Mike Magnuson is a novelist and writer who teaches creative writing at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's a Wisconsin guy; a Milwaukee-area guy even.

His novels, like "The Right Man for The Job" and "The Fire Gospels" are great. His book "Lummox" a laugh-out-loud riot.His "Heft on Wheels," a memoir of how he got himself in shape and became an ace cyclocross racer is inspiring and endearing. He's also penned articles for GQ, Men's Health, Esquire and other publications.

So, when we thought it was time to break into the world of fiction, we thought immediately of Mag. He's got a great sense of humor, he's self-effacing and he loves Milwaukee. Basically, he's the right man for the job.

According to Mag:

"I've been wanting to write something this for quite some time, since 1999, actually, when I returned to live in Menomonee Falls after having lived elsewhere since I graduated in high school in 1981.

"I had a lull in my career, I guess, and decided maybe I could find myself, or rediscover myself, in the Falls. As it turned out, I stayed for a year and became so incredibly depressed and pathetically suicidal that, wow, I just about didn't live through it.

"Now, Menomonee Falls itself is not responsible for my unhappiness in 1999. Likely, what happened is during my travels hither and yon in the country I changed into someone whose ideas and lifestyle and so on didn't coincide with life and ideas in the Falls. For instance, I'm a lifelong Democrat who comes from a family of lifelong Democrats, and Menomonee Falls is so Republican that on some summer afternoons, if you stare at the sidewalks long enough, they will glow red. I'm not kidding. Oh well.

"If I could put myself in a time machine and travel back to 1999, I would instead move to Milwaukee's East Side, somewhere near Brady Street, and, hell, I'd probably still be living there to this day! Anyway, probably the only reason I didn't kill myself in 1999 was I wrote down a list of writing projects I wanted to get around to before I died.

"One of these projects was called "The Falls," and I envisioned it as a sequence of flashes into man's mind while he is emotionally falling apart in a conservative suburb. So when OnMilwaukee.com contacted me about maybe writing some fiction for them, I knew right away that it was time to bring "The Falls" to life.

"Does this mean I'm ready to die now? Nah. I've got a bunch more projects on my list."

A serialized tale, "The Falls" will run in installments on OnMilwaukee.com beginning next week.

11 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 22, 2006 at 6:18 p.m. (report)

Myke said: Sorry Brian,We'll pass.Had enough of mike's "insights" in this short interveiw.

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 21, 2006 at 9:15 p.m. (report)

MB said: Menomonee Falls = Stiffling, myopic white bread. Original thought? Never!

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 21, 2006 at 8:45 p.m. (report)

Smokey said: I must 2nd gymdawg & Kevin's emotions

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 21, 2006 at 6:21 p.m. (report)

BRIAN said: I have just finished "HEFT ON WHEELS", and if you have anytime at all, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up. Not only is it a fantastic commentary on living in and around milwuakee, but it is also a commentary on a mans' dream to become someone else, one whom is hidden in a body he is not enjoying the reflection of inb the mirror. I find Milke terribly insightful and interesting.

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 21, 2006 at 3:38 p.m. (report)

Sarah said: This sounds very interesting. After moving from the east side to Germantown, I feel your pain. Not to say there aren't good things too, but it is amazing how radically different those two worlds are. Too bad some of the other posters have to be so defensive already on the whole Red vs Blue thing.