A Q & A with Michael Farrell
by queenseyes
Someone recently asked me what sort of emails we field at Buffalo Rising. My answer was "We receive emails from a ton of people who all have one thing in common... they love the city. Authors of Buffalo themed books tend to contact BRO and we have hi-lighted a few in the past. A few weeks ago an author by the name of Michael Farrell contacted me in hopes that we might make mention of a book that he had written. Below is the note that he sent along... followed by a Q & A with the author. If you are interested in learning more about Michael's book, please email him at: Michael Farrell.
My name is Michael Farrell and I'm a Buffalonian writer currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. I was born in Mercy Hospital in 1978, rode along on my family's South Buffalo milk delivery route until 1986, walked the halls of Frontier High School up to 1996, and then later graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2000. After two years of writing and editing, I've been submitting my first novel, "Running with Buffalo," for review around the country.
As I seek representation and eventual publication of this story about a character's humorous and harrowing pitfalls associated with leaving and longing for the city of Buffalo, I'm hoping to interest local media outlets such as Buffalo Rising in publicizing the existence of this manuscript. It is a story with which I hope to coax the national perception of Buffalo toward the positive and passionate opinion that most locals and transplants hold today, and I'm hoping that you or anyone who frequents the Buffalo Rising site may be interested in hearing more about it.
When did you start to write your book and how long did it take until you finished it? I started writing it in February of 2004, finished the first draft in 13 months, then nauseatingly edited until it was sent for copyright on January 27th of this year. Since I was working two jobs while writing this on the side, it took way longer than it should have. Most of the beginning notes for the story were scribbled on bowling score sheets I used while I worked the door at a bowling alley/ night club in the Back Bay of downtown Boston. There wasn't much bouncing going down, so I zoned out and drafted ideas, like the title. "Running with Buffalo" came to me on one of those actionless nights, as well as most of the character names.
What person is the book written in? First person. For anyone to relate to the character, it had to be.
Are you the feature character in the book? For anyone who knows me and reads this, they would laugh if I tried to say that the protagonist isn't a version of me. Certain events in my life inspired certain scenes, and some of my own interests shaped this character, but he's a much better person. At times, he's a tireless idealist, and unfortunately, I've developed into quite a pessimist over the years. He's also much better looking than I am.
How much of the book did you write while in Buffalo? None. I packed my '94 GEO for Boston in November of 2000, but after I moved, I found myself only hanging with displaced Buffalonians and Western New Yorkers (sometimes 20 at a time). We'd go out all night and talk about how much we missed home and how we hoped that Buffalo and its politicos would wake up. They'd lost legions of youth by simply doing nothing to entice us to stay, and after a few rounds, we'd get pretty fired up about it. Those nights, more than anything, were the inspiration for this book.
Why is Buffalo so special in your life? When I lived at home, I always assumed that every region's residents were like this gang, all-for-one no matter where they were or what they doing. When I moved, I realized how special that intrinsic quality is in Buffalonians and how rare it was to see it in other areas of the country. I remember bartending in Boston five years ago when I had to grit my teeth as this elderly woman at the bar went off on a huge, uninformed tirade about how much of a dump Buffalo was (snow, rust, etc.). She couldn't understand why anyone would live there, and I was so angry I had to take a 10-minute break outside to settle down. This was a rich snob in her late 70s, not a threat, but it was like she'd insulted my family. That fanatical connection is born and bred inside so many residing and displaced Buffalonians, and that passion about a region that most of the country ignores or loathes is what makes Buff so special to me.
Do you hang with Buffalonians while living in Boston? Buffalonians, Rochesterians, and St. Bonaventurians. We're all here, and when we go out, we alienate all that surround us with Western New York conversation. My girlfriend (who's from Boston) hates these nights. Also, The Harp in downtown Boston is home to the biggest Sunday Buffalo Social in all of New England. All the displaced in the area gather to watch the Bills games, with wings, assorted subs and fresh pitchers of Labatt. There was even this dude last year that showed in a cowboy hat, jean tuxedo and a John Holecek jersey underneath. If we could only draw out the Bills fan who owns the only Eric Flowers jersey ever sold (and he exists. I've seen him at Rich). Absolutely fantastic.
Will you move back before or after the book is published? Not sure, but until I find a publisher, this isn't an issue. I've made assorted unsuccessful attempts to move home over the years, but writing the book here helped the tone of the book. I wanted the protagonist to long for what he was searching for, and it was easier for me to write as I longed for home. Now that it's done, if an opportunity popped up that made sense, I'd have to seriously think about packing the U-Haul.
Do you have to be from Buffalo to appreciate the book? No. I wrote it from a Buffalonian's perspective, but it's about the home that anyone has lost or the things that anyone misses. Whether you're from Boston, Pittsburgh or Oakland, if you've ever sat in a bar, coffee shop or park just hoping to see someone familiar from days you've left behind, you would appreciate this story.
How would you characterize the main character? Joseph Cahan is an idealistic college grad who wants to conquer the world with his desire, but, in his first nine months after graduation, finds out that just living in that world will take a lot more than blind ambition.
What will it take to realize your dream of moving back home? Steady employment. Aside from a 9-to-5 job I have to pay off my St. Bonaventure education, I work for The Boston Herald as a high school sports reporter and can also be found rambling on www.billsinsider.com. If The Buffalo News or any other publication in the area is interested, shoot me a mail or give me a call.
Will there be a sequel? Maybe a prequel, but I've already started working on my next effort, which is not related. It will also be set in Buffalo, so we can schedule the interview for that one sometime next year.
What will you do once you realize your dream of moving home? Kiss my mother, have a Guinness with my father at The Blackthorn in South Buff, and then start looking for a place on Elmwood. As long as I can walk to Spot, Home Of The Hits, Jim's Steakout or Faherty's, I'll be all set.