In Praise of a New Book Release

 

Something special this time out.  

We’re thrilled to announce the release of a new book, and even better, we’ve scored a not-so-exclusive interview with the author.

IPOE:  Can you tell our readers your name and why we are interviewing you.

WG:  My name is Walter Glimpling and I have just authored a book called The Essential Guide to Cars Flying off Cliffs and Exploding On-screen.

IPOE:  That title is a mouthful.

WG:  Try remembering the title and saying it while doped up on massive amounts of anti-depressants.

IPOE:  Maybe after dinner.

WG:  What's for dinner?

IPOE:  I don't know.  You're buying.

WG:  I thought that this was just an interview. . .

IPOE:  What was the impetus for you to write the book?

WG: I always aim to write about a subject that no one else has explored. I mean, how many more books do we need about Alfred Hitchcock, Universal Horror, or Koo Stark?  Once I discover a topic that hasn’t been covered, I dive straight into my research, talking to dozens of screenwriters, directors, actors, stunt performers, and mechanics.  This latest book took about two years from start to finish.

IPOE:  We all enjoyed the book here.  Your hard work has definitely paid off.

WG:  I'm very happy with the end product, especially the cover, which is an original drawing that I did when I was younger.

IPOE:  Yes, it brings a child -like innocence to an impending violent death.

WG:  That is exactly what I was striving for.

WG:  I'm not happy with the photo that they used on the back cover.

IPOE:  What is the story behind that photo.

WG: I made some poor choices in my life, and in the early seventies, I drifted to San Francisco, where I ended up in trouble with the law.  I served a six-month stint in prison, but it was there that I discovered my passion and a talent for drawing, writing and avoiding prison rape.  I spent all my free time in the prison library, and let me tell you, that’s not a place where you want to have an overdue book.

IPOE:  I would imagine.  What are you going to about promotion for the book?

WG:  I’m lucky to have a publisher, Dutch Angle Publishers, that really believes in me and my books. I’ll be doing a series of book signings at independent bookstores across the country—though I won’t be signing my own book.  I’ll happily autograph any book people bring me.  They’ve lined up over four hundred movie podcast appearances to help spread the word and even got me a super high-powered bullhorn so I can shout about the book to people on the streets.

IPOE:  Give our readers the skinny on your book.

WG:  As the title states!!!!

IPOE:  You don't need to use the bull horn.

WG:  As the title states, this book covers every single car crash over a cliff with an explosion in films released from 1931 through 1980.  The first entry from 1931 is from an American release called ROLAND'S SUNDAY DRIVE.  This was the oldest example of the art that I could find.

PLOT:  Roland Pike has just purchased his first automobile.  Through a series of flashbacks, we see the hard work that he had to undertake to earn the money for his dream car.  With great pride he sets out on a drive through the country.  His idyllic day trip ends with his brakes going out and his car crashing through the wooden barrier, going over a cliff and exploding at the bottom of a ravine.

WG:  There are a few instances of cars driving off of cliffs prior to that, but they didn't explode or catch on fire.  The book also contains examples from all corners of the globe. 

IPOE:  The book is labeled a Volume one.  Are there plans for a second volume?

WG:  The possibility is there, but we shall see.  The heyday of cars going off cliffs and exploding was the latter period of the sixties to the late seventies.

IPOE:  In addition to cars going off cliffs and exploding, you are quite the authority on other film genres.  Tell our readers about your previous books.

WG:  This is actually my fifth book with Dutch Angle Publishers.  I previously authored The Essential Guide to Cat Scares in Horror Films, The Not-So Essential, But Still Worth Buying Guide to Acromegaly and General Deformities in Film, The Practically Useless Guide to Red Herrings in the Giallo film and finally, The Completely Unnecessary Guide to Mise-en-scène in Seventies West German Pornography.

IPOE:  We wish you great success.  Any parting words for our readers?

WG:  I appreciate the interview.  I hope that your readers that purchase the book enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.