On tour: Meet the author Stephan Pastis

3 February 2015 Books+Publishing

Stephan Pastis is the author of the ‘Timmy Failure’ series (Walker Books). The latest title in the series, We Meet Again, was published in 2014. Pastis will be touring Australia and New Zealand in March.

What would you put on a shelf-talker for your book?
The adventures of a boy detective who is not smart and cannot solve any mysteries and his overweight polar bear sidekick.

What are you reading right now?
It’s quite varied: a novel by Don DeLillo; a book on Islam in the 8th century; a book on the Mississippi Delta blues artists; and In a Sunburned Country [Australian title: Down Under] (Black Swan) by Bill Bryson.

What are you planning to read next?
Lonely Planet’s Guide to New Zealand.

Which book do you always recommend?
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (Penguin).

What was the defining book of your childhood?
I don’t think I have one defining book. They’re not kids’ books, but as a young teen, I read tons of Kurt Vonnegut.

If you were a literary character you’d be …
Huck Finn or Charlie Brown.

What’s your favourite book adaptation (film, television or theatre)?
No Country for Old Men.

Hardback, paperback or digital?
All three.

Facebook or Twitter?
Both, but I prefer Facebook.

In 50 years’ time books will be …
As important as they are today (and hopefully, more so).

Category: Features