Ask the Author: Hobie Anthony

Hobie Anthony offers three short fictions to the July issue and takes a moment to discuss roadtrip mixes, the influence of Portland and the fictional car he’d love to drive.

1. Why did you break “Three On The Road” up the way you did?

Good question. When I write one of these triptychs, I usually start with an image which kicks off the first of the set – something that just won’t let go. Sometimes the resulting piece conjures another, related idea or image. In this case, the relation was a series of road trips and the images/thoughts/etc which I recalled from those journeys. So, the break was inherent to the process, I suppose. In a short story, each element must necessarily flow into the next. In this triptych form, the relationships aren’t always so defined and I don’t feel tied to the notion of a narrative to tie it all together.

2. What is on your roadtrip mix tape?

For summer trips, I dig a lot of Stereolab which is a smooth, poppy groove to drive on. Wilco is a mainstay and I also like a lot of 1970’s African psychedelic rock, which seems totally appropriate when I’m blasting through California’s Central Valley in July and the temps are in triple digits. When I roll up the windows for the cold and rain, I find myself reaching for Jazz, often Mingus but Sun Ra, too. You’ll also find the occasional Robert Pollard, Built to Spill, or Black Sabbath tune blasting from my beat-up Honda.

3. How has living in Portland influenced your writing?

Portland has a great literary community, which is inspiring in itself. That we keep a store like Powell’s alive is a testament to our appreciation of reading, learning, and exploring. Since I’m still new here, I’m mostly an outsider, anonymous. That opens my eyes in ways that don’t always happen when you’ve lived in a place for a long time and have a multitude of connections. I also have the opportunity to reflect on places I’ve lived before, especially Chicago, which is the focus of my (as yet unpublished) novel-in-stories.

I love how easy it is to live here, how I have all the benefits of a major city but few of the drawbacks. There’s a thriving creative community, but also a hard-rock of industry and commerce. I overlook the Willamette River and all day I hear ships coming into port, then the train whistles blow as they carry the goods elsewhere across the country.

Oh, I also love the coffee, clouds, and rain.

Ultimately, the true human spirit of Portland is what is most inspiring. Here, people are willing to try new things and will go out on a limb to explore ideas and passions where elsewhere there’s not such a culture of YES. Portlanders start their own businesses and the question “what do you do?” is most often pointed towards your true passions – whether that be gardening, painting, unicycling, or writing. One Portlander started a restaurant by cooking food in his driveway and selling it to passersby. He didn’t have the cash or credit to start up, so he just did it in this illegal way. Now, he has one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. That’s inspiring to me when the rest of the world sends discouraging messages to writers, artists, and other “outside the box” people. Here in Portland, we say YES to possibilities and we make them happen. Other parts of the country rely on the bullshit of positive thinking; Portland relies on positive action.

4. What fictional car would you drive?

The ’55 Chevy from Two-Lane Blacktop

5. Who takes your wheel? Who is your co-pilot?

That’s a hard one – maybe Ganesha, though Shiva would surely destroy me for saying that.

6. What is the best road trip movie?

Probably my all-time favorite movie, across the board, is the road-movie classic, Two-Lane Blacktop. As understated as it was, the minimalism was more subversive and effective than any other 60’s/70’s road trip movie. The characters were not stereotypes for the audience to categorize and objectify. They were regular guys in blue jeans who really and truly defied the conventions of society without resorting to fashion. If you haven’t seen it, you must. If you have seen it, watch it again.

I’m also keen on Harold and Kumar, Wild at Heart, and Kill Bill.