AAP Interviews Coyote

An Interview With Coyote

As is certainly well-known by now, Animal Aspect Press (AAP) is dedicated solely to publication and promotion of literary works told from an animal’s viewpoint. Coyote’s break-through novel ‘Las Vegas Rite’ is a watershed work of animal aspect writing. Frequently violent, often graphically sensual, and full of distracting patterns, it has quickly established itself as the epitome of the animal view. Thus it was AAP’s considerable good fortune to be able to get a few moments of Coyote’s time, and talk a bit about his new book and his writings in general.

AAP: First of all, let me offer my congratulations on publishing your first book, Las Vegas Rite It’s quite an enjoyable read.

Coyote: Thanks. You know, it’s more than just a first for me. My kind has connived… er.. desired a voice in literature for quite some time. That time has finally come.

AAP: When you say ‘your kind,’ you are speaking of what?

Coyote: Why, coyotes of course. We’re found in all forty-eight contiguous states now, but we’re looking to expand and deepen our range still further. Literature was an obvious arena to move into, but it’s been a hard road.

AAP: Coyote… That’s a sort of dog, right?

Coyote: More of a ‘demi-dog’ actually. Not all-powerful, but I do grant eternal salivation.

AAP: Ha! I get that. So now you’re a real canine success story. But how will coyotes benefit from having their literary works in print?

Coyote: The money for one thing. Now we can afford the plane fare to Hawaii.

AAP: I see. What about the public? How will yours and other coyote’s writings enhance humanity’s world view?

Coyote: You know, you’ve hit the nail right on the head. For those who are able to look beyond their personal mythology, coyotes offer a view of the world from an entirely different perspective.

AAP: For example?

Coyote: Well, there’s this idea that civilization must and will continue to grow. It must grow in size, complexity, and most importantly in benefit to the humans living within its confines. This is an entirely human myth with no basis in reality, and even human historians know this to be false. And yet the myth persists. One of the concepts I try to put across is that civilization can never benefit everybody, and it is in fact, highly desirable, from a species perspective, for civilization to fall now and then.

AAP: That did come across in ‘Rite’ to some degree. Yes.

Coyote: And I will continue to drive that home in the rest of the trilogy.

AAP: Speaking of that, I understand you will be adding more books to your portfolio. Can you tell us a bit more on that?

Coyote: Sure. As I said, the Coyoteman Chronicles is a trilogy, and Descent to Avalon, the second book, should be out toward the end of this year. I’m already at work on ‘Fallow Fields of Wisdom.’ I’m fairly confident that it will be out next year.

AAP: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Coyote: I have voices in my head. They tell me what to write.

AAP: That seems a little… odd.

Coyote: My theory is that the more interesting fiction writers as a group are going to be borderline psychotic. Otherwise it’s just ‘gum-snapping,’ formula writing. Of course, the voices in my head tell me that too, so who knows?

AAP: Doesn’t that scare you? I think it would bother me to have some part of my brain spilling out information, and I didn’t know where it was coming from.

Coyote: Despite my extensive use of hallucinogenics in my earlier years, there’s really nothing to be worried about. The only real difference between you and I are that when you close your eyes you see dark. I see plaid.

AAP: Hmm… Not all that different actually. So are the characters from the first book continued on through the trilogy?

Coyote: Well of course Taine and Joanne are there, as well as Coyoteman. I have some new personalities showing up, and some others from book one come back for bit parts as well.

AAP: Can you explain a little about the background for these stories?

Coyote: Yes I can. Civilization, as we know it, has come to a screeching halt. The mechanisms by which people get what they need from each other have broken down. As a result, trust has broken down, and many have died. California was the initial sparking point for the breakdown, and was particularly hard hit. However, the effect ended up being world-wide in scope. But this is only the backdrop for the story. It isn’t the story itself. Both Taine and Joanne are humans that grew up in the post-change environment. Coyoteman, the mystical advisor to Taine, is actually immensely old. In human terms, Coyoteman has always been here.

AAP: That’s interesting. Is he the only one of his kind?

Coyote: Not at all. Not hardly. Coyoteman isn’t really a coyote at all. He is the member of an ancient race - immortals who can change into any form they desire. Coyoteman has chosen his shape out of respect for the two forms he admires the most.

AAP: I see the human voice in the book, but what about the ‘coyote’ voice?

Coyote: Admittedly it’s a bit more subtle. When Taine speaks to Coyoteman, Coyoteman does respond in the coyote voice. But those interactions are relatively rare in the book. The real coyote voice is found in the quotes at the chapter beginnings. These set the stage for a ‘coyote interpretation’ of the events in the succeeding chapter.

AAP: Some of those quotes are real interesting. And the little vignettes - intermissions - I liked those too. What were those called?

Coyote: Those are essentially what are called ‘Koans.’ They are based on the true Zen ‘Koan’ form of story-telling. Generally, Koans tell a brief story that can provide a glimpse into the path to enlightenment. My ‘Coyote’ take on the Koan accentuates the absurd behaviors of humans, but basically attempt to provide that same brief vision.

AAP: Do you see your ‘Coyote-Zen’ Koans leading the reader to enlightenment?

Coyote: I hope so. But they do have entertainment value as well.

AAP: Where did the quotes come from?

Coyote: My head, one way or another.

AAP: But some, I think, have references to some other piece of literature… ‘Coyote Songs’ - does that ring a bell?

Coyote: Oh sure. It doesn’t exist yet. But it will. I actually plan on publishing this as a selection of my poetry.

AAP: So you’re a poet?

Coyote: Yes I am. In fact poetry is my preferred literary outlet.

AAP: Where can we read this poetry, prior to its publication?

Coyote: At ‘Coyoteman.com.’ I maintain the website, and publish my poetry there.

AAP: What else do you have on your website?

Coyote: You need to go there and explore. There’s a lot to take in. Probably too much to talk about here.

AAP: Would you care to recite a favorite poem - something short?

Coyote: All my poems are short. But I have one here: ‘Sun and Moon’

AAP: Go for it.

Coyote: Sun and Moon:

And so we come again to Sun and Moon
I watch the ocean
And think of waves
Waves of light passing by
Waves of emotion, filtering in
Like sunlight entering a dusty room
Tiny bits of memory, floating musically
Turning, capturing colorful scents of recognition

There's a steady flow of passion
Oh, that's one not to forget
She flutters, briefly, followed by consequence
So dark and cold
A trail of words that made sense with distance
Now petty, worthless and old

The realm of the Sun is a time of toil
Carrying secrets toward a future
Of unhappy regret
My knees they buckle under the weight
Of lies and explanations
The Sun climbs higher
I stumble, and she is not there

Now darkness, a cloud or incantation
Eclipses light from air
Ever onward, turn away
Sense the passage of the day

Now, Come the darkness and
I feel more adventurous
Gaudy colors, now replaced by
The furtive, subtle grays
Allowing more radical departures
More possibilities for interpretation
Freeway the firey furnace of imagination

I allow a tantalous wave of desire
To wash over me
Here comes the Moon
Oh, Yes. Moon
She is a sweetheart
Yellow and gravid on the horizon
When she's there
Sometimes, when she sits there on the horizon
I wonder if there might be a path
Along this great ground
Leading all the way to her
I can see a path of light
On the ocean, as she descends
Beckoning

AAP: That’s nice. Kind of sensual.

Coyote: My favorite topic… Besides eating.

AAP: Is that why you decided to use Las Vegas as the focal point for your first book - being the sensual playground it’s touted to be?

Coyote: Uh-huh… Is that chicken on the table there?

AAP: Just one more question before we adjourn to the buffet…

Coyote: Never stand between a coyote and his dinner.

AAP: You’re growling at me!