Interview: November 2010
The devious Dr. Cuthbert Soup is back with ANOTHER WHOLE NOTHER STORY, a whole ’nother book of misadventures ---- and unsolicited advice --- that follows Ethan Cheeseman and his slightly less smelly kids as they combat stormy seas and haunted castles to save Mrs. Cheeseman from an untimely fate.
In this interview with Kidsreads.com’s Melanie Smith, Dr. Soup spills the beans on his series, elaborating on how the success of A WHOLE NOTHER STORY has changed his life and revealing his plans for even more ridiculous novels. He also shares his thoughts on why readers seem to love this eccentric bunch of characters, speculates on Ethan’s theories of time, and explains the curse of the White Gold Chalice --- and why you should never, ever cross paths with a Viking.
Kidsreads.com: How has the success of A WHOLE NOTHER STORY changed your life? Do you still work for The National Center of Unsolicited Advice?
Dr. Cuthbert Soup: Thanks to the success of my book, I now heat my luxurious mansion by burning $20 bills instead of $10 bills. There’s something about the ink on a 20 that produces a much superior flame. And, despite the fact that A WHOLE NOTHER STORY is the all-time bestseller for books featuring a sock puppet named Steve, I still have not given up my job as President and Vice President of the NCUA, simply because I so enjoy meddling with the lives of others.
KRC: What have you heard from readers about the Cheeseman Clan, and is there one character who has become a favorite?
CS: Because they are as likable a bunch as you will ever meet, you can imagine that readers are generally quite fond of the Cheesemans. And, though there is no clear front-runner, readers have named various members of the family as their favorite. While some relate best to Ethan, others seem to identify more with Maggie, Jough or Gerard. Steve is also very popular, and one very confused woman wrote to say that her favorite character is Dumbledore.
KRC: What do you feel are the strongest personal and ethical attributes of the Cheesemans?
CS: To be honest, I can’t think of a group of people that I would be happier in whom to put my trust than the Cheesemans. They are loyal, brave, selfless and true. And, with the exception of Steve the sock puppet, they are all quite tall for their age.
KRC: Can you venture a guess as to whether any of the Cheeseman children might return to their original names once they finally rescue their beloved mom?
CS: After two years on the run, I wonder if the children even remember their original names. Regardless, I think it’s a sure bet that their mother remembers. If and when they see her alive again, I’m sure she will remind them of their birth names…and to wipe their feet before coming into the house.
KRC: Can you tell us more about the inner workings of Ethan's invention or speculate on his theories about time?
CS: As I am not a scientist, it would be difficult for me to describe the inner workings of the LVR --- other than to suggest that it is similar to a VCR or a DVR in that you can use it go back and see something that has already happened. As far as Ethan’s theories of time are concerned, it is his belief and his hope that time is an ever-expanding circle and that, if one travels far enough into the past, he or she will eventually encounter The Great Sync --- that mysterious place where the beginning of time meets the end of time.
KRC: Can you elaborate on the curse of the White Gold Chalice?
CS: The curse of the White Gold Chalice is a vile and hideous hex on par with Montezuma’s Revenge, but without all that dashing off to the restroom. The White Gold Chalice is said to have been handed down from the Norse god, Odin, to the Danish king, Harald Wartooth. It was to be used to toast all soldiers killed in battle, providing them with a proper send-off to the Viking heaven known as Valhalla and thereby ensuring their entry. When the cup was stolen, the result was that a whole lot of guys with swords and facial hair were left stranded at heaven’s gate, unable to get in. The lesson we should all come away with from this is that you should never do anything to annoy a Viking.
KRC: You mention that you wrote Book I based on postcards sent from Ethan Cheeseman throughout his quest. Has he ever mentioned whether the ship the Sea Urchin was found or used by pirates again?
CS: Neither Mr. Cheeseman nor I have any idea as to the fate of the Sea Urchin, though I would like to believe it was remodeled and turned into a home for wayward squirrels.
KRC: From the postcards, can you determine whether the final installment will take place in the present or the future? Will the time machine be used again?
CS: The final installment will take place in the past, the future and the present, which should answer the second part of the question for you. Yes, the time machine will be used again, and as before, there will be problems…big problems requiring big solutions.
KRC: When can readers expect the next book, and what can you share with them about it?
CS: Readers shouldn’t have to wait too long for the next installment in the series because, looking at my outline for the book, it appears that it will only be about nine pages long, and it shouldn’t take me more than a couple of days to write. The other good news is that this nine-page book will sell at a very reasonable retail price of 84¢ and will fit into most wallets.
What I can tell you about the story is that Mr. Cheeseman’s theories of time will be proven correct. Time is an ever-expanding circle. Unfortunately, he is also correct in theorizing that if one is bounced off the Time Arc, he will end up in Some Times, where several times and places are all happening at once, which may sound like a very exciting thing. For instance, imagine being able to watch the construction of the great Egyptian pyramids from atop the Eiffel Tower. And on the same day you could also shake hands with Abraham Lincoln and take a ride on a woolly mammoth or, if the opportunity were to present itself, take a ride on Abraham Lincoln. (I understand he was quite tall, not to mention fairly woolly in the chin area.)
But for Mr. Cheeseman and his children, Some Times is the last place (or places) they want to be, and it seems there’s a very good chance that they might be stuck there forever.
