Armistead Maupin joins Christopher and Eric for an intimate and lively conversation about his latest novel, the final installment in his beloved TALES OF THE CITY series, THE DAYS OF ANNA MADRIGAL. Along the way Armistead answers questions from the Party People and shares witty, nostalgic tales of his storied career. Christopher and Eric agree; this episode is one of their finest.

 

I once wrote in a novel that Hollywood was a town where you could die of encouragement.

ARMISTEAD MAUPIN

The Dinner Party Show Podcast — Ep. 61Armistead Maupin Interview Transcript

{This transcript is the Armistead Maupin interview portion of Episode 61}{This transcript is provided as a courtesy and was transcribed as best as possible. Any errors or omissions in the transcript are unintentional. The recorded audio file of the podcast episode is considered the master of what was said.}

Announcer: You're listening to the Dinner Party Show with Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn, where the soup is hot, but the heads are hotter.

Christopher Rice: In 1971, Armistead Maupin was working as a newspaper reporter when he was assigned to the San Francisco Bureau of the Associated Press.

Eric Shaw Quinn: Thank goodness.

Christopher Rice: Just six years later, he launched his groundbreaking Tales of the City as a serial in the San Francisco Chronicle. The resulting series now spans seven volumes, and Armistead Maupin joins us today to talk about the latest. It's called The Days of Anna Madrigal, and to the great sadness of many it is, he claims, the final installment in this beloved and groundbreaking series, which forever changed the way the world saw San Francisco, gay people, and Beach Blanket Babylon. Armistead Maupin. We are thrilled to welcome you to The Dinner Party Show this evening, and we want to tell everyone that we just got the news that the book debuted at number seven-

Eric Shaw Quinn: Congratulations.

Christopher Rice: On the New York Times bestseller list.

Eric Shaw Quinn: Congratulations.

Armistead Maupin: I just got it myself. I'm over the moon.

Eric Shaw Quinn: Here to celebrate.

Armistead Maupin: It's never happened to me before. I'm 69 years old, and I've made the extended list and had that thing of hoping that the next week it would tip over.

Eric Shaw Quinn: Right.

Christopher Rice: Really?

Armistead Maupin: Uh-huh, because then you get to call yourself a New York Times bestseller…

Eric Shaw Quinn: Well, I'm so glad we could celebrate!

 Christopher Rice : Right, right.

Armistead Maupin: …if you make the extended list. But I've never gotten this high up. And I'm higher than... Well, she's only been on the list for two years, Gillian Flynn.

Christopher Rice: Oh, Gone Girl. Right, right, right.

Armistead Maupin: Whose novel I absolutely love and gobbled down.

Christopher Rice: Uh-huh.

Eric Shaw Quinn: But it is really time. It's just indiscreet to remain on the list this long.

Christopher Rice: I know, it's-

Eric Shaw Quinn: It's just rude. It's time to go.

Christopher Rice: Well, do you remember children's books used to remain on the list for years and years and years before people complained and they made a separate bestseller list for children's books.

Armistead Maupin: A separate thing, yeah.

Christopher Rice: Well, that's wonderful. Congratulations.

Armistead Maupin: Thank you very much.

Eric Shaw Quinn: That's really... Well, we have champagne. We'll crack it open if you're in the mood.

Armistead Maupin: Oh, I'm happy with this little tea party going on here.

Christopher Rice: Good. We always get you tea.

Armistead Maupin: And I must say, I had no idea you had these lavish surroundings. It's perfectly suited for something called The Dinner Party Show.

Christopher Rice:  Absolutely.

Eric Shaw Quinn: That was what we were shooting for.

Armistead Maupin: You have to walk into a sleazy motel to get to it.