Episode 85 with Brett Marie, Multifaceted Artist, Aesthete, and Brilliant Writer of the Brilliant and Beautiful The Upsetter Blog

Episode 85 Notes and Links to Brett Marie’s Work 

 

       On Episode 85 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Brett Marie, and the two talk like old friends about inspiring and chill-inducing literature and music, Brett’s journey to music and writing greatness, and his compelling and beautiful novel released in 2021, The Upsetter Blog.

       The literary alter ego of American rock 'n' roll musician Mat Treiber, Brett Marie is a contributing editor for the online literary journal Bookanista, and a staff writer for the website PopMatters. His short fiction and other writing has appeared in various magazines, including New Plains Review, Words + Images Press, and The Impressment Gang, and PopMatters. His story “If It Had Happened to You” was shortlisted for LoveReading UK’s first Very Short Story Award in 2019. He currently lives in England with his wife and daughter.

 

Buy The Upsetter Blog at Owl Canyon Press

 

Buy The Upsetter Blog at Bookshop.org

 

His shortlisted very short story “If It Had Happened to You” 

His first Bookanista short story, “Sex Education”

His first Bookanista essay (which touched heavily on TUB), 'Shouting at a River'

His review of Broken River, by his writing hero J. Robert Lennon

His review of Jenn Ashworth's Ghosted, the ending of which he mentioned rereading over and over

An essay he wrote for PopMatters when Francoise Hardy's memoir came out in English 

A Bookanista essay about the creation of TUB

The Intro to TUB, excerpted in Bookanista

His website

 

 

At about 2:00, Bret talks about his feelings and impressions now that his book The Upsetter Blog has been out for a month, including some positive and interesting feedback that he has received

 

At about 5:45, Brett talks about his international background and his relationship with language as a kid, including precocious reading and his movie from fantasy and sci-fi to literary fiction

 

At about 7:30, Brett talks about discovering AC/DC and developing his music life and exploring the great music that came before him as he became a guitarist in a successful band

 

At about 9:20, Brett talks about the books and writers that he read in more recent years as he (re)discovered literary fiction, including more modern works like J. Robert Lennon’s Mailman

 

At about 12:25, Pete points out an “Easter Egg” inspired by Brett’s favorite literature that he added to his novel

 

At about 13:00, Pete asks Brett about how music has informed his writing and vice versa and Brett talks about his work in writing lyrics for The Durangos and The Scramblers and other bands

 

At about 15:35, Pete and Brett discuss some of their reading histories with David Foster Wallace-Pete recommends “A Supposedly Fun 

 

At about 17:20, Pete asks Brett about the concurrent music and writing careers, and his creation alongside his talented wife

 

At about 19:25, Brett talks about the formation and seeds of his book, The Upsetter Blog 

 

At about 21:45, Brett describes his roles and responsibilities with, and love for, Bookanista, as well as how he became involved with the favorite of his

 

At about 24:40, Pete wonders when Brett knew that his writing resonated with others and could do the work for a living

 

At about 27:00, Brett describes the writing techniques he used in writing his award-winning short story, “If It Happened to You” and how he attempted to stretch his skills

 

At about 29:45, Pete and Brett begin to discuss the specifics of The Upsetter Blog, and Brett describes the “cinematic” experience he hoped to convey, with the classic idea of the performer starting off in front of a crowd before flashbacks kick in

 

At about 31:25, Pete compliments Brett on the interesting setting for the book, and Brett describes why the book unfolds in 2003 and in various places

 

At about 35:20, Pete and Brett muse about the theme of the vagaries of fate that is salient throughout the book  

 

At about 37:45, Pete and Brett lay out some of the basics of the book, including descriptions of the characters; Brett describes the functions and backgrounds of the characters

 

At about 43:00, Pete and Brett discuss the book’s allusions and their connections to the plot and themes

 

At about 44:00, Brett gives background on the incredible and sad stories of Gram Parsons’ life

 

At about 45:45, Brett sketches the characters of Henry, the protagonist and narrator, and Patrick, Henry’s son, whose self-given nickname is “The Fan”

 

At about 49:30, Brett explains how Marty from the book functions as an important character and is a composite of people who Brett knew in his LA days, and how Marty is representative of the time-the early 2000s

 

At about 52:45, Brett and Pete discuss the romantic relationship between Jack and Wendy that propels much of the storyline

 

At about 54:20, Pete asks Brett about what connects the protagonist Henry to Wendy, and Brett links Henry’s past to his motivations

 

At about 56:25, Pete and Brett discuss fate and faith as seen in the book

 

At about 59:45, Pete points out some interest timing from the book, and Brett explains the real-life inspiration for an ill-fated show in the book

 

At about 1:02:00, Brett and Pete outline an important interlude in the book for the reader and for Henry

 

At about 1:03:00, Brett and Pete talk about the beginning of the second part of the tour, with an instructive flashback for Henry and Jack’s continuing spiral 

 

At about 1:06:00, Pete compliments the ending and beautiful coda that is a retrospective and cathartic and asks Brett about how he arrived at the end result, including the book in iterations as much longer and shorter

 

At about 1:10:00, Brett and Pete talk about the emotional, visceral, heartbreaking work that they seek out, including Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory,” The Rolling Stones “I Got the Blues,” “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff, Ghosted by Jen Ashworth, which Brett is reviewing for Bookanista 

 

At about 1:13:05, Brett reads an excerpt from The Upsetter Blog-a scene with the narrator and Caleb driving and discussing music and faith and life

 

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Please tune in for the the next episode, a conversation with Mark Athitakis, a writer, editor, critic, blogger, reporter, and essayist who has written short and long pieces for publications like The New York Times and Washington Post, published two books, and provided editorial assistance from basic proofreading to deeper guidance on book-length projects. The episode will air on October 19.