Bestselling author Amy Bloom’s latest work, a collection of short stories titled “Where the God of Love Hangs Out,” has recently been released in paperback. Bloom will speak about “Where the God of Love Hangs Out,” her earlier novels (“Away,” “Love Invents Us”) and her work in general in conversation at the next California Lectures at the Crest Theatre on Feb. 23.

There are two quartets of stories in “Where the God of Love Hangs Out,” each centered around two characters. William and Clare in the first quartet begin as each half of two couples who are best friends. The second quartet of stories centers around 19-year-old Lionel and his stepmother Julia after his father’s death.

The rest of the stories are single short stories about how people grow, or don’t, as they go through life. A particularly good story is “Between Here and Here,” about a family headed by a self-centered and emotionally abusive father. As he nears the end of his life, he suddenly becomes pleasant and caring toward his son and daughter. The adult children don’t quite know what to make of it.

Amy Bloom spoke with SacramentoPress.com today about “Where the God of Love Hangs Out,” influences in her writing and her writing process.

When asked about writing a collection of short stories after writing several novels, Bloom noted that her first publication (“Come to Me”) was a collection of short stories. Bloom seems to alternate short-story collections with novels with a non-fiction (“Normal”) thrown in. She is currently working on another novel.

When asked about how in a short story the writer seems to have to cut to the chase she responded that the writer cannot be indulgent writing a short story. “No laziness,” she said. Poetry is one of her favorite forms of short story, she continued. Bloom includes a couple of Jane Hirschfield poems in “Where the God of Love Hangs Out.”

When asked wether writing novels or short stories is harder Bloom responded: "It is hard every time I sit down at the computer."

There is a great deal of diversity in the characters Bloom writes about. Bloom talked about being drawn to diversity and seeking out a diverse group of people.

“You don’t want a garden with only one kind of flower in it,” she said.

She talked about how people can be very interesting while not very nice. They may be interesting to be around, but one just doesn't want to be around them very long.

Many of the characters in “Where the God of Love Hangs Out” are not exactly the best examples of heterosexual marriage. When asked about the fight over Proposition 8 and similar arguments over same-sex marriage in other states.

“In my entire adult life, I have never met a couple in a happy marriage that has a problem with same-sex marriage,” she said.

Sex comes up early in “Where the God of Love Hangs Out.” Bloom confessed that she “gets a little embarrassed writing the sex.” But, she said, “it is an important part of life.” Bloom went on to talk about how sex is affected by aging and relationships, and without including it there would be a missing element in her work.

Bloom will be in conversation at California Lectures with Pam Houston, the author of “Cowboys Are My Weakness,” “Waltzing the Cat” and “A Little More About Me.” Houston is the director of creative writing at UC Davis.

Speaking to Amy Bloom, even for a short time, led to insight into her work and her creative process. She is an interesting person with a great sense of humor and insight into human behavior. With an hour of conversation with Pam Houston those who attend next Wednesday's California Lecture will be both entertained and informed.

AMY BLOOM
In conversation with Pam Houston
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Crest Theatre \ 7:30 p.m. Lecture Preview \ 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Tickets and more information.