- (I'm afraid this one is a bit long-winded.) Like your protagonist Linda Pumpernickel - and yourself - I used to be deep into singing myself, partaking in various choirs since my teens, enrolling in voice training, eventually ending up teaching, and singing as a soloist here and there professionally, even holding a few roles at the opera. Many fond memories. It was a monumentally thrilling, enriching (in a non-monetary way), and fulfilling part of my life that I look upon with various emotions, in uneven parts bad and good. One thing is sure, I was transformed and fashioned by the whole experience. I will carry it with me forever, and I suspect it will add a tinge to everything I ever do. I guess this is why my protagonist's best friend, Leona Crasotte, is a high-level karaoke singer, and her singing is so important to the plot of my wip novel Seven Drifts. It's also probably why I know that some things in life can take a minute, and it never fails to pay off to just keep at them, even when it seems like nothing is working - especially in those times. But I'm getting carried away. This isn't about me; I only want to underline some common grounds we seem to share. Here's another. The absolute imperative of mastering a precisely accurate pitch; the utter importance of over-developed ears - and a properly functioning set of peristaltic esophagus muscles. (If this doesn't seem to make sense, let it just serve as a hook.) Here's one more - and please tell me if this sounds like you: To me, writing is a lot like singing. One reason is because it's a form of expression where you create something out of nothing, either physically, as sound and music, or... literally (oops, pun). Another reason is that in writing, you can express whatever keeps you alive, happy or angry, in a way that will impact not only your audience, but also yourself, because you can use and transform absolutely anything that ever touched you, fascinated you, elated you, angered you, or made you feel whatever it was that you felt. You can reconcile all your past and present possibilities, the lives you wished you had but hadn't. You can mix all your passions into one glorious poutine, and serve it among the immense smorgasbord buffet that is your novel... Whew. Okay. But I realize we can also do all this in pretty much any form of artistic pursuit, including music... Hm. Long question short: What led you to write Out of Tune? Your turn! ;)
DCG- I think you hit the nail on the head with your statement about how you can use writing to mix all your passions into “one glorious poutine” (could you BE anymore French Canadian?). That is very clearly what I did when writing Out of Tune, as it is a mishmash of music, biology, astronomy, social commentary, and humor. However, the original reason I started writing the book was more as a form of therapy. I began writing it when I was teaching English in China. I was living in a rural, non-touristy area of China where none of the locals spoke English and I didn’t speak enough Mandarin to have a real conversation. The only people I could talk to were my then partner and two other English teachers. Furthermore, most of the locals had never even seen a blonde-haired, blue-eyed person before, so I was constantly stared at and filmed and waved at wherever I went. They were very friendly, and I never felt unsafe or anything like that. At first, the performer in me loved feeling like a celebrity. However, after my partner and I broke up, the isolation really started to set in. I was alone in a foreign country where I couldn’t really communicate with anyone. Add that to all of the public attention, and I felt like I was an alien visiting another planet. So I began writing as way to cope with the isolation and culture shock I was experiencing. The passion poutine grew out of this initial spark that was ignited by my experience in China. And now I’m craving poutine. Thanks a lot.
NL- Thanks for disclosing the alien origin of your inspiration. I can easily picture how hard it must have been to find yourself in that situation. However, I can't help but rejoice in the fact that, out of your crisis, came a powerful creative impulse that led to this wonderful story that is Out of Tune. And I can't help but wish that many others will follow.
... Well, it looks like it's kind of easy to get poutine in Victoria, BC. But did you know you can have poutine even in China? (I mean the dish.) Also, would you believe I looked up "most glorious dish" while writing the above question, and Google's AI gave me poutine in its "show more" section? I guess it must know my location. Besides, I already had poutine in mind. Below is my all-time favourite.
DCG- It doesn't surprise me that there is probably some form of "poutine" in China. It's a big country. I didn't happen upon any while I was there, though. Victoria has some excellent authentic poutine! La Belle Patate is my favourite and is run by a francophone. They have a Montreal smoked meat poutine that is chef's kiss!
NL- Fantastic! I'll make sure to give it a go next time I visit Victoria!
NL- Please give us an insight into your main character, Linda Pumpernickel. What does she do? What makes her special?
DCG- Linda is an aloof but lovable 65-year-old woman. A retired English teacher who never married or had children, she spends her days watching soap operas, drinking tea, and sewing costumes for her show choir. Tuesday night rehearsals are all that Linda looks forward to each week, but she’s starting to suspect that even her choir friends are growing frustrated with her. She has been getting more forgetful lately, it takes her longer than most to learn new songs and choreo, and she has been spending more and more time in Linda Land—her vivid imaginary world. Although she had a fulfilling career teaching English abroad to alien citizens on foreign planets, she has been lacking a sense of purpose since retirement. However, this all changes when Linda finds herself in a position to join a clandestine environmental organization on a mission to prevent a cosmic climate meltdown. As the story unfolds, Linda may surprise readers with her resilience and ability to find a new purpose post-retirement. I think what makes Linda special is her resilience despite her aging body and mind, as well as several other external obstacles. Linda’s demographic is not often represented in the sci-fi genre, and I think she can teach readers that life doesn’t end after retirement, and that they should never underestimate a senior!
NL- I love your villain, Groodle Schmoodler. So exotic, but at the same time, kind of familiar in his worldview. Without spoiling too much, can you give us an idea of who and what he is, what he does, and what he believes in?
DCG- Groodle Schmoodler is a member of the oodlean species and, as such, he exhibits 7-fold radial symmetry. His body plan consists of 7 tentacle-like appendages radiating from a central point. The center of his body houses his 7 eyes, which encircle his large, circular mouth, and can see in all directions simultaneously. These organs are located on the top side of his body, meaning that his mouth faces directly upwards (this is the opposite of a sea star, whose oral side is facing downwards). One of my favourite things to write about was Schmoodler’s grotesque issue with over-productive mucus glands, which cause him to constantly cough up phlegm.
Personality-wise, Groodle Scmoodler represents everything that is wrong with late-stage capitalism. He is the wealthiest being in the universe, and the CEO of the highest grossing company in existence. His company, ITCo, is responsible for the large-scale, intergalactic transport of goods, which in turn is responsible for universal detuning 一a climate catastrophe that is projected to destroy all life in the cosmos. On top of that, he is a literal cult leader and self-appointed reverend of a religion that he invented just to see if he could. He is a character that I think readers will love to hate.
NL- While reading Out of tune, I do enjoy very much, and admire, the richness and cultural variety of your utterly "out there" extra-terrestrial characters, along with their funky worldviews and eccentric worlds. How on Earth - or elsewhere - do you come up with so much diversity in your worldbuilding? Where do you take your inspiration? While we're at it, your protagonist Linda Pumpernickel is helped along the way by some pretty special alien sidekicks. For instance, she meets Larv, the Cochlean larvalux, and the bizarre, irresistible Mabitu... In your creative process, can you tell me a little on how these creatures came to be?
DCG- I once saw an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson where he talks about how aliens are always represented as very anthropomorphic in Hollywood (i.e., the little green men), and how this is very unrealistic, not to mention egocentric. What are the chances that life in far away galaxies would happen to evolve exactly like it did here on Earth? So I decided I wanted to make Neil deGrasse Tyson proud by creating aliens that are so different from humans that they are difficult to put into words. Confession: some of my alien characters are decidedly anthropomorphic, like the saganites. Others were influenced by my biology background, as they share characteristics of animals I have studied, but with a twist. For example, Larv is very similar to an insect that undergoes metamorphosis, although the particular stages of his life cycle are completely made up. And then there are some aliens that are very different from anything that exists on Earth, such as the mistoform species that exist in a gaseous state, and the Mabitu that is the only member of its species and emits extremely potent cross-species pheromones. Those are ideas that emerged from some dark recess of my imagination, and I can only hope that Neil would approve.
NL- In a more general way, what did you read when growing up, what do you read now, and what book or books have influenced your writing?
DCG- I’ve always been a huge fan of horror, the supernatural, and sci-fi, and any combination thereof. I especially love a good monster story. As a kid ordering from the Scholastic catalogue, Goosebumps was my go-to. I have since graduated to Michael Crichton—Jurassic Park is my all-time favorite book and movie. I think the reason I’m so drawn to monster stories is that the real conflict is usually something to do with human nature, and not the actual monster. Stephen King does this a lot, for example, in his books It and The Mist.
I love classic sci-fi, such as Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and H.G. Wells. I recently discovered a short story called Grandpa, by James H. Schmitz, which I highly recommend if you enjoy reading about other planets and innovative alien biology. I also enjoy dystopian fiction, like A Brave New World and 1984, and the social commentary of these types of stories certainly had an influence on my book. I would be remiss not to mention Douglas Adams, as my book was obviously influenced by the Hitchhikers series. I read these as a teenager and was not consciously aware of the influence it had while I was writing Out of Tune. It was only after I was at least halfway through writing it that I re-read Hitchhikers and noticed the similarities. I am now trying to make a point of reading more current sci-fi. I just finished The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard and have started The Leap Year Gene by Shelley Wood (shout out to these two awesome Canadian authors!).
NL- Thanks for the book suggestions! I didn't know about these last three. I've added them to my to-read list.
NL- Do you ever experience writer's block? If so, what are your tips for getting past it? Are there any rituals you do to get yourself in the mood for writing?
DCG- It took me 8 years to write my book. I am not the right person to ask. I can’t write unless my space is neat and tidy, so I tend to clean my whole apartment before writing. Ritual or procrastination? Probably the latter.
NL- In your opinion, what is the measure of a successful writer?
DCG- I think this is very subjective. For me, I just want people to read and enjoy my book, get a good chuckle out of it, and perhaps even reflect on the themes and how their own actions affect the world. Maybe one day I’ll break even and recover the costs of self-publishing, but it’s never been about the money for me.
NL- Besides and after Kickstarter, how do you plan to market or promote your book? (e.g. social media, e-mail, blog tours, etc.)? What more strategies do you have in mind? (BTW, I loved Winston and Jones the cats, singing about "This book their human wrote". Well done!)
Continue to post silly videos on social media and use my cats to sell books. Those freeloaders have to earn their keep somehow.
I have a blog on my website that I have been terrible at updating.
Network with other authors/ bookish people online for collaborations and reviews.
Educational resources: As a teacher, I have been giving out my bookmarks to students and teachers and have connected with school librarians about carrying my book and hosting Author Talks. One of my English teacher friends has agreed to be my guinea pig and use my book as a novel study with her class. I am in the process of creating teaching resources for that, which I will also post on my Teachers Pay Teachers store (Cretaceous Creations).
Belated book launch event, either at a bookstore or café.
Apply as a vendor at local markets and craft fairs.
Create a press kit to send to media outlets.
Expand beyond my local area. Since I have summers off as a teacher, I’d like to try touring around and do book signings in other cities.
NL- That sounds like a good plan! Winston and Jones the cats are gonna be stars. I'm too allergic for furry friends myself, but I'm taking notes on the other items.
NL- To sum things up, let's say I just learned of your existence. I am eager for the opportunity to experience the awesomeness of reading your book. How can I do that? Where do you recommend I get my hands on a copy of Out of Tune?
DCG- Physical copies can be purchased through Friesen Press or Amazon.
E-books are available from Friesen Press, Amazon Kindle, Google Books, Apple Books (iTunes), and coming soon to Barnes & Noble Nook and Kobo.
Thanks!
NL- Thank you so much Danielle, for these inspiring insights into your work and your thought processes. As I suspected, this has turned into one of my favourite author interviews. Not to mention, your faster-than-llght-but-always-thoughtful responses! I had a blast working with you on this.
D.C. Greschner has degrees in biology, music, and education. She has a plethora of work experience, including ecotoxicology lab biologist, vocal coach, as well as a stint teaching English in China. Currently, she is a high school science teacher and a film, television, and musical theater performer. Out of Tune is her first novel. She lives in Victoria, BC with her partner and their cats.
Insta: @the_gresch
TikTok: @dcgreschner
Facebook: D.C. Greschner
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