Stephen Rowley

That's all it is.

It's a way of looking at something, hopefully, and finding the detail and finding something so specific about it that a reader can't help but recognize some sort of universal truth when they read it.

So humor is a mode of engagement with the truth.

It's just one of many tools that we have as writers to try to create something real and say something important.

And so, you know, if you think about it in that effect, then it doesn't have to be so overwhelming.

I think people are like, I've got to set up jokes.

I've got to set up, there needs to be a set up, set up punchline.

You know, we're not writing sitcoms.

In novel writing, humor can just be an interesting observation.

It can be a strange setup like this is.

It can be, you know, irony.

There's so many different tools we have to work some humor into our books and our writing.

But

I think it's appreciated by a reader too.

I do think without that humor, my books would be too dark and daunting to pick up.

And so I'm grateful for somehow I found a balance that seems to work for me and that also readers seem to appreciate.

I do think that there is room to be riotously funny and also kind.

You know, I hope the Gunkel books feel that way, which isn't to say that a character doesn't have a bad moment or that they don't lash out and feel bad about it afterwards.

We don't have to write Pollyannas.

I'm not saying that.