Q: Well, Mr. Fulghum, what’s new?

A: This winter I completed work on a new novel, which is now in the hands of editors. After a rewrite or two and the addition of illustrations, the novel will go to publishers.

Q: What’s the title?

A: “If You Love Me Still, Will You Love Me Moving – Tales from the Century Ballroom.”

Q: What’s it about?

A: In one word, dancing.

Q: That’s it?

A: To expand a little: It’s about the urge to dance, the process of learning to dance, and the dimensions of love and romance involved in dance. The framework of the novel is similar to that of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” That’s a collection of stories told by pilgrims on the way to a holy shrine. My novel is an interwoven collection of tales from the lives of people on the way to realizing the possibility of dancing. Tango is the specific dance form used as a model.

Q: Is this another seven pound doorstop of a novel?

A: No, only 200 pages this time. Portable.

Q: Will this one have music?

A: Music is implied throughout, and there is an appendix listing specific CD’s that would serve as a background to the reading.

Q: How about illustrations?

A: The paintings and drawings of Willow Bader will be used. If you’d like to see a sample of her work, go to willowbader.com and look at the tango and dance paintings.

Q: Any connection between your last novel, “Third Wish” and this new one?

A: There is a bit of a sequel aspect.  If you’ve read “Third Wish” then you will recognize the major character from the fifth part of that novel. Daniels Doggett. And you will have deeper understanding of what he’s about and where he’s coming from. On the other hand, if you’ve not read “Third Wish,” it’s not a handicap. The new novel stands alone.

Q: When will the new novel be available?

A: If you read the Czech language, the answer is sometime this year. My Czech publisher, Argo, has first option to publish. That’s because all my books have done so well in the Czech language, and Argo has been so enthusiastically supportive of my writing. I think my Czech translator is probably a much better writer than I am, and my Czech editor, Eva Slamova, is as good as an editor gets.

Q: What about English?

A: Too soon to say – but perhaps as early as fall.

Q: What else is new?

A: At the same time I’ve been working on the new novel, I’ve been assembling a new collection of essays and stories. The complicating news is that there are enough pieces to make more than two books, not just one.

Q: And so?

A: The next big editing task is to sort out the pile and come to some decision as to whether there will be one big book or two or what?

Q: Title?

A: The working title for the project is “Kindling For The Fire”.

Q: Available?

A: Maybe this year, though the publishers may have some thoughts about how many books to publish in one year or at the same time. These discussions are actively underway, however.

Q: Anything else that’s new in the foreseeable future?

A: I’d hoped to be able to say that I had written a musical. But after trying my hand at what that entailed, I realized I was in way over my head. I learned a lot – and had a good time exploring a world I knew little about. But I also learned enough not to continue. I have an appreciation for what it takes to compose a musical. I won’t even think about writing an opera now.

Q: So what’s next?

A: A friend asked me that yesterday. I answered that I have a title for a new book: “?!” – a question mark followed by an exclamation mark.

Q: What’s it about?

A: I don’t know yet – that explains the title. But I am certain that as long as my life goes on, the writing will continue.