Author shares joys and failures of writing

Stewart O'Nan took the podium Wednesday night in Konover auditorium to discuss his string of hugely successful novels and his well-noted writing career.

"I was never trained as I writer, I just used to write in my basement when I came home from work," O'Nan said in an interview before his talk.

O'Nan continued to warm up the audience by humorously touching on the Red Sox and the minor annoyance of forgetting his books for the reading that evening and having to purchase his own novels at the Co-op - for full retail price. Afterward, he began with a reading from the novel "Snow Angels," which chronicles the struggles of a rural community coming to terms with tragedy and loss.

O'Nan's writing is cynical, ironic, yet still somehow warm. When describing the process of creating characters, O'Nan reiterates the intimacy and closeness he has with them all whether they are young girls who have been abducted from their homes ("Songs for the Missing") or middle-aged females speed addicts ("Speed Queen").

O'Nan's frequently chooses to write about real people, places and things. One of his best known novels, "Last Night at the Lobster" tells the story of the manager of a Red Lobster on the eve of "the Lobster's" last night in operation. He goes beyond ordinary elements to show readers that everyone has a story. He unveils a twisted love triangle playing out behind the scenes of the Red Lobster.

After reading out a particularly emotional excerpt from one of his stories, he looked up and agreed with the reaction from the crowd.

"Ehh, it was a little sad," he said.

O'Nan shared the stories of his success and his failures with the audience, never missing a chance to laugh at himself as a young writer. He discussed manuscripts that he said were tucked away in drawers and overdeveloped characters he created while trying to emulate great writers.

"As someone who is interested in becoming a professional writer and knows how daunting it can be, [O'Nan] was relatable and explained a lot of important aspects about becoming a writer, which I really enjoyed," said Jen Danowitz, a 7th-semester English and communications double major.