Carl Addison Swanson is an avid reader of — and commentator on — “06880.” He is a longtime Westport resident, a keen observer of the town he loves, and a writer. His most recent novel in the famed Hush McCormick series has just been released.
Pig in A Poke is your 3rd book in 3 years. How do you do it?
Out of necessity. It costs a lot of live in Westport.
What does “pig in a poke” actually mean?
It’s an English phrase dating back to the 17th century. They tried to trick you with dog or cat meat, when you thought you were buying ham. In my context it means “watch your ass.” You can never be sure of what you’re
The plot?
All-American high school athlete is found guilty of date rape. With the help of Hush, he runs from the law. The FBI, NSA, Mafia and bail bondsmen attempt to track him down.
Your protagonist, Hush McCormick, helps people disappear. What’s with that?
He’s a boat bum who likes to help people.
Your alter ego?
The bum part.
All your books start out in Connecticut, but never Westport.
My next book, Double Parked in the Twilight Zone, will be set in Westport in the summer of 1960.
Will Westporters like it?
If they liked Westport in 1960.
Carl Addison Swanson
You think it’s different now?
The blueprint is very much the same. A buddy once told me that the world is made up of 90% assholes, and the key is to find the 10%. There are still a lot of the 10 per cent here. Far more than other places.
So Hush is retired, and you’re writing a memoir?
You need to read Poke to find that out. But Hush is very tired. I need a new voice.
Some suspect you are the infamous “The Dude Abides” on this blog.
I am much better looking.
(Pig In A Poke is available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The author’s website is carladdisonswanson.com)
