What exactly is art; who defines it; who makes it, and where in Atlanta do poets, thespians, and artists congregate and create? We’ll use this space to catch up with a few for a few…some you may know; others we hope you’ll be pleased to make their acquaintance.
Learning about Josh Green – whose first novel, “Secrets of Ash,” was released in September – reminded me why I love Atlanta so much.
Green recently presided over the uber-competitive Final Four Best of ATL neighborhoods contest for Urbanize Atlanta, the popular real estate blog where he works as editor. The winner was Hapeville, which is fantastic, especially since I finally figured out that cars will respect your right of way when crossing the railroad tracks on or off Central Avenue. At first, I trusted that concept about as much as the not-at-all-missed reversible lane on DeKalb Avenue.
Green’s passion for bicycling in the city takes me back to Saturday morning walks of old (often 12 miles) starting in Kirkwood, still dark, headed in any direction, marking the midpoint with breakfast at Highland Bakery, Ria’s Bluebird, or the Flying Biscuit. This was before the BeltLine, and my walk buddy and I would only encounter a handful of people along the way. The walks helped me understand how interconnected Atlanta truly is, and I learned a few handy rush-hour saving shortcuts pre-Waze.
Along with Urbanize Atlanta, Green is a contributor to Atlanta magazine and the author of the shor story collection “Dirtyville Rhapsodies” published in 2013. Because this new book took him over ten years to write and publish, it underscores his appreciation for the response to his work. Green has lived in various Atlanta locations, Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park. Now, he resides in “quirky, funky Kirkwood.” As a freelancer and “Intown workaholic,” you can probably find him at one of his favorite coffee shops: Taproom, Joe’s in EAV, Dancing Goats, Park Grounds, or Inman Perk Coffee.
Be sure to check out his Spotify Top 5 playlist below, too.
Talk a little about your work as a journalist, author, and city explorer impacts your creativity.
First of all—12 miles is an insane distance for one walk. Especially with these hills around here. What? That’s incredible! But exploring this city for work and life is everything—it’s a ceaselessly inspiring place. Nothing stays exactly the same for long; the changes can be uplifting, tragic, or both at once. I joke that if you leave Atlanta on vacation, there’s at least one block you won’t recognize when you get back.
Every time I set out on a bike or for a long walk in Atlanta, I’m awed by it, proud of it, and frustrated about something, too. It’s like an imperfect family member you deeply love despite their occasional, unbelievable fits of stupidity. All these emotions can be transmuted into creative works, which I hope qualify as art in the case of “Secrets of Ash” and other novels I’m finishing now.
What is the genesis of “Secret of Ash”—how did the story of these two brothers emerge, and what was your journey in writing it?
It’s a long and kind of cool story, but the short version is that I wanted to write a novel about two flawed brothers facing some sort of tremendous struggle.
From my earliest days in newspaper journalism, I found myself drawn to stories of U.S. veterans as I met and worked with so many of them. The youngest brother character is a lionhearted army vet who means well, but he makes two terrible decisions in life that could cost him everything.
Back when I used to have a long car commute through awful Atlanta traffic, I constantly listened to sports radio. I wanted a contrast for the older brother character, and frankly, I found inspiration for him in local sports radio personality Mike Bell. I know he’s been controversial, but I’ve always found that dude hilarious—and really talented at what he does. Plus, I’d never seen a character in that vein on the page or screen, a successful Wildman with a huge audience whose forte is sports knowledge and, I guess, excess.
So, I had this dichotomy of very different brothers, as all siblings are. But no story. One day, the plot came to me while reading a magazine and drinking beer—that’s a separate story. After that, all it took was a delightful process of sweating blood, drinking midnight coffee, and eating rejections for a decade before the book got right and finally made its way into the world. Thank God.
Your short story, “Twenty-First Century Itch” from “Dirtyville Rhapsodies,” snatched me the moment I read the description “corporate teeth” with its humor, realism, and compassion as we spiraled into Tommy Spark’s past and present fates and its intertwining with grief. What is the throughline of grief from Tommy Spark’s story to that of Chase and Jack Lumpkin in “Secrets of Ash?”
That’s so crazy you went back to that story, the first one in my first book. Whoa! I think that story was originally published in 2008. Then, that book came out in 2013. And when COVID started creeping across the world, I thought of that old story and how so much of its fear, confusion, and panic was echoed in 2020. Tommy is also a U.S. veteran, like several characters in that book. I suppose the through line connecting them and the novel is my deep respect and admiration for people who’ve risked their lives for this country overseas. There’s no way I could force myself to not write about that in fiction.
When did you fall in love with writing fiction and nonfiction—when did you know this was what you were meant to do?
Grade school for fiction. I still have my first little book. It’s about a shark with one tooth who gets brutally picked on. But the lack of teeth allows him this great singing voice. By miraculous luck, he gets hired by Metallica, becomes a rock star shark, and ultimately triumphs over those loser bullies.
Teachers were saying in maybe fourth grade, “You have something,” and, “Follow this,” and whatever, but I had to sow a vast dumb field of wild oats first.
Finally, I got myself into college and had this epiphany in a parking lot: Pursue writing as a job. I didn’t want to be confined to a classroom teaching writing. Plus, I would probably have been a bad influence on students. As tough as the pursuit has been, journalism seemed like a portal toward exploring the world professionally and being creative. Which is precisely what it is.
I’ve heard Doll’s Head Trail would be an excellent setting for a Southern Gothic murder mystery…which is why my walks never ventured there. With your experience working with Urbanize Atlanta, what’s an odd treasure of Atlanta that would be a good character or backdrop in a book or film?
You know that shopping district Midtown Place, across the street from Ponce City Market? The one with Whole Foods, designed and developed without a shred of integrity or thought for the urban experience? It’s like a constant horror movie. They could make a documentary about it and scare the hell out of every urbanist in America.
Find out more about Green at joshrgreen.com and order “Secrets of Ash” here or buy it at your local bookstore.
