That’s an interesting question. Really?

“That’s an interesting question.” How many times does a journalist hear that? At least two (distinguished and experienced) author-friends of mine scorn this response as a lazy cliche. I’m pretty sure I don’t say the actual words, although they may run through my head. For example, when Fiona Kidman interviewed me at the launch of How To Be Old, she asked many interesting questions — of course. But those words — “That’s an interesting question” — contain multiple possible meanings, multiple moods. Here’s how I deduce what people actually mean when they say the words.

“Oh no, not that boring question! Please, not again.”

Famous writers dutifully or enthusiastically do book tours. That means endless interviews with endless journalists and hosts and fans. Each time the author has to be (or to seem) fully engaged and delighted to be asked. They feel obliged to answer politely even if they’ve been asked the same question fifty times that week, even if they have no interest in the question. Rarely do they let their true feelings show.

I remember one writer breaking that rule big time, many years ago. Margaret Atwood came to Aotearoa New Zealand (maybe in 2001?) and graciously granted 15 or 30 minutes to three of us: two young rookie journalists and 60-year-old me, an occasional book reviewer for the then Kapiti Times. I winced as those nice, sincere, inexperienced journalists asked this most distinguished of authors the most basic of questions. I seem to remember even this one: “Where do you get your ideas?” And then I groaned inwardly as Ms Atwood gave short, abrupt replies. Clearly she was irritated to be asked such rudimentary questions. I asked her about her author website, which, believe it or not, was a comparatively new thing in those days. Her eyes lit up and she waxed lyrical about the way it saved her staff hours and put her directly in touch with readers. I asked her about Kakadu National Park, which she and her husband had just visited, and she couldn’t stop talking about its wonders. After months of talking about her new book, she seemed delighted to stray from the topic.

Without a word, Margaret Atwood conveyed with utter clarity two things: “That is an unbelievably pointless and boring and puerile question” and “That is a question that I’m happy to answer.”

12 possible meanings of “That’s an interesting question”

1. That’s a boring question. Let me outta here!
2. Give me a minute to think of something to say.
3. I’m flattering you to make you feel good.
4. Thank heaven, finally something I haven’t been asked before.
5. I’ve never thought about that before.
6. I think about that a lot.
7. How can I wriggle out of this one?
8. So you read what my publicist sent you.
9. So you didn’t read what my publicist sent you.
10. I’ve been dying to talk about that.
11. I think this is an important / urgent / unpopular issue.
12. This interview is going to be fun.

My future interviews will be fun

Closer to November I will no doubt be interviewed about my new play, The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People. It’s on at Wellington’s Circa Theatre in November-December this year. I know I’ll enjoy these author-interviews because I nearly always do. (I’m not nearly famous enough to find them boring!)

But it’s not all about me. I’m tremendously enthusiastic about this play, the people, the actors, the message, and the impact on audiences. And also, I empathise with those asking the questions, especially after the Margaret Atwood interview.

Conversation between two writers: Petone, 27 July 2023

I also enjoy a public conversation with another writer. This format keeps me on my toes. Next one is at 6 pm on July 27, at Schrödinger’s Books on Jackson Street, Petone (near Wellington, New Zealand). Pop along after work if you’re near. I’ll be having a conversation with Kristen Phillips whose book, Dad, You’ve Got Dementia has just been published by Cuba Press. Her book is a simple, stark, and very moving record of conversations with her father as his dementia advanced. There will be interesting questions! I won’t say “That’s an interesting question” but if Kristen does, I will know she means it.

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