"Why I Hate Straws" by Barry Parham

Barry Parham has just listed his new book “Why I Hate Straws;” a collection of his weekly humor columns . We think you’ll start out nodding in agreement, move to smiling and through chuckling quietly and end up laughing out loud while reading “Why I Hate Straws.”

Hello, Barry and welcome!

Q:  You describe yourself as a people watcher. Tell us a bit about Barry Parham and how he has come to have such an offbeat view of our society.

A:  Quite a lot of my commentary comes from simply watching the news. I work from home, the TV’s always on. Sometimes, I’ll just be walking across the room and be stopped dead in my tracks: Did he really say that? (scribble, scribble). It’s going to cost HOW MUCH? (jot, jot). Who are they kidding with “free – you just pay shipping?” Then it’s not free! (throw shoe at TV)

Q:  You’ve been writing a weekly humor column for quite a while. How did you choose which articles to include in “Why I Hate Straws?”

A:  In April 2009, I took on the self-inflicted discipline of trying to write one column per week (some weeks were easier than others). “Why I Hate Straws” is simply the first 53 of those efforts. It was actually much more difficult to decide which columns to put where, in what order, in which categories, and to settle on the book’s title.

Q:  Do you find writing humor more challenging than other genres like, political news reporting or is there any difference between the two?

A:  I suppose that political humor is much like political reporting, except I’m not bound by any need to stick to the truth. Also, like covering politics, political humor can tend to have a very short shelf-life if the writer bores in overmuch on delicious details. Tough call.

Q:  Who are your favorite authors to pick up and peruse?

A:  I’m a great fan of Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Bill Bryson and P.G. Wodehouse. Dave Barry I have to avoid, for fear of attempting to nick his stuff.

Q:  You’ve got a rather jaundiced eye about social networking, yet it certainly gets the word out. How have you used various online sources for marketing your work and do you have advice about creating an online presence?

A:  I’m not so much jaundiced as amazed at what people feel driven to share. I’m happy that someone is “almost home” or “about to have soup” or “ready for the weekend LOL.” I really am.

But my editorial opinions aside, sites like Facebook, Lebrary, Goodreads – these have proved to be an amazing resource for exposure, sharing, and feedback. Facebook makes it easy to announce new weekly columns, and I’ve used Facebook for some promotions as well – such as posting some manner of odd question, and giving away a signed copy of my book to the first correct answer. There are also many sites offering writing contests, with small entry fees (or none at all).

Q:  Do you feel people need a healthier view of the world, get a life and laugh at themselves?

A:  I absolutely agree that people might do well to take themselves a bit less seriously. More than once, I’ve had “fans” who thought I was funny, until I got too close to one of their own, particular, personal sacred cows. And some readers give me far more credit than I’m due, when they make the mistake of confusing ANYTHING I write with actual truth…

Q:  When did you finally realize you are a writer?

A:  Approximately 15 seconds after you contacted me for an actual interview.

Q:  No, really…it’s a serious question. Was it an “Aha!” moment?

A:  About 20 years, I entered a “write the next chapter” contest in Raleigh, NC, and won. Twice. I was hopelessly hooked. It’s amazing what can be done with 26 letters, 9 numbers and a few pips of punctuation.

Q:  When will the next book come out?

A:  Well, I’m still writing a column a week and, from a pure word-count perspective, probably getting close to taking that plunge. A working title might be “Sorry, We Can’t Use Funny,” which was the gist of an actual rejection I once received.

Q:  We like that title! Do you have any advice for Aspiring Writers humorous or otherwise?

A:  Nothing new. Don’t stop. Don’t waste words. Proofread. Have fun. Thank God for the opportunity.

Q:  Where can we see more of your writing?

A:  The ongoing weeklies are published, among other places, at Associated Content ( http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/502451/barry_parham.html ).

And just for fun, I have an irritating habit of finding fairly unusual pictures and then making up a list of possible captions. Since I don’t own the pictures, I can never publish these, but it’s too much fun to let that get in the way. Pictures in Search of a Caption are available at http://barryparham.wordpress.com.

Q:  Anything else you’d like to share with us?

A:  I’d like to share my home address, so that people could proceed with sending me fat envelopes full of untraceable cash, but I doubt that’s what you had in mind. May I compromise with a polite, convivial “I hope you enjoy my book!” Thanks, Charlotte.

Thanks, Barry and may the words flow freely.