Spring Break
Punk rocker turned author
Adina Zerwig
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Features
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Wednesday night Portman "lectured" to a full room of Sac State students. The Sacramento Poetry Society sponsored the event. Portman read excerpts from his book, "King Dork," and answered the students' many questions.
"King Dork" is the narrative of Tom Hudson, a Holden-Caulfield hating, paranoid high school student who is deemed "king dork." Portman told students that not much of his personal experience went into his character, but said some people don't believe him. He didn't enjoy his own high school, and "had a detached contempt for it." Portman said he did use a hybrid of two high school friends for Tom's friend Sam Hellerman.
"I had old girlfriends contact me and say 'thank God you didn't put me in your book,'" he said.
Portman said it wasn't even his idea to write a book. One of his fans became a literary agent and presented the idea to Portman. He began with a 20-page demo of what eventually became "King Dork." To his surprise, his fan sold the "King Dork" idea to Random House and gave him the green light to finish on the rest of the novel.
"It hit me that I would actually have to finish the book," Portman said.
What he finished is causing quite the literary buzz. "King Dork" was published in 2006. Last year the novel won the Northern California Book Award. "King Dork" has received the praise of many critics across the country and there is even talk of an upcoming film based off the novel.
Portman said that writing the novel was a humbling experience for him, and has made him less of a "literary snob." Portman stuck around after the reading and signed books and answered any questions students had.
"Anyone who can finish a book ... hats off to them," he said.
Sacramento State English professor Michael Pulley brought his class to the lecture and assigned "King Dork" as a required text. Pulley said he thought Portman did a "masterful job of providing insight into the experiences and working habits of a novelist."
"He was also very entertaining in the same darkly-humorous style and tone as the characteristics of his writings in 'King Dork,'" Pulley said.
Freshman Yeimi Lopez is currently reading "King Dork" in Pulley's English class. Lopez said meeting an actual author for a book she's studying was an amazing experience, and thought the reading was "great."
"I loved Portman's sense of humor; his personality was very down to earth and easy to relate to," Lopez said.
Being the frontman for a punk band for 25 years is something that has influenced and informed his writing, Portman said. The title "King Dork" actually came from one of his songs.
"I just thought of what would look cool on a book jacket and I picked that," he said. "I don't really think in terms of literary wonderfulness. I just think about what works."
To see a video of the event click here.
Adina Zerwig can be reached at azerwig@statehornet.com
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