Costco Connection - January 2007

book
pick

Love’s a pain

in the neck

Pennie’s pıck

Author explores humorous side of vampire amour

FRANCE FREEMAN

By Stephanie E. Ponder

AUTHOR CHRIS TOPHER MOORE is steeling Moore knew at the age of 16 that he wanted to be himself for the day when, later this month, his new a writer, but it wasn’t until he was 30 that he wrote his novel comes out. Even though it’s the first novel, Practical Demonkeeping. “I title of the novel, he knows his self- did a lot of things to make a living,” says esteem will take a hit when he finds his Moore, whose jobs included insurance inbox filled with e-mail with “You Suck” salesman and waiter. “One thing I kept in the subject line. in mind was ‘I can do this.’”

CHARLEE RODGERS

No worries. It’s just the aptly titled Within 11 months of Practical vampire love story that picks up where Demonkeeping’s publication in early Moore’s 1995 novel, Bloodsucking 1992, Disney bought the film rights Fiends, leaves off. This month’s Book for a sum that, as Moore says, helped Buyer’s Pick, You Suck: A Love Story him catch up with people his age. “I continues the story of Jody, a red-haired was in my early 30s and living like a vampire; 19-year-old Tommy Flood, collegekid.” her boyfriend; Tommy’s former night- Although never made into a film, shift colleagues, known as the Animals; _Christopher _Moorethe movie deal gave him the financial and a homeless man better known as freedom to pursue writing full time. He the Emperor of San Francisco. But Moore insists followed the first novel with others, including Coyote readers can enjoy it without ever having read the Blue, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and Fluke. previous title. His last two novels, The Stupidest Angel and A

The good thing about writing about vampires, Dirty Job, won Quill Awards. (Professionals in the Moore tells The Connection from his home in San publishing industry select Quill nominees, but read-Francisco, is that “all you have to do is be entertain- ers choose the winners through popular vote.) Moore ing and funny. There’s not a lot of subtext.” jokes that he’s moved up from the fantasy and sci-

Being funny comes naturally to the Ohio native. ence-fiction category to general fiction. He adds that Moore’s dad was a highway patrolman who often next year he’s hoping to win in either the romance or reacted to his job with a dark sense of humor. technical writingcategories. (Why not? You Suck is a

Moore picked up that trait and has employed it in love story—even if it is love between the undead.) each of his 10 novels. All kidding aside, Moore pauses to acknowledge

“I’ve tried to write serious stuff, and it doesn’t that winning the two awards boiled down to his work,” Moore says. “My default setting is funny. It’s readers: “They may not be that many, but they’re just where I automatically go.” enthusiastic.” C

A common thread in Moore’s writing is an element of the supernatural—whether it’s talking fruit bats, a sea beast named Steve or vampires roaming the streets of the City by the Bay. Moore matter-of-factly identifies his taste for the otherworldly as a symptom of adult attention-deficit disorder. “I get bored with the world as it is,” he says. “If someone is annoying, feed him to a monster. If you have that power, why not use it?” ^Signed ^bookgiveaway

Moore is laugh-out-loud hilarious _COSTCO _HAS ₁₀_autographednot only in print, but also on stops dur- _copies _of _Christopher _Moore’sing author tours. The 49-year-old Costco _You _Suck: _A _Love _Story_to _givemember doesn’t so much read from his _away. _To _enter, _print _yourlatest work as talk about the creative _{name, membership} _number,process, give away prizes or tell amusing _address _and _daytime _phone^anecdotes ^from ^his ^life.number on a postcard or letter

“If you’re coming, I should make the _and _send _it _to:_{You Suck}_,_Theopportunity to entertain you,” he says. Not to men- _Costco _Connection_, _P.O. _Boxtion the fact that he reads too fast and edits on the _34088, _Seattle, _WA _98124-1088,fly. “It ends up sounding like badly translated _or _fax _{it to (425) 313-6718.}

German,” he jokes.

Pennie Clark Ianniciello Costco Book Buyer

News about scheduled book signings at Costco and a book giveaway can be found in “Book Look,” only in the Online Edition at costco.com under “Costco magazine.”

THIS YEAR I have resolved to laugh more. The best way I can think to go about that is by reading anything I can get my hands on by author Christopher Moore. And so, his new novel, You Suck, is the obvious choice for this month’s Buyer’s Pick.

I’ve been a fan of Moore’s for years and try not to read his writing in public—so people won’t look at me as if I’m crazy while I laugh until my sides hurt.

While the book picks up where 1995’s Bloodsucking Fiends leaves off, You Suck is a side-splitting romp that stands on its own.

You Suck is available at most Costco warehouses and at costco.com. C

No purchase is necessary. Only current Costco members are eligible to win. One entry per household. Entries must be received or postmarked by February 1, 2007. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by mail on or before March 1, 2007. The value of the prize is $21.95. Void where prohibited. Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes. The decision of the judges is final. Employees of Costco, HarperCollins and their families are not eligible.