the strand interview(bookfi.org)

5/24/2018 The Strand Interview(BookFi.org)

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THE STRAND INTERVIEW:

Tony Hillermanby Andrew F Gull i

"One of our best and most innovative modern mystery writers."-Rober t F Gish New York

TONY Hillermn!" my"tery no#el" "tnd not only " $ine literture t%t i" de"tined to $or &enertion" to 'ome( t%ey l"o %))en to be be"t-"eller" t%t $o'u" on )eo)le w%o %#

been i&nored nd mr&inli*ed by "o'iery+ t%e Ameri'n Indin, In ./0+ w%en Hillermn

%i" $ir"t no#el+ The Blessing Way, $eturin& N#1o Tribl 2oli'e lieutennt+ 3oe 4e)%orn+ t%un'%rted territory,

5orn in S'red Hert+ O6l%om in .78+ Hillermn %" ")ent mu'% o$ %i" li$e in t%e

"out%we"t, A$ter winnin& t%e Sil#er Str $or br#ery durin& t%e Se'ond World Wr+ Hillerm

m1ored in 1ournli"m t t%e 9ni#er"ity o$ O6l%om+ wor6ed " re)orter $or "e#erl yer

e#entully tu&%t 1ournli"m t t%e 9ni#er"ity o$ New e;i'o,Tony Hillermn!" "u''e"" " writer lie" not only in %i" bility to ")in $inely wo#en )

inte&rte '%r'ter+ "ettin&+ nd Indin $ol6lore into "emle"" nd brillint "torie"+ but l"o $'t t%t %e i" writin& bout 'ulture %e lo#e" nd re")e't", T%rou&%out %i" no#el"+ %i" #i#

'%r'teri*tion 'n be de"'ribed " Di'6en"in+ nd "tret'%e" beyond t%e min '%r'ter"

in'lude un$or&ettbly e''entri' minor '%r'ter",In ./< Hillermn )ubli"%ed not%er 3oe 4e)%orn my"tery+ an!e all of the ead, n

./=+ #istening Woman. In .=0+ wit% $eo%le of arkness, %e introdu'ed reder" to new det

S&t, 3im >%ee- youn&er le"" 'ulturlly ""imilted '%r'ter t%n 4e)%orn, >%ee ))ere

'entrl '%r'ter in two more Hillermn my"terie"+ark Wind ?.=7@ nd The Ghostway ?..=/+ %e brou&%t t%e odd 'ou)le o$ 3im >%ee nd 3oe 4e)%orn to&et%er in &kinwalkers, t%e

mny 3oe 4e)%ornB3im >%ee no#el" to be'ome be"t"eller",Tony Hillermn i" Grnd "ter nd $ormer )re"ident o$ y"tery Writer" o$ Ameri'

re'ei#ed 5e"t No#el Ed&r Awrd $or an!e all for the ead, " well " t%e Grand $ri' de

#itt(rature $oli!i(re. T%e >enter $or t%e Ameri'n Indin )re"ented %im wit% t%e Amb""do

nd %i" no#el &kinwalkers won t%e We"tern Writer"! o$ Ameri' Sil#er S)ur Awrd $or 5e"t No#el, Hi" memoir+ &eldom Outdone ?700@+ won t%e A&t% Awrd $or 5e"t Non-Fi'tion,

AFG: Your boo6)ilroy Was There is #ery intere"tin& boo6, 9n$or tuntely+ we %#e &lmorou" #iew o$ wr mny time",

TH: I!m $rid "o, W%en t%ey "6ed me to do it+ I told t%em I w" relly bu"y nd I di

to+ nd t%ey "id+ well let!" "end you "ome o$ t%e )i'ture", A" "oon " I "w t%em I t%ou&%t+

ou&%t to be )ubli"%ed, It!ll &i#e me '%n'e to dri#e my ;e bout t%i" wr w%i'% I don!t o$,

AFG: Nor do I, I w" redin& &keleton *an l"t ni&%t nd it!" n e;'ellent boo6, Don!t

not%er 3oe 4e)%orn boo6 'omin& out t%i" "ummerCTH: Ye", I!#e &ot one 'omin& out nd I!m on >%)ter 8 ri&%t now but I don!t %#e n

it, It!" 'lled ne;t boo6, lu&%"

AFG: W%t!" it boutC Gi#e u" te"er,TH: 3oe 4e)%orn 'ome" %ome-%e!" retirin&+ you "ee-nd %e &et" 'll $rom %edu


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tellin& %im %e!" &ot "ome mil down t%ere, He &oe" down t%ere nd )i'6" u) t%i" mnill en

nd t%ere!" letter $rom &uy %e 6new t%irty yer" &o w%en %e w" roo6ie 'o), T%e &uy

%im )i'ture+ )%oto&r)% torn out o$ #u'ury #iving *aga+ine. It!" )i'ture o$ lo#ely li#iwit% $ire)l'e nd out t%e window" you 'n "ee t%e Sn Frn'i"'o 2e6", On t%e wll i"

N#1o we#in&-w%i'% i" 'ir'led wit% red in6 on t%e )%oto&r)%-nd t%e letter tt'%ed "y

Doe"n!t t%t ru& loo6 li6e t%e one you de"'ribed to me yer" &o in W"%in&ton t%t-Ste#Ste in bo '6 w" burned u) in n r"on $ire t trdin& )o"t nd %d ll 6ind" o$ m&i'l+ m

le&end" tt'%ed to itC And 4e)%orn loo6" t it nd it "ure " %ell loo6" li6e t%e "me ru&

$riend "y"+ T%e %ou"e i" 1u"t out"ide o$ Fl&"t$$ w%ere I li#e, I!m &oin& to &o t%ere nd "&uy will let me t6e loo6 t it nd I!ll let you 6now w%t I $ind out, And %e &i#e" 3oe %i"

number, 4e)%orn 'll" t%e number nd &et" t%e &uy!" wi$e nd "%e!" "'red, He!" been &on

dy" nd %"n!t 'ome %ome nd "omeone %" le$t det% t%ret on t%eir n"werin& m'%ine

"tory i" interwo#en wit% t%i" ru& nd t%e $ire in w%i'% t%e ru& w" de"troyed, E#eryone re mt%e $ire be'u"e mn %d %orribly burned to det% in it, It turn" out t%t w%en t%ey!d &t%

%i" "tu$$ to&et%er+ t%ey!d $ound t%t %e w" one o$ t%e to) &uy" on t%e F5I!" mo"t wnted li

F5I &ot in#ol#ed, And it turn" out t%e $ire w" "trted by , , , "o $ort%+ "o $ort%, 5ut nywy

t%in&" bout it %#e lwy" )u**led 4e)%orn nd now+ be'u"e t%i" &uy w%o "ent t%e lettemi""in&+ 4e)%orn!" dr&&ed out o$ retirement into ll o$ t%i" nd t%t!" w%t t%e boo6!" b"

5ut my )lot" re "o 'om)li'ted t%t I &et lo"t in t%em my"el$ It t6e" me $ore#er, A" I "y>%)ter 8 nd I 6ee) '%n&in& %ow it!" &oin& to 'ome out,

AFG: So you don!t 6now w%t!" &oin& to %))en ne;tC You 1u"t m6e it u) " you &o

TH: Ri&%t, It 6ind o$ de#elo)", I &et "ome '%r'ter , ,,, One o$ t%e '%r'ter" t%t I!d )be 1u"t t%rowwy '%r'ter i" "uddenly relly intere"tin& nd now %e!" &oin& to %#e n im)or

AFG: T%t!" intere"tin& be'u"e I!#e tried to write be$ore nd "ometime" I!ll $eel relly in")

don!t %#e to )ln t%e "tory nd it wor6" nd t ot%er time" i$ I don!t %#e it outlined+ I my "trt

nd t%en $ind I 1u"t 'n!t &o nyw%ere wit% t%e )lot nd I %#e to t%row it wy, Do you e#er &et)oint w%en you!re writin&C

TH: No+ not relly, I &et to w%ere I!m not "ure %ow it!" &oin& to wor6+ but "omebody on'e "omet%in& wi"e: On'e )oor+ ne#er ri'% lu&%" I w" one o$ t%e"e &uy" w%o &rew u) in t%e GAmeri'n De)re""ion+ "o I!#e &ot to $ini"% t%i" dmn boo6 T%ere w" time or two w%en I $ir"t

nd I %d )rt-time 1ob nd t%ree 6id" nd I w" bo&&ed down, I 6new I 'ould write, I w" writ

$i'tion nd I %d n &ent w%o "old my non-$i'tion m&*ine rti'le", 5ut wit% my $ir"t boo6+ ThBlessing Wy+ I "trted t%in6in&+ t%i" t%in& i"n!t e#er &oin& to be )ubli"%ed, I would "et it on t%e "

t%en I!d 'ome b'6 to it+ "o I!d &et "tu'6+ ye%+ but I w" lwy" determined to $ini"% t%e t%in&-to

time in#e"ted in it,

AFG: So w%o were "ome o$ t%e writer" you en1oyed redin& w%ile you were &rowin& u)CTH: I red nyt%in& ,,,, We didn!t %#e librry, We li#ed in little-bitty )l'e wit% )o)u

bout $orty-"omet%in&+ #ill&e wit% no librry nyw%ere ner, T%e nere"t librry w" in t%e 'o

It w" t%e >rne&ie 4ibrry nd you %d to be lo'l )er"on to '%e'6 boo6" out, So we!d &et boot%e "tte librry by milin& o$$ $or t%em, T%ey "ent you mimeo&r)%ed li"t o$ boo6" #ilble

you!d )i'6 out li"t nd you!d "end t%em boo6 rte "tm)" lon& wit% your order, T%en bout t%r

would )"" nd you!d &et )'6&e in t%e milbo;, You!d o)en it nd on t%e to) would be mimeo&r)%ed letter w%i'% would "y+ Der librry )tron+ we re "orry to in$orm you t%t t%e

ordered were not on our "%el#e", Howe#er+ we %#e "ele'ted "i; ot%er boo6" w%i'% we %o)e wil

your need", And t%t!" %ow I 'me to red The istory o$ the $ost-elon otton /!onomy in the

*ississi%%i elta.


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AFG: Or The /lements o$/ngineering.

TH: Ye%+ t%t!" ri&%t,Bobbsey Twins on *ulberry 0sland. You!d &et "ome &ood one"+ too, A

nywy+ I red e#eryt%in&, T%en w%en I &ot older+ in my mid to erly teen"+ I w" "le"mn $or5rown+ "ellin& m&*ine" li6e ountry Gentleman nd &aturday /vening $ost. 0 'ouldn!t "ell mn

nobody li#ed round u"+ but I en1oyed redin& t%e "erili"ed "torie", I li6ed t%e Au"trlin writer A

9)$ield w%o wrote The $ointed Bone ndeath of a #ake. He wrote my"terie" "et in Au"trli wAu"trlin Abori&ine )oli'emn+ N)oleon 5on)rte+ nd boy were t%ey $"'intin&, I 1u"t &ot

on t%t nd t%t!" w%t relly in$luen'ed me to )i'6 'ulture you 'ould immer"e your "torie" in,

AFG: W%o did you model 3oe 4e)%orn onC Did you %#e nybody in mindCTH: Ye%, W%en I $ir"t &ot out o$ 'olle&e t%e wr w" o#er-World Wr II, I &rduted in !

t%ere were lot o$ )eo)le &rdutin& nd t%e mr6et+ w%i'% %d been wide o)en+ w" "uddenly 1

T%e only 1ob I 'ould &et+ w%i'% I w" %))y to &rb+ w" 1ob on We"t Te;" new"))er-Borg

erald. T%ere w" t%i" youn& "%eri$$ in t%t 'ounty o$ Te;" w%o w" bi& ol! &ood-loo6in& you)robbly bout olordo n

Ari*on, Somebody "tole wter tru'6 nd )oli'emn "to))ed it, He &ot out o$ %i" 'r nd one

&uy" in t%e tru'6 &ot out nd m'%ine-&unned %im+ o$ ll t%in&", T%ey dro#e down t%e %i&%wy >olordo border nd into Ari*on nd now it!" $ederl 'rime, And wy t%ey &o, It w" )retty

be'u"e )oli'emen don!t &et m'%ine-&unned mu'% out on t%e %i&%wy" li6e t%i", E#erybody t%o

be'u"e t%ere re militi &rou)" nd "ur#i#li"t &rou)" 'm)in& out in t%e mountin" %ere-nti-&o#ernment+ lot o$ t%em-t%t mybe t%e wter tru'6 %d been "tolen to $ill it $ull o$ e;)lo"i#e"

did in O6l%om >ity, So it w" bi& del, T%ey dro#e into t%e N#1o re"er#tion nd one o$ m

w%o w" on t%e N#1o Tribl 2oli'e ?it w" in %i" re@ "id t%ey $ound t%e bndoned "tolen tr

t%e body o$ one o$ t%e t%ree &uy", T%i" $riend o$ mine i" n o$$i'er+ nd %e!" &ot lot o$ ot%er &uy


4/7

%im, He "id %e 'lled in ll %i" &uy" nd "id+ 4oo6+ "omebody!" told t%e F5I bout t%i" now

t6en o#er nd I don!t %#e to tell you w%t t%t men", It men" we won!t 't'% nybody+ but t%

&oin& to %#e to %#e "')e&ot, We %#e to do e#eryt%in& ri&%t, Don!t m6e ny mi"t6e", Wenou&%+ t%ey ne#er did 't'% t%em, A N#1o )oli'emn $ound not%er one o$ t%em ded, 5ut t%

e#'uted 5lu$$+ 9t%, Now you "y+ u%-%u%+ but im&ine i$ you 6new 5lu$$+ 9t%, >u"in& t%o"

to e#'ute bo&&le" t%e mind,AFG: How bi& n re i" itC

TH: It!" not #ery bi&+ but it!" $ull o$ #ery inde)endent-minded )eo)le nd t%i" %))ened ri&

%ert o$ t%e touri"t "e"on+ w%en t%ey m6e t%eir moneyAFG: W%t %))ened to t%e lo'l" w%en t%ey were e#'utedC

TH: I don!t 6now w%ere t%ey went I 'lled &uy I 6now t%ere w%o run" little ri#erbot t

t%ere nd "id+ I 'n!t belie#e you e#'uted And %e "id+ Well I 'n!t belie#e I did eit%er+ bu

w" 6no'6 on t%e door nd I &ot to t%e door nd t%ere w" t%i" &uy "tndin& t%ere, He!" &ot t%"uit on nd ne'6tie nd %e!" "%#ed nd &ot %ir'ut, I $i&ured %e w" n F5I &ent+ nd %e w

"id you!#e &ot t%irty minute" to &et out o$ %ere+ to e#'ute, I "tood t%ere nd I loo6ed t %im n

t%ou&%t+ well+ let!" "ee now+ I!ll &rb %im by t%e ne'6tie nd t%row %im out on t%e &r"", Get %im

)ro)erty, And t%en I t%ou&%t I &ot two du&%ter" ri&%t now wntin& to &o to 'olle&e, It!ll be bi&I!ll &et rre"ted nd I &ot to be %ere nd run t%i" bu"ine""+ "o I e#'uted,

AFG: So %ow mny )eo)le were e#'utedCTH: T%e )o)ultion i" bout =00 to 000, 5ut I don!t 6now %ow mny t%ey e#'uted, I tl

two or t%ree )eo)le w%o did le#e, One ldy told me "%e w" %n&in& out %er lundry nd "%e "

tru'6 ?5lu$$ i" ri&%t on t%e Sn 3o"e Ri#er+ mountinou" re nd rel )retty 'ountry@ turn u) t%t%t run" )"t t%e %ou"e u) 6ind o$ r#ine, So "%e "id "%e uit %n&in& u) lundry nd went

'lled t%e F5I+ be'u"e t%e F5I %d been on t%e TV tellin& )eo)le to 'll t%i" number i$ t%ey not

nyt%in&, So "%e 'lled nd &ot "omebody in >olordo nd told %im w%t "%e!d "een nd t%t t%e

ded-end u) in t%t 'nyon nd i$ t%ey &ot "omebody o#er t%ey!d %#e %im 'u&%t, So "%e $ini"%n&in& u) %er lundry+ t%en went nd &ot %er ro'6in& '%ir nd "t t%ere ll mornin& nd nobod

S%e went in nd 'oo6ed lun'%+ went b'6 out nd ro'6ed on t%e ro'6in& '%ir w%ile+ nd "till n'me, So "%e 'lled t%e lo'l "%eri$$ nd %e "id+ Well+ t%e F5I %#en!t told u" nyt%in& bout 'lled t%e N#1o Stte 2oli'e nd )retty "oon "ome N#1o 'o)" 'me+ but by t%en t%e &uy %d

"omew%ere el"e, T%ey ne#er did $ind nybody,

AFG: So t%ere!" 6iller out on t%e loo"e,TH: 2robbly "o, T%e N#1o" did $ind not%er body, T%e F5I o$$ered urter o$ millio

rewrd on tele#i"ion+ nd t%e &uy t%t I 6new t%t rn t%e bot tri)" "id %e 1u"t &ot $looded wit%

ll t%e"e bounty %unter" runnin& in nd rentin& e#eryt%in& %e %d t%t would $lot down t%e Sn

T%ere w" one &uy w%o w" )"y'%i', He w" &oin& to $lot down t%e Sn 3un in 'noe "ee6)"y'%i' #ibrtion"

AFG: O% no 5ut I!m not "ur)ri"ed, So w%t re "ome o$ t%e writer" you en1oy redin& tod

TH: W%t I!#e &ot on my bed"ide tble i" Rymond >%ndler!" The Big &lee%. Ired it yend I!m reredin& "ome o$ t%o"e &uy", I!d relly li6e to "ee i$ I 'ould lern "omet%in& $rom t%em

lwy" lern "omet%in& $rom t%o"e &ood old one",

AFG: O%+ t%ey!re t%e be"t,TH: I!ll &o b'6 nd red 3on Dideon-%er non-$i'tion, W%en I tu&%t writin& t uni#er"ity

%#e my "tudent" red %er nd "%e!" relly "6ill$ul writer,

AFG: So tell me+ w%en you loo6 t t%e "tte o$ t%e world+ re you o)timi"ti' or )e""imi"ti'

t%in&"C


5/7

TH: Well+ I!m Hrry Trumn Demo'rt nd I t%ou&%t Geor&e 5u"% mi"led u" into t%i" w

t%ou&%t %e w" not well-in$ormed t ll bout t%e "itution in t%e iddle E"t, I w" %o)in& t%t

Demo'rt" would 'ome u) wit% "omebody li6e Hrry Trumn but t%ey 'me u) wit% not%er Yoddly enou&%+ $rternity brot%er w%o "tru'6 me " bein& not mu'% "mrter t%n Geor&e Duby

6now+ I t%in6 lmo"t nybody w%o re)re"ented t%e 6ind o$ old Demo'rti' 2rry t%t I u"ed to lo

%#e beten Geor&e W to be'ome 2re"ident+ but erry w" not t%e mn $or it, I!m o)timi"ti', I t% &ood+ "tron& 'ountry nd 5u"% , ,,, Well+ ob#iou"ly %e w" "mrt enou&% to &et 'olle&e de&re

lt%ou&% Yle i" not )l'e I!d re'ommend $or "omeone w%o!" bona fide intelle'tul, 5ut I!m

AFG: So w%t did you t%in6 o$ t%e tele#i"ion d)ttion o$ &kinwalkers1TH: Well+ erly in my 'reer I on'e &ot ""i&ned to write "'ri)t+ b"ed on one o$ my boo6

mde me wre o$ %ow di$$i'ult it i" to t6e boo6 nd $"%ion it into mo#ie "%orter t%n "e#

%our" nd t%irty minute" So I t%ou&%t t%ey did+ to #ryin& de&ree+ &ood 1ob on t%e t%ree t%

T%e l"t one w" )robbly better, T%ere w" lot o$ "tu$$ t%t I tre"ured t%t t%ey %d to le#e'n!t 'om)lin, I &ot t%em to '%n&e one line in t%e l"t one nd t%ey 'om)lied wit% it, T%ey %

in t%e ori&inl w%ere t%e red-%eded &l w" tryin& to "edu'e 4e)%orn nd I didn!t li6e t%t+ "

rid o$ t%t nd %d %er in"ted "%'6in& u) wit% >%ee, Not my 6ind o$ writin&+ but t%ey "till %

'lot%e" on in t%e $ilm,AFG: A" lon& " t%ey %d t%eir 'lot%e" on So on w%om did you model >%eeC W" it one

"tudent"CTH: Well+ %e w" "ort o$ mi;ture o$ t%em, I needed "omebody not " old-$"%ioned " 4

nd I "ort o$ %omo&eni*ed bun'% o$ t%e "tudent" I w" te'%in& nd dded N#1o element,

youn& Indin"+ e")e'illy t%e N#1o+ were "ort o$ 6idn))ed by t%e 5ureu o$ Indin A$$ir" %uled o$$ to bordin& "'%ool" w%ere t%ey mi""ed lernin& o$ t%eir own 'ulture-$or e;m)le t%

winter "torie", T%e N#1o te'% t%eir '%ildren in t%e %o&n" on winter ni&%t" nd t%e bordin&

6id" ne#er &ot t%t, T%e old-timer" li6e 4e)%orn 6now ll t%e myt%olo&y but lot o$ t%e youn

don!t 6now t%t mu'%, T%ere re "o mny t%in&" bout t%e N#1o+ )rti'ulrly t%e N#1o 'ultli6e+ t%t you don!t wnt t%em to lo"e, T%eir ttitude bout &reed+ t%eir ttitude bout %el)in& )

need %el)+ not rememberin& "li&%t"-$or&i#in&+ you 6now,AFG: T%t would be terrible to lo"e, So tell me+ do you li6e to tr#elCTH: I lo#e to tr#el+ but I!#e &ot rt%riti" nd I!#e &ot "'iti' ner#e )roblem "o I t%in6 t

be$ore I t6e tri)", You 6now+ I don!t tr#el #ery well ny more, I!ll be =0+ you "ee, I!m /. nd

&ettin& old+ nd I!m be&innin& to $eel it,AFG: y &rndmot%er i" ninety+ "o I don!t 'on"ider you old, W%t re "ome o$ t%e %obbi

li6e to do be"ide" writin&C

TH: I u"ed to li6e to &o $i"%in&, I u"ed to be trout $i"%ermn, I )lodded u) nd down m

t%e"e little "trem"+ but " I "y+ I!#e &ot bd n6le nd bd le& out o$ World Wr II nd t%e doe"n!t %el) ny+ "o I!m not u) to t%t 6ind o$ $i"%in& ny more, Sin'e I don!t li6e $i"%in& out o$

relly don!t %#e mu'% o$ %obby nymore+ e;'e)t redin& nd writin&, And I &o $or wl6" l

lon& t%e irri&tion dit'%e",AFG: So re you e#er &oin& to retire $rom writin&C

TH: I don!t t%in6 "o, I!d dri#e my wi$e 'r*y i$ I w"n!t writin&, One t%in& I!d 6ind o$ li6e

&o t%rou&% my $ile", I!#e &ot $our drwer "tor&e 'binet ri&%t be%ind me o$ "tu$$ I!#e writtenyer" nd Hr)er >ollin" li6e" t%e ide o$ me doin& retro")e'ti#e "m)ler &oin& wy b'6 in

$i$tie" wit% "tu$$ I w" writin& $or #riou" m&*ine",

AFG: T%t would be intere"tin&,

TH: W%en I "trt to loo6 t "ome o$ t%e "tu$$+ I t%in6 I wrote better w%en I w" in my twe


6/7

I do now, I my do t%t, I don!t 6now, 5ut I!m not &oin& to uit writin&, I don!t t%in6 I!ll uit w

4e)%orn "torie" eit%er,

AFG: T%t!" &ret, I!m &ld to %er t%t, I 6now t%t you "w lot o$ blood"%ed durin& WII, How did "eein& t%t 'olor your #iew o$ t%e worldC

TH: It m6e" me #ery mu'% wre t%t we!re ll lot li6e, Ye"terdy I w" tl6in& bou

%rd it i" to uit "mo6in&+ nd it mde me remember %ow we ')tured Germn m'%ine-&unnbrn lo$t one dy, We were t))in& %im down nd %e w" "tndin& t%ere wit% %i" %nd" u) nd

)'6 o$ 4u'6y Stri6e 'i&rette" %i" )o'6et, ?T%e town w" S'%iller"dor$, We %d ')tured it n

t%e Germn" %d re')tured it nd we ')tured it b'6 $rom t%em+ "ee@ So I too6 %i" )'6&e oStri6e" nd )ut t%em in my )o'6et, I didn!t e#en "mo6e but I 6new %e!d t6en t%em o$$ ded

He &ot ll u)"et 5er in mind t%ere were t%ree o$ u" "tndin& wit% &un" )ointin& t %im He to

t%e del w" o$$, I$ we didn!t &i#e %im b'6 %i" 'i&rette"+ %e w"n!t &oin& to uit lu&%" I &

b'6 %i" 'i&rette" And you 6now+ %e w" 1u"t not%er teen&er li6e we were, Generlly we dtl6in& mu'% to t%e Germn" we were $i&%tin&+ but w%en we ')tured one+ you 6now+ t%ey we

&uy" li6e u"+ doin& w%t t%ey were "ent out to do,

AFG: Ye", y $#ourite uote bout wr i" w%t 2eter 9"tino# "id, He "id "omet%in& l

)roblem wit% wr i" you don!t %#e time to &et to 6now your enemy to "ee i$ you 'n &et lon&e'% ot%er,

TH: T%t!" true, A$ter t%e wr I went b'6 o#er t%ere wit% "ome o$ t%e &uy" $rom my )ltwe too6 our wi#e" to "%ow t%em+ you 6now+ nd to loo6 t w%ere we!d been, We went to "ome

town" w%ere we!d been nd w%ere we!d ')tured "ome o$ t%e )eo)le w%o!d been on t%e ot%er "

t%ey were 1u"t li6e u", So I %te wr,AFG: It!" %orrible t%in&, Well+ you!#e been mrried $or 8 yer"+ you %#e "i; 6id"+ nd

be"t-"ellin& writer, W%t!" your "e'retC

TH: I t%in6 I!#e been w$ul lu'6y+ to tell you t%e trut%, I!#e %d lot o$ &ood lu'6, Well+ $

my wi$e w" ")e't'ulr nd $lun6in& n l&ebr 'our"e )er"uded me I didn!t relly wnt to ben&ineer, I won t%e Sil#er Str bout t%e "me time I w" wounded, nd w%en I &ot out o$ t%e w

aily Oklahoman did bi& $eture "tory on me, T%ey &ot letter" I!d written my mot%er-my mowidow-nd t%i" ldy 5etri'e St%l %er nme w"+ told my mot%er t%t "%e!d li6e to tl6 to me &ot %ome, I didn!t 6now nybody in O6l%om >ity, We were $rmer" nd my mot%er %d mo#

t%ere w%en we!d "%ut t%e $rm down, W%en I &ot %ome+ I went down to "ee t%i" 5etri'e St%l

told me t%t I "%ould be writer, And I "id+ well you "ee+ I!m blind, y le$t eye i" le&lly blin''ordin& to t%e VA, I didn!t 6now w%t I wnted to be+ but I did li6e to write, So I went to 1ou

"'%ool nd $ound out I 'ould write, I"n!t t%t lu'6C

AFG: 4u'6 nd "6ill, 4u'6+ "6ill+ nd dri#e, Did you meet your wi$e t 1ournli"m "'%ool

TH: I met my wi$e in "enior yer, I %d 1u"t turned 7, S%e w" &ettin& %er de&ree in ol5iolo&y or "omet%in&+ "omet%in& #ery bo#e nd beyond me I met %er t dn'e, I ne#er u"u

to dn'e" be'u"e+ %ell+ I w" wl6in& on 'ne, And I "w t%i" d**lin&ly )retty+ "weet-loo6i

brunette dn'in&, I 'ut in on %er nd "te))ed on %er $oot+ o$ 'our"e+ nd we &ot lon& rel $inelon& I w" dee)ly in lo#e wit% %er,

AFG: Well+ Tony+ it w" "o ni'e tl6in& to you, I relly en1oyed it, It w" more li6e 'on#

TH: Well I en1oyed it+ too+ tell you t%e trut%, T6e 're o$ your"el$, J


7/7

the strand interview(bookfi.org)

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