I'm not sure what made me click on "Snow Storms and Monsters" that particular night. All I know is that once I began to read, I dare not stop, and by the time the Monster had appeared, I ceased breathing until I had finished.

Oh shit, I thought, this guy can write. 

I've been a fan ever since. 

Mean Mr. Mustard agreed to the interview; the questions are cribbed from the oustanding series of interviews that precede this one.

Without much further ado.... 

Which post on your own blog is your favorite? Why did you write it? Did you learn from the comments others posted on it?

My favorite post is Snow Storms and Monsters. I wrote it because I felt it was time to quell the Monster’s grip on my psyche. The comments I got surprised me. I learned that a caring community of bloggers exists here in OS. There are so many cool people here!

What do you enjoy about the writing of others on OS? Whose particular blog would you recommend that others read? Why?
I enjoy the diversity of thought on OS. I read many OS blogs. Thank God, I’m retired because I’d end up getting fired for doing so. Recommending other blogs is hard to do. Those bloggers I frequently read know that I do so. But I encourage everyone to seek out the new bloggers, read their posts and comment on them—especially the younger writers. Everyone likes to be heard.

If you could have a dinner with five other OS members, who would you invite and why? What would you serve? If it was potluck, what would you ask others to bring? What do you expect to talk about? What music would you play?
Five OS bloggers… h’mm… well, I’d start with you because I’d like to know more about your teaching and the hiking trails around the lakes. Then I’d invite CoyoteOldStyle, because she’s the first person who befriended me here at OS, she’s from Boston, a fantastic artist, and have you seen the recipes she posts here? I’d beg her to prepare the meal—whatever suits her fancy. Of course, I’d invite KindOfBlue, because I get most of my news from his postings, and after the meal, I’d ask him to play some jazz trumpet—something from mellow from Miles.  Professor Emeritus would be invited. His thoughts on everything from politics to angels intrigues me, plus I could tell him about my friendship with Carl Yazstremski, and he could tell me more about Roger’s Hornsby. Last, I’d ask lostcauser to come up from Memphis to join us. She’s a kindred spirit. And I just have to know if she has that Memphis “sound” in her voice.

What famous non-OS writers influence your writing? Who do you read and what do you like about their writing?
The works of Anton Chekhov, Raymond Carver, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Alice Munroe, and Wally Lamb, have influenced the way I think about writing. I’m currently reading collections of short stories; there are so many eclectic writers in these collections. I love the variety and reading their personal comments on how they brought their stories to fruition.

When did you start hiking and where are the trails that you love the most?
My love affair with hiking started when my son attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Hunnington Ave., Massachusetts Ave., Boylston St., Columbus Ave., Tremont St., became my favorite trails.

What would you like others to know about you as a writer or person that you feel has not been adequately presented through your previous blogs?
I write to silence the voices in my head. When I ignore those voices, I get in trouble. As for what’s not been adequately presented in my blogs, when I was born I was given my father’s name—Harry. A day later, my mother decided to name me Chuck. I grew up very confused…maybe that confusion is evident.

When you are writing about the Monster, how do you keep the feelings provoked by that time at bay?
By saying to the Monster’s ghost, “Fuck you…look at what I’m doing…read the words I’m writing!

Can you provide a photo of the space in your house where you do your writing or of areas around your home that inspire your writing?
At the moment, the only camera I have is the one in my MacBook. I’ll try to give a visual representation of my workspace, but I refuse to neaten up the clutter.

What one thing causes you hesitation in writing on OS?
My writings will hurt my family and children.

What one piece of advice would you give to a new writer on OS?
Do your thing and post your thoughts with disregard of what others may think. H’mm that kind of contradicts my last answer. See…I told you I’m confused.

How do you choose what to write about?
I conference with the voices in my head, then come to a decision that might hold relevance to some one who reads my work.

Is there a famous piece of writing (a poem, a short story, a novel, an essay) that you wish you'd written, no matter how fantastic that possibility is?
Wally Lamb’s novel, I Know This Much Is True.

What are your goals as a writer?

To leave a legacy for my children to read to their children.