Page 32 July 2016 AN: Your writing style is intricate and well crafted. What type of writing education do you have, do you continue to pursue, and would you recommend to those hoping to hone the craft ? CG: I was a creative writing major in college and also received a Master of Fine Arts in fiction. I am now, in addition to being a novelist, the president of Vermont College of Fine Arts, which has some of the top graduate writing programs in the country. I think writing programs cannot make you a writer, but they can make you better. Plus, you become part of a community of people also doing this weird thing, what Richard Russo once told me he thought of as a port in a storm. But the most important piece is to read everything and to read like a writer. I do that now. Just like a chef can taste a dish and deconstruct it in her mind as to how it was put together, writers need to do the same thing with novels. That, and they need to always be listening and watching. Pay attention to the world around you. AN: Your previous novel, The Headmaster’s Wife , was a breakout success. Tell our readers how that kind of success changes you, your writing and your approach to your next book. CG: I think the only success that changed me was when I published my first novel, Mirror Lake , back in 2003. It gave me the confidence that I could do this and that I had something to say. The Headmaster’s Wife was my fourth novel and it was incredibly gratifying to see that kind of mainstream success, where it sold really well and reached a lot of people. At the same time, I still approach what I do the same way, trying to tell stories to folks who aren’t in the same room as me and hope they are entertained, and find something both familiar and universal in what they read. AN: If I Forget You is a beautiful and BOOK CLUB BOOK OF THE MONTH If I Forget You BY THOMAS CHRISTOPHER GREENE Arcadia News Book Club July 28, 6:30 p.m., Saguaro Library By Amanda Goossen Few things are as satisfying as a well- written and highly entertaining summer novel that takes you from your little poolside chair into the pages of an entirely new world. In his latest novel, author Thomas Christopher Greene writes of young love, broken promises and the lasting effects of a powerful and emotional love affair, making If I Forget You not only beach worthy, but deserving of the Arcadia News Book Club as well. On July 28 the Arcadia News Book Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Saguaro Library for our monthly meeting to discuss If I Forget You by Christopher Greene. We will enjoy light refreshments, a group book discussion and an interview with Greene via Skype. For more information or to RSVP, email amanda@arcadianews.com. I recently asked Greene a few questions about his book, his writing career and his writing process, in anticipation of our upcoming group discussion: AN: In your professional life, you’ve had a wide variety of jobs. Did you always think writing was in your future? CG: It wasn’t until I was in college that I thought of writing as a possible career. Much like Henry in this book, I took a creative writing class and a professor pulled me aside and told me I could do this thing, that I had talent. I had always been a reader though, and also a storyteller. And both of those are critical foundations if you want to write for a living. well-written tale of a star-crossed love affair. With a popular starting point for a novel, how did you so profoundly make this plot line your own? CG: Love stories are hard this way, right? How do you say something new and particular that hasn’t been said before? How do you avoid being sentimental? Those are challenges. In this case, I just dug deep and tried to understand the characters and wrote what I felt and what I thought they might feel. AN: Your novel looks at personal choice and how decisions we make can change our course forever. Tell us about a choice you’ve made in your life, which has dramatically altered your path? CG: There are probably two I can think of. First, the decision to follow a girlfriend to rural Vermont after college graduation when most of my friends were headed to big cities for jobs. The second was the bout of madness I had about 10 years ago when I decided to start a college. I didn’t know if it would be successful and now it’s a leading graduate arts institution affecting thousands of lives and employing hundreds of people. No matter what I do in my literary career, [starting a college] will most likely be the first line of my obituary. AN: What was your favorite book of the last year? CG: A book of nonfiction actually. Ta- Nehisi Coates’ amazing memoir, Between the World and Me . What a beautiful writer. Author writes of young love and broken promises in new novel By Kelly Potts During his last years in high school, Matthew Tejada sought a not-so-average part-time job. In March 2014, that job became a reality: Tejada bought an ice cream truck. Brain Freezeee Ice Cream Truck quickly gained a following throughout the neighborhood. “I didn’t want to get a typical part-time job,” said Tejada. “So I did some research to see what I could realistically handle on my own.” Starting off with novelty ice cream treats and adding in shaved ice, he captured a niche market. Tejada traveled along popular routes throughout the neighborhood and word spread. He also catered birthday and other parties. The truck is currently looking for a new owner as Tejada heads off to college. “This really was the greatest thing that happened. It taught me a lot about running a business, treating your customers right, and what it takes to run a food truck!” Running a business in high school can be a little demanding. Plus, it makes a student stand out. “You will definitely be known as the ice cream man throughout school,” laughed Tejada. “But it was worth every single day that I worked in that truck.” Brain Freezeee helped Tejada shape his future in ways he could have never expected. In the fall, Tejada will attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and intends to get a degree in entrepreneurship. “Before getting the truck, I wasn’t really sure what I would focus on in college. This definitely opened my eyes to what I want to do with my future. I don’t see another food truck, but maybe something in the tech world,” said Tejada. Giving advice to students who may be looking to do the same, Tejada advises to go at the idea in full force and pursue all ideas. “I would have never imagined I would run an ice cream truck, but I would do it all over again. And, it looks good on college applications!” said Tejada. “I debated bringing the truck with me [to LMU], but I think I will wait a year or two before jumping into a new venture.” I scream, you scream; he sold the ice cream Matthew Tejada spent his high school years working a not so typical teenage job, running his own business as the neighborhood ice cream man.