An Interview with Chris Lincoln

A versatile professional writer for over thirty-five years, Chris Lincoln is a graduate of Middlebury College, who has studied at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. He is the author of a novel, The Funny Moon (Rootstock Press, July 2023), and the widely praised non-fiction book, Playing the Game: Inside Athletic Recruiting in the Ivy League (Nomad Press 2004). The manuscript for his humorous detective novel, Thin Ice, was optioned for film, and his many articles on the arts, sports, and recreation have appeared in New England-based magazines and newspapers. As an advertising creative director and copywriter, his work has received numerous awards for creative excellence, including One Show, Art Director’s Club of New York, and Clio, advertising’s Oscar. He has taught writing at the secondary school level and currently serves as a college essay consultant for high school students. He lives in Vermont with his wife.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My father taught literature and writing at the high school and college level, and co-authored a best-selling college textbook on writing, published by WW Norton—so I grew up in a household that valued reading and writing. In that sense, I suppose it’s a genetic trait. I studied American Literature in college and took a creative writing course my senior year from a professor who was very encouraging. My father read my stories and said, “There are elements here that can’t be taught.” His belief and support were invaluable as I pursued my fiction writing goal over the decades. Writing is something you never master, and the answer lies in the work.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve been a professional writer for over thirty-five years in the fields of journalism, public relations, and advertising, where I was fortunate to win a number of awards for creative excellence. Writing to meet deadlines, you don’t wait for inspiration. You do your research, conduct interviews, gather input, generate ideas, and craft words. Learning the discipline of writing as a professional is invaluable for the creative writing process. You set a time, sit down, and hit your word count.

Readers might not know I am an ice cream fanatic.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title, The Funny Moon, is a take on “honeymoon.” It’s a coming-of-middle-age story, featuring serious subject matter with a comic sensibility. The characters are in a later phase of life, married for twenty-five years, and suddenly all bets are off. And with the moon playing a symbolic role throughout the story, the title just felt like a natural fit.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I conceived the cover design for The Funny Moon and an advertising designer friend of mine executed the idea, bringing her own flourish to the front and the back, which are brilliantly integrated with moon elements. Seeing the finished design while holding the book in my hands was a tremendous thrill. The cover has since gotten rave reviews from readers and award judges, which is wonderful.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

My perfect reader is bright, curious, well-read, open-minded, with a good sense of humor. I hope all readers recognize some universal truths in the characters and the story, and come away from the book appreciating it as an entertaining and insightful, comedic read.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

It’s rewarding to get your work out there and see readers’ responses. It’s one thing to share your work with close friends in the manuscript phase. But it’s an entirely different experience having your work in front of the public. Before the launch, I was terrified. Would anyone like it? Quite unexpectedly, The Funny Moon has since received a number of prestigious independent publishing awards, and the positive recognition, after decades of effort, is quite gratifying.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I have three other manuscripts I have completed over the years, one of which was optioned for film at one point and strikes me as worthy of another look and possible revisions, based on what I’ve learned. Another is a novel set on the West Bank, where I lived in Israeli-occupied territory many years ago. It could be a timely book, given all that’s going on there now. I also have notes for a sequel to The Funny Moon, which could lead to a follow-up story. I do enjoy having a laugh while I’m writing.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.