From: Stay Thirsty Media, Inc
James Polster is just an amazing individual. He has led a life that many can only dream about. His exploits have made news for over thirty years. When he wasn’t living with the Indians in the Amazon Rainforests or the Cannibals in New Guinea or playing Elephant Polo in Nepal, he was writing great fiction. As a novelist, he has been praised countless times by his peers and compared with the greats. Kirkus Reviews said that “Polster practices the humorist’s craft with a bold, sure hand that recalls Mark Twain.” Publishers Weekly named his second novel, BROWN, as one of the Best Books of the Year, and wrote that he “fit somewhere between Hiaasen and Vonnegut.” Armchair Detective said that “Polster is in a class by himself.” And, the New York Times called BROWN an “outlandish adventure novel.” Stay Thirsty Press is proud to be the publisher of James Polster’s third novel, THE GRADUATE STUDENT, which continues his unbroken string of exciting, fast-paced stories. James Polster lives in Los Angeles with his son Nick and Thirsty caught up with him at his home for this interview.
THIRSTY: From your Wikipedia bio, we see that you have led an extraordinary and diverse life as an explorer, novelist, film producer, screenwriter and journalist. Which role has had the most impact on you?
JAMES POLSTER: Explorer, no question about that. And, it was an accident. When I was a kid, my goals were clear - cowboy or baseball player. Later, not so clear. After college, I was driving around the country in an old jeep, visiting friends, when one of them called and asked if I was interested in going around the world. I said, "I'm in Miami. If you want to start in South America, let's do it."
We met a guy on the plane to Bogota who was the Assistant Minister of Something. He insisted on taking us out that night, fixing us up with dates with whom we had maybe a half dozen words in common. My friend, in Spanish, trying to impress his date, mistakenly ordered a Scotch with ice cream. And, not wanting to offend the memorable Betty Bolivar, this was the last time in my life I was ever forced to dance.
Later, exhausted, altitude dizzy, jet lagged - the airport in Bogota had been "broken," flight delayed, my one bag lost - maybe drunk (the Minister was a generous host)...in the hotel room, I picked up my friend's travel book...I had not even previously glanced at anything about South America...and read about a jungle town where one could hire a guide to take you into the interior.
Until that moment, I had never considered such a thing was possible. I flipped my friend the book, and said, "Read that." So, we did it. And what we experienced was so extraordinary, I kept on doing it.
THIRSTY: In your early years as a journalist, you covered a very wide range of subjects ranging from spending time with Indira Ghandi in India to living with the Indians in the Amazon Rainforests to reporting on Cannibals in New Guinea. What made you so curious and fearless at the same time?
JP: I think a lot of people, given the opportunity, would have done what I did. It's probably true that I had some personal notion it would be more interesting to hang out with Indira Gandhi rather than see a monument, or visit the Amazon rather than visit a museum.
Spending time with Cannibals...that was a funny, dirty trick (it was actually a favor, though I didn't know it at the time) by a good friend of mine who was putting a book together on exploration. He told me I could go anywhere I wanted, all expenses paid.
I picked the South Seas thinking I would hang out on a beach for a couple of weeks. Instead, I was in for the most hellacious experience of my life in Irian Jaya- hiking up mountains where the vertical, cliff-side trails were thinner than the sole of my boot, under almost constant, torrential rain, a thousand foot drop waiting under any misstep...a mile's journey as the crow flies taking an entire day, up and down, climb after climb, the descents, mostly out of control mudslides which, even now, I can feel in my back and various important joints in my body.
The Cannibals and I, however, got along very well.
THIRSTY: Your first novel, A GUEST IN THE JUNGLE, helped to bring early attention to saving the rainforests. Why did you decide to champion that cause?
JP: When I realized I'd happened upon an important, largely untold story, I had no choice. Plus, the early environmental groups, particularly the Rainforest Action Network, but also The World Rainforest Conference, Earth First, and a lot of print, radio and tv interviewers were great supporters of WHAT A GUEST IN THE JUNGLE had to say.
THIRSTY: Your second novel, BROWN, won the Critics’ Choice Award and Publishers Weekly said that you fit between Hiaasen and Vonnegut as a writer. Which one of these two writers best describes your work?
JP: This one is very complimentary, and hopefully true. I can see how people think BROWN does have that feel. But between those two guys, I can't pick.
THIRSTY: Where did the idea for your third novel, THE GRADUATE STUDENT, come from?
JP: I had one "what if" idea that came to me full blown, and I knew the whole book. But, if I give it away, I'd undercut the experience for the reader.
THIRSTY: Since Hollywood and the movie business is the setting for THE GRADUATE STUDENT, do you identify with any of the characters in the story?
JP: The Hollywood stuff is all true or thinly disguised. I don't identify too much with the main character, but I came to Hollywood late in life, and share his attitude of, "I can't believe this is how it really works."
Ralph is based on a real guy from New Orleans, with a lot of my old pal, Harry, from the famous Camellia Grill, thrown in. They are part of my personal history, and I identify with them in that respect. And "Blake Mooney", though he shares little in common with the studio head character in the book, is named as a tribute to my late, next door neighbor in New Orleans.
THIRSTY: Who are your major literary influences?
JP: Always a tough question. So many great books, so many great writers I admire - novelists, journalists, film and tv screenwriters, but no conscious influences. Years ago, I took one writing course with a visiting novelist. Someone in the class said my short story seemed "derivative." The professor looked at him and said, "Of who?"
THIRSTY: Of all the things you have done and still do, what brings you the most happiness?
JP: My kid.