Ep 49: A Christmas crime novel with the most unreliable character

<p>In this episode, I’m joined by Tom Halford to discuss the most curious book I’ve read this year, Over the Lights and Over the Houses. The book is a Christmas story, a comedic crime novel brimming with the absurd, suspense, and narrated by the most unreliable character.</p><p> </p><p>In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, this is a happy conversation. Tom shares family stories, traditions, dishes, and some fun facts about Atlantic Canada. Yet, we interlace the joy with serious conversations around truth telling, dark pasts, diversity, and betrayal.</p><p> </p><p>My biggest takeaway from this conversation is the importance of maintaining curiosity and wonder, especially as I get older and life demands much more from me. <em>Over the Lights and Over the Houses </em>reminds me that we create honestly and carefully when we maintain our joy and wonder.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Show highlights</strong></p><p>1:13 – How The Trailer Park Boys and a family tradition of telling tales inspired the main character </p><p>4:23 – A structural choice that keeps the reader going</p><p>8:21 – How not to become a husk of a person</p><p>12:13 – Does life make us liars, or do we choose our own paths to truth telling?</p><p>17:47 – Preserving authenticity in Atlantic Canada</p><p>24:21 – Thoughts on writing about interracial friendships </p><p>31:35 – How to stop writing boring poems</p><p>36:50 – Writing as a parent</p><p>42:10 – The secret to staying on the journey of the art</p><p>_____________________</p><p>Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/4m5KYfRF-ms" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/4m5KYfRF-ms</a> </p><p>_____________________</p><p><strong>Guest’s links</strong></p><p>Buy <em>Over the Lights and Over the Houses</em>: <a href="https://ghp-pql.com/products/over-the-lights-and-over-the-houses" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ghp-pql.com/products/over-the-lights-and-over-the-houses</a></p><p>Read “The Blockbuster Manifesto: How to Stop Writing Boring Poems”: <a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-blockbuster-manifesto-how-to-stop-writing-boring-poems" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-blockbuster-manifesto-how-to-stop-writing-boring-poems</a></p><p>_____________________ </p><p><strong>Host’s links</strong></p><p>Find out more about the show: <a href="https://www.journeyoftheart.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.journ