In this exclusive interview, we delve into the creative mind of Roger Maxson, the brilliant author behind “Pigs in Paradise: A Fairy Story Most Absurd.” Roger shares the inspiration behind his satirical masterpiece, the development of whimsical elements, and the thought-provoking messages woven into his narrative. Uncover the intriguing anecdotes, real-life influences, and upcoming projects as we unravel the imaginative world crafted by this talented writer.

But first, who is Roger Maxson?

Roger Maxson earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana State University in 1987. Although he has continued to write over the years, which includes a feature-length screenplay, Pigs in Paradise is his first novel. He lives in Thailand with his wife, Mong.

Roger Maxson Books

What inspired you to write “Pigs in Paradise: A Fairy Story Most Absurd”?

I had wanted to write about religion in some way, having grown up in a religious household, a den of Pentecostal holy rollers. Then, between 2005 and 2007, the story started to take shape when three events took place. As a direct response to the attack of the Danish cartoonists for portraying Mohammed and subsequent assassination of Vincent van Gogh’s grandnephew, Theo van Gogh, I came up with my own political cartoons of the prophet and others. I am not a cartoonist; however, so instead, I wrote a book, and the cartoons appear as works of art in chapter 21. The second event was when Ted Haggart (sic), the founder of the megachurch “Life Church,” in Colorado Springs, was outed for his numerous homosexual dalliances with a male prostitute in Denver. The hypocrisy of it all was too much. Haggart, the subject of the documentary “Church Camp,” and preacher of family values and marriage between one man and one woman while at the same time was carrying on with a male prostitute. And everyone knows prostitution is illegal, even in Colorado. The third event took place not far away in Wichita, Kansas, when an evangelical Christian ambushed Dr George Tiller, a women’s healthcare provider, while he served as an usher in his own church and murdering him. In God’s country, it doesn’t matter whether you go to church or serve as an usher if it’s one of those liberal churches that God hates. The anti-abortion people said it was sad what had happened to Tiller, but he was an abortionist after all, and he got what he deserved in the eyes of their Lord. The murder of a courageous health care provider in an intolerable place in America, the preacher, the gay lover, and his Muslim brethren, the terrorists who attacked and murdered the grandnephew of Vincent Van Gogh led me to the creative project I had been in search of when it found me.

Can you tell us about the creative process behind developing the whimsical and satirical elements of the story?

For me, humor was essential to tell the story knowing of its breath and length. It can’t be serious all the time. What we have is ridicule. Religion is a choice. Yes, we are born into religion without having a choice, but when we reach a certain age, we can decide. At that point, following religious dogma becomes a choice and subject of ridicule. When it comes to the language of the evangelical minister, I knew I could not match or over-the-top them. In college, a writing professor once said you cannot parody porn. The language, the dialogue, having been exaggerated is a parody of itself. And more recently, Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller, says pretty much the same thing when he states that you cannot out do these preachers. Their language is so far over the top they can’t be out done. I knew better than to try, and yet I wish I had been a little harder on these people. Ridicule is a tool. Use it while you still can. All we have is ridicule.

What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?

The reviewer of my book, my work of fiction, the political satire Pigs in Paradise, a fairy story most absurd. Is my audience and I have the good fortune of having a member of my audience, a young, intelligent, well-educated college graduate read my novel. For too long and so many years the influence of evangelical Christianity on our politics in America and the poison in the world has gone unnoticed as those which poisons has no name or conservatives, or republicans, or patriots, or the faithful, whereas they’re mostly absurd zealots. A private and personal antidote: I have an aunt once who said the church, her church, the faithful Pentecostal church goer does not take part in politics because it is secular and the work of the devil, and anyone in the news media who criticizes their religion or makes fun of Jesus are in league with the devil. Then something cynical happened in the late 70s and by the early 80s in time to elect Ronald Reagan, my aunt and people like her were retaught and weaponized to come out and vote the straight religious right party line ticket. She is the same now as she was when I was a child. Only difference now is she and people like her are told what to do, and that all democrats, starting with Jimmy Carter, are evil and he was the antichrist, which I’m sure she still believes. Enough was enough, and I was on a mission.

Are any of the characters in “Pigs in Paradise” based on real people or experiences?

Sort of, yes. Some yes, but I am not going to say who or what. Julius is Groucho Marx’s real name, something not lost on my daughter. I tried to channel his character and humor as much as I could into Julius the wiseacre parrot.

What challenges did you face while writing this book, and how did you overcome them?

I had been out of school for many years and fought against self-doubt and trepidation for wanting to attempt such an ambitious topic for my first (could not fail) novel. I had to overcome my own insecurities and I think I have done that. However, now as then, I still work a day job and have not started the next creative project other than a few pages of notes. This time, though, a less ambitious work, a memoir of my life overseas and meeting my wife Boonprakong, Mong.

Can you share any interesting anecdotes or behind-the-scenes stories from the writing process?

Yes, for the first 12–13 years of living breathing this work in process, I drove a school bus, first in New Hampshire, then Massachusetts before moving to North Carolina where I lived for 18 months when I left the United States to teach English as a second language in Vietnam. Living in North Carolina was a great motivator because I was tired of living among evangelical Christians with guns.

What was your favorite scene to write in “Pigs in Paradise,” and why?

My favorite scene probably comes at the end of chapter 18. The scene is with a group of animals under the grand olive tree and Julius and Blaise banter back and forth. Starting with Blaise, she unknowingly makes an allusion to a Rolling Stones album, and I kept it going between them. As they talk, allusions are made of Rolling Stone albums, at least two, and to about four songs. Until now, no one has known this! It should be seen as visually appealing and funny when Julius, a parrot, shakes his wing at Blaise and says, “If only I had a thumb.” I also have chapters I consider milestones. Complicated chapters to write, usually long with a lot going on, chapters 18, 20, 21, 25, and my favorite and most challenging chapter 31, “The Passion-play Parade.” When I completed this very long and complicated chapter, I sat on my laurels and did not write the next chapter for months, if not longer.

What authors or books have influenced your writing style and approach to storytelling?

I saw a cartoon-movie adaptation of Animal Farm when I was probably eight years old. Then as now, it remains the saddest cartoon I’ve ever seen. Twenty years later, in a British novel class, I finally read the novel. It has been with me for a long time. My memory of the cartoon is so good I know it to be a perfect adaptation.

Are there any other genres or styles of writing you’d like to explore in the future?

My true genre of interest is realism, and I think I did a good job with magic realism for my purposes with this novel.

Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or books you are working on?

Next time I probably won’t have any talking animals and will not be a political satire, but rather a memoir of coming to Thailand and finding happiness in the working title: When Corona Come,” which is how my Thai girlfriend and future wife, Mong, used to refer to Covid-19 in 2020 when I came to live with her.

Thank you, Roger, for sharing such insightful and compelling details in this exclusive interview. We appreciate your openness about the creative process behind “Pigs in Paradise: A Fairy Story Most Absurd” and look forward to your future projects.