1980 My literary era

The Paris Review's writer interviews are different from ordinary journalist interviews. They are not a one-time interview, nor are they conducted to coincide with the publication of a new book by the writer, but an interview that may last for several months or even a year.

During this period, editors and reporters from The Paris Review will visit the interviewees multiple times.

Long-term and frequent visits will deepen the familiarity between writers and visitors, and they will naturally extend the depth of discussions and exchanges during the communication process.

Everyone exchanged writing habits, methods, confusions faced when writing, and various secrets in the literary world...

The filtered content naturally becomes interesting, has important documentary value, and even has a certain legendary color.

The Paris Review's first visit came three days after Roger Strauss's call. The interviewer was Christian Salmon, a senior editor at the Paris Review and a journalist.

After meeting and chatting for a few words, Christian Salmon was not in a hurry to conduct an interview, but chatted with Lin Weimin about life in the United States.

"You are different from most writers."

Christian Salmon looked at the decoration in the apartment as he said this.

Lin Weimin smiled and said: "It seems that a writer shouldn't be too rich. But don't get me wrong, this is just a borrowed apartment."

"But I checked and found out that the sales volume of your works in the United States is enough to allow you to live a life that most people only dream of."

Lin Weimin nodded, "To be precise, I have never been short of money since I started writing. Even when I was in China, my works were very popular. Of course, publishing works in China will definitely not make as much money as in the United States!" "

Christian Salmon couldn't help laughing when he heard Lin Weimin's words, "You seem to be very proud of the fact that your works are selling well?"

"Shouldn't you be proud? It should be a dream for every writer to have a best-selling work and be read by more people." Lin Weimin said generously.

"Perhaps everyone has become accustomed to the dismal sales of serious literature over the years, so a special case like you suddenly appeared, which is a bit unaccustomed."

The two were chatting casually, and Christian Salmon noticed a half-opened book on the coffee table. He glanced at the cover, "Eleven Types of Loneliness."

"I found this in a second-hand bookstore a while ago."

"Richard Yates, you like him?"

Lin Weimin nodded, "It's hard not to like a writer as good as him."

"Speaking of which, the sales of your works seem to be at two extremes."

“My style is more flattering, like Joseph Heller.”

Christian Salmon laughed when he heard what Lin Weimin said. He noticed the little thought behind Lin Weimin's words. He was a man who knew humor and self-deprecation.

Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" and Richard Yates's "Revolutionary Road" happened to be rivals for the award.

"I read your interview in The New Yorker, and you also mentioned Richard Yates in that interview. It seems that you really like him."

"I just hope that some readers can discover the value of Richard Yates, and it is best to buy a few more of his books. Such an excellent writer should not be treated like this." Lin Weimin said with some regret.

"Is this an editor's instinct?" Christian Salmon knew that Lin Weimin was also an editor.

"You can say that." Lin Weimin nodded.

"I was surprised when I saw your information. Not only are you a writer, you are also the editor-in-chief of China's largest literary magazine. How did you do this?"

…

There is no sense of ceremony in the interview, just like chatting with friends. This atmosphere makes people very comfortable, and a lot is said without even realizing it.

Almost a whole day passed in this kind of free conversation.

As night fell, Christian Salmon asked Lin Weimin if he had any manuscripts with him. Photographing writers' manuscripts is a tradition in "writer interviews".

Lin Weimin took out the English version of "Hunting" he was writing, and Christian Salmon looked surprised.

"You write in English?"

"Not often, after all, English is not my mother tongue. This novel actually already has a Chinese version. Mr. Roger Strauss's FSG Publishing House is going to publish this work. I plan to write it and let them read it first. , it may still need translation polishing in the future.”

Christian Salmon took a look at the content of the manuscript and praised: "I wouldn't be surprised if English is your mother tongue. It seems that I still don't know you well enough. I will read all your novels during this time." .”

"Thank you, you contributed another sales volume to me."

Christian Salmon smiled at Lin Weimin, took a few photos of the manuscript, and said with some regret: "The English version of the manuscript is almost boring. It seems that I should apply for a trip to China to see your Chinese manuscript. Especially your lost manuscript, was it collected in Xiangjiang, right?"

"That's right."

"How interesting! By the way, there is also the editorial department where you work. I like the atmosphere there. I must go and see it."

"welcome!"

The writer's interview spans a long time, and the interview location is not limited. Christian Salmon is going to visit Lin Weimin in China, which is really not a boast.

"Looking forward to your arrival. But the key is, I have to go back to China first." Lin Weimin joked.

Christian Salmon laughed.

At the end of the interview, Christian Salmon confirmed his itinerary with Lin Weimin.

It is now the end of June. In the next half month, Lin Weimin will accept two interviews arranged by Random House, a speech, and more than a dozen book signings and reader meetings in several major cities in the United States, and then he will Will return to China.

Christian Salmon plans to conduct an interview with Lin Weimin on his way to a book signing, and then go to China to conduct another interview. After three exchanges, this interview with the writer will be considered over.

After seeing off Christian Salmon, Lin Weimin officially started the trip arranged for him by Random House.

Compared with the interview with the writer of "The Paris Review" arranged by Roger Strauss, the interview arranged by Random House has a much more commercial atmosphere, and the media of the interview is the "New York Times", which also highlights the difference between the two. style.

After the interview, Lin Weimin was invited to give a lecture at Columbia University, and then participated in a book signing held in two bookstores in New York.

After the book signing in New York, Lin Weimin got on the plane. In the next few days, Lin Weimin will go to Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other cities to attend book signings and reader meetings.

In Chicago, Lin Weimin accepted another interview with the Chicago Tribune.

The next stop after Chicago is Kansas. There is only a book signing at this stop. Logically speaking, Kansas is not the city to hold a signing. This itinerary was specially requested by Lin Weimin from Random House.

On the day of the book signing, there were not many readers who came to the bookstore. There were about forty or fifty people. The reader meeting and book signing ended in less than two hours.

"Old Ma!" Lin Weimin opened his arms and hugged Mark Meng, who had been waiting for a long time.

Mark Meng was a little excited. They had just met at the book signing, but they didn't speak. He kept waiting aside.

"Lin, I finally see you again, my friend!"

"meet again!"

The two patted each other to calm down the excitement of meeting again after a long separation, and talked about the changes in the past few years.

Lin Weimin pulled Tao Huimin over and introduced him to Mark Meng, who said, "It's a pity that I couldn't attend your wedding!"

"Wouldn't it be nice to meet now? We are on our honeymoon." Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Mark Meng now lives in Kansas City and works as a teacher at a university. The last time Lin Weimin came to the United States, he drove all the way to New York to meet Lin Weimin.

This time, Lin Weimin asked Random House to hold the book signing in Kansas just to meet his old friends, so he called Mark Meng in advance.

After chatting for a while, Mark Meng invited Lin Weimin and his wife back to his home.

Mark Meng got married the year before last. Their home is not far from the University of Kansas. Lin Weimin and his wife came to visit and met Mark Meng's wife Julie and their children.

"Julie, what am I talking about? Did you see it? This is my friend, Lin Weimin!"

Mark Meng introduced Lin Weimin to his wife in a somewhat showy tone.

In recent years, Lin Weimin's name in the United States has become more and more famous. Mark Meng often talks to his wife about the deep friendship he forged with Lin Weimin when he was studying abroad. Unfortunately, his wife Julie always thinks he is bragging every time.

Now seeing Lin Weimin in person, she finally believed what Mark Meng said was true.

My husband does know Lin Weimin, a great writer, and is a very good friend!

Mark Meng and Julie prepared a lunch for Lin Weimin. They sat together eating and chatting, as if they were back in their days in Yanjing.

When talking about the friends he had while studying abroad together, Mark Meng was full of regrets. As a few years passed, the contact with everyone became less and less, and they have not been in contact for a long time.

Lin Weimin talked about Yin Geli's current situation. Not only did Dayang Niu become his niece-in-law, but she also gave birth to a mixed-race child, which made Mark Meng sound like a dream.

"I never thought that among us, Goli would be the last one to stay in China." Mark Meng sighed.

"Yes, the fate is wonderful!"

Staying at Mark Meng's house until evening, Lin Weimin had to say goodbye because he had to catch a plane.

Mark Meng took Lin Weimin and his wife to the airport. After getting off the car, they were not as separated as last time because Mark Meng told them good news.

He is now applying to be a visiting scholar in China. If everything goes well, he will be able to meet Lin Weimin again in Yanjing next year or the year after.

After finishing his trip to Kansas, Lin Weimin set out again.

A few days later, after the last book signing in Los Angeles, Lin Weimin met Christian Salmon again and continued the unfinished interview.

Lin Weimin even packed his luggage for this trip and had no plans to return to New York. After the interview with the writer of "The Paris Review", all his itinerary and tasks in the United States came to an end.

Lin Weimin called Arthur Miller to say goodbye, and then called Roger Strauss.

During this period, his schedule was so full that he didn't even have time to write. He only wrote the beginning of the English version of "Hunting" and could only wait until he returned to Yanjing to calm down and finish it before mailing it to FSG Publishing House.

Before I knew it, it was already mid-July, and more than three months had passed in a flash.

In the past half month, Cheng Wuchun has been calling Lin Weimin to urge him to go back.

His job in the editorial department lasted for more than three months. If he didn't go back, his colleagues would almost forget that he was a director.

After packing his luggage, Lin Weimin took Tao Huimin to the airport early the next morning.

The car to the airport was arranged by Random House. In the car, Lin Weimin took Tao Huimin's hand and said guiltily: "We promised we were here for our honeymoon, but I didn't expect that all the time would be spent on my work."

Tao Huimin's smile was gentle and moving. After marriage, she became a bit more mature as a woman.

"How could it be? I have lived a very fulfilling life in the United States during this period. And look at all the things we brought back. We have been playing for a long time."

Tao Huimin snuggled close to Lin Weimin. In the past, she only knew that she was married to a great writer, but at that time, she was only in China. She had long been accustomed to Lin Weimin's fame and the public's love for him.

During this trip abroad, Tao Huimin finally saw the significance of her husband's identity as a "writer" in the United States, and enjoyed the preferential treatment brought by the aura of "Mrs. Lin Weimin". Tao Huimin's heart was filled with love and admiration for her husband.

With a smile on her lips, she joked: "After this trip, my English has improved and I am no longer mute in English!"

Lin Weimin couldn't help laughing, "You've only learned a little bit of oral English when you went abroad, so you're at a big loss!"

While the two were chatting and laughing, the car arrived at the airport.

Two hours later, the couple boarded the plane back to Yanjing.