Sex Bomb
Issue #27
Joe Meno
By Jenny Sabella
Published: March 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
According to Joe Meno, women don’t dig writers. Venus ladies disagree. Meno’s best-selling book, 2004’s Hairstyles of the Damned, has been charming women and men alike with stories that showcase his knack for creating relatable characters. His latest book, The Boy Detective Fails, which hits stores in May, tells the tale of childhood fame, loss, and becoming a man who doesn’t quite know where to go next. Meno talked to Venus about his fairy-tale marriage, the spoils of success, and his Sex Bomb status.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Not really. I always was really interested in music. I played in all these bands like metal bands and punk bands. When we started writing our own songs and I started writing lyrics, that kind of led to writing short stories. The way I write is really heavily influenced by film and music.
Focus Features has a movie based on Hairstyles in the works, and you’ve received a lot of acclaim for virtually everything you’ve written. How do you handle the success?
Well, I bought a swimming pool even though I don’t have a backyard. And I wear fur coats all the time, in the bathtub, usually. I just like to feel sexy like that. ... I like to feel like a star (laughs). No, it’s been wonderful and it’s changed my life in some amazing ways. It makes me really happy to know that people are reading my work.
I thought maybe five or 10 years ago that if I had a book and it was a best-seller, it would make my life really easy. It doesn’t. It totally magnifies everything in your life. The people who are supportive of you continue to be supportive, the people who are assholes to you keep being assholes. I never got a key to the city. I just feel so completely lucky that people are reading my work.
OK, time for the Sex Bomb question. Many women are drawn to writers and creative types
That’s such bullshit! Women are drawn to dudes in bands. I work for Punk Planet. I’m a music journalist. You tell me what women are hot for writers. … Arthur Miller? John Steinbeck? Man, that guy. I put his picture up in my locker. But, I’m really frank and honest about my wife. She’s such a big part of my life, and she’s part of my writing, too. She’s on the cover of my short-story book, [Bluebirds Used to Croon in the Choir.
Bluebirds was inspired by your wife, whom you met when you were 19. What do you think keeps the two of you together after so many years?
Hardcore sex. No, I’m kidding. We’re total opposites. She’s a day person, I’m a night person. She’s really fair and tall, and I’m kind of dark and Mediterranean and sweaty. She’s really calm and organized and logical. I’m really hot-tempered, loud, and obnoxious. What’s wonderful is that we really compliment each other in different situations. The biggest thing is that I still don’t have her figured out. She’s a mystery to me in a lot of ways. She met me when we were so young — I was just this dirty punk kid, so she’s not impressed. She’s totally supportive, but she’s no groupie. Just the other day I was talking to her about my class, and I asked her, “Who is your favorite writer?” She didn’t even fake put me on [her list]. “You couldn’t even fake put me on your list?” It’s cool, though, she’s really honest.
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