Francesca Lia Block Issue #29

The award-winning author talks about Weetzie Bat’s success, bringing myth to a new generation, and her latest book, Psyche in a Dress

By Jen Hazen
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

Francesca Lia Block first came to prominence when she whisked readers through the modern-fairy-tale world of Shangri-LA, an urban landscape dusted over with glitz and glam and populated by ghosts and fairies, as seen from the starry eyes of Weetzie Bat, a punk-spirited, passionate heroine. Published in 1989, Weetzie Bat became the first in a series of novels starring Weetzie, her boyfriend My Secret Agent Lover Man, and her children Witch Baby and Cherokee Bat, among others. Block’s eye-popping kinetic imagery, her arresting use of myth and fairy tale motifs, and — unlike many young adult novels — her confrontation of contemporary issues and harsher life realities have gained her strong cross-over appeal with older readers as well. In addition to the series, Block has also written other young adult works, such as The Hanged Man, Violet and Claire, and The Rose and the Beast, a retelling of fairy tales.

Block’s latest work, Psyche in a Dress, is a departure in form for the author as it’s a narrative poem based on Greek myths. Loosely about its title character in search of love, Psyche takes the reader on a quest through a netherworld that weaves ancient myth with the complications of modern heartbreak — where love is “scented with jasmine and tasting of fresh oranges.” In a phone conversation on a busy Sunday in July, Block took a moment to chat about dressing up as Aphrodite, the marriage of myth and mod, and what she was like as a teenager.

Myth and supernatural elements always factor into your stories. How do these elements help you to tell a story?
Myths and fairy-tales have always been my inspiration because of the universal truth in them combined with this otherworldly transcendence that gives me perspective on the real world.

Structure is sometimes difficult for me with the journey aspect of a story, so I often look to myths for that. And the supernatural ... it just serves as a wonderful metaphor for everything transcendent. [Myths] are powerfully inspirational because of their truths.

Psyche differs from your other works in that it’s a narrative poem. Were there any challenges in writing this or did it feel liberating?
What happened was I started it as prose. I was talking to my editor, who hadn’t even read it yet, and she thought it would make an interesting poem. I played around with it and found that when I broke up the lines, it worked much better. The way that modernist poetry combined with the concrete imagery and art of Greek mythology. ... It worked very well together.

It reminds me of the theory of collective unconscious in which stories are reborn over time through decades of storytelling. You’re bringing myth to a new generation in a fresh, modern way.
I think that I wouldn’t have been as bold in the beginning [of my career] as I am in Psyche ... to put in a reference back to ancient Greek ritual mixed with a rock band in the same sentence! In college, I wrote a paper on punk music as pagan ritual, so I’ve always taken the two contrasting worlds and blended them. It’s been my inspiration all along.

You cover touchy topics in your books such as AIDS, drugs, and violence. Are there any issues that you’ve hesitated to deal with because of your mostly young-adult audience?
I never consider myself a young adult writer, so I write whatever I want to. The only thing that I couldn’t publish for my erotica [books] was some four-letter words so it’s all the same to me!

Were you like Weetzie as a teenager?
Yeah, I definitely went through that. I’ve become more like her as I’ve gotten older ... her maternal aspect. I had the bleached hair, slammin’ around in punk clubs, and a very eccentric group of friends who spoke in those terms.

You seem to have a finger on the pulse still. Over the years, the Weetzie books have reflected pop culture, yet they transcend it.
[Weetzie Bat] seemed so personal and so small. Now it’s 20 years later, and it has been translated into Japanese. All of these things that I would have never thought would happen. There’s something about the language and the story that goes beyond pop culture. Of course, the culture has become more interested in the offbeat and edgy.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the next 10 years? Any idea or is it very organic for you?
It is organic. I am working on something for younger children and I think that my kids, 4 and 6 years old, will help me determine where my writing goes because they’ve become my inspiration.

My writing is becoming more realistic and confident, too. I don’t have to delve so deeply into my past to find subject matter because a lot is currently happening in my life. At the same time, I think that my writing is going to become more poetic — more freedom to experiment with form and language.

I’m also working on a film of Weetzie Bat, which may happen.

That’s exciting!
Yeah, I know. It really is. Oh, I’m telling you. If it happens ... I’m really excited! I’m not writing the script, yet am working with screenwriter Michael Cunningham.

I read in an interview that you don’t intentionally try to weave moral lessons into your work, yet there’s no denying that your books have an empowering message. Do you receive a lot of fan mail?
Yes, I do. When you think of a younger audience, people assume that there needs to be a moral message. But if you approach “adult literature,” do you approach it with a moral lesson? No. You approach it with your philosophies about life. I approach my books with my philosophy, which includes empowerment through creativity, connection to others, love, finding yourself, and my overall optimism about life in spite of the pain that exists.

If you could be a mythological goddess, which would you be? I’m think that you’re a cross between Diana and Aphrodite.
I love that! When I was a little girl, we had to dress up as different gods and goddesses in fourth grade and I got to be Aphrodite in my purple dress. I was so happy. [laughs]

I have to say that I’m definitely not all her, though. OK, I’ll take Diana. In all honesty, I really feel like Psyche who’s not a goddess really but a very good metaphor/alter ego. I’ve also identified with the male character, Orpheus.

What were your favorite bands back in the day?
Early, early Go-Go’s when they were that crazy punk band. I liked hardcore punk. I loved X. That’s probably my number-one favorite. Siouxsie and the Banshees, too. I started going out with friends in high school and discovered these punk bands. Oh, Patti Smith. She’s great.

What’s your sun sign?
My sun sign is Sagittarius and I have an Aquarius moon, so kind of a combination there. You know, I’m not a big traveler ... I’m very interested in astrology, though. What I do find is that the people in my life are the same signs. I repeat that connection. I have Venus in Scorpio.

Oooh. Alluring and mysterious, but extremely strong-willed.
It’s problematic and so true. It hasn’t worked out very well so far. [laughs]