Sam and Polly
This is Mitch Morgan's exclusive interview with Deek and Abby, real life characters from 122 Rules, the debut novel by Deek rhew. After reading it, go back to the main page to continue the group interview.
Mitch: So, I think I'd like to start with Abby. First of all good morning. In the book you are portrayed as a tycoon. You could say you are the Donald Trump or Scrooge McDuck of Alabaster Cove. Is your business savvy something that you come by naturally or did you go to school?
Abby: Good morning, Mitch. Wow! Donald Trump and Scrooge McDuck? Well I'd like to think I have better hair than the Donald and that I'm more generous than the duck.
Sam: That's debatable.
Abby: (punching Deek) I took on your sorry ass didn't I? That seems pretty generous. Anyway, I'd like to think it's a combination of both, Mitch. I went to school at Stanford, but you can take a monkey through those classes, it doesn't mean they'll be good at business when they come out. It just means they're a trained monkey. I think it just takes a certain instinct to run a successful business, to know when to invest and when not to. But basically, this town makes it easy. It's pretty obvious, at least to me, what will and will not succeed.
Sam: All kidding aside, Mitch. I think the biggest variable that has made her successful is that Abbs isn't greedy. The grocery store and the surf shop, for instance, were failing because the previous owners were trying to milk them for every penny they could. Abbs is willing to put the profits last. She hires good people and takes care of them, and re-invests in the place. Have you been to the Spin Cycle and seen the before and after pictures? It's remarkable.
Mitch: I have and you're right. The place is the picture of health now. So, Abby, your key to success is generosity?
Abby: Sure, that's part of it. But you also have to know what to invest in and what not to. This town is a little different because of the isolation factor. Most of the businesses are what we need, there isn't a lot of room for frivolousness because we can't support it. The rules of supply and demand still apply.
Mitch: At the end of the book you are pregnant. Clearly you aren't now, in fact you look fantastic.
Abby: Thank you. It took a few months but I got all that baby weight off. A lot of running with Sam and Abby.
Mitch: How is the baby doing and how are you enjoying motherhood? Also, how are you balancing motherhood with being a tycoon.
Abby: Little Drakey is a our little football player, he's, let's see, four months tomorrow. Hard to believe the time has gone by so fast! I love being a mother, I couldn't be happier.
Sam: Though a little more sleep would be nice.
Abby: Yeah, Drake can be a little cranky, but on the by and large we got lucky with him. He looks like his dad, but he has my brain.
Sam: Your brain? You think? Mitch, the kid is only four months, but he already follows the New York stock market and his first words were municipal bonds. I don't even know what that is. Seriously, it doesn't get any more Abby than that.
Abby: As far as balancing personal and professional life, well, just like every other parent in the world we do the best we can. Fortunately I have an awesome partner and a huge crew that helps out. Sometimes it seems like his uncle Sam and aunt Pauly are raising him more than we are. Fortunately I love them both. It's actually pretty great, because he has so many safe places to go and people who love him.
Mitch: Deek, let's talk about you for a minute. In the book, you are portrayed as this laid back surfer / painter / designer who isn't so much book smart as has this underlying talent that makes you special.
Sam: Yeah, I'd say so. In some ways I am pretty laid back, anyone who spends all day thinking about and living in the surf has to be, right? You have to feel the cadence of the water, otherwise your boards won't be in harmony with the surf, and that's what makes a good board: harmony. I'm not book smart. I finished towards the bottom of my class, but that's why I hooked up with my girl. I mellow her out and she takes care of the paperwork.
Mitch: The author makes it sound like you don't even know you're own family history. When Sam asks you about your name you say, and I quote, "it's French or something." According to the book, in the shop there are posters on of you with Triniti and other hot, barely-clothed surfer babes. This is case: I've been to your shop and seen the posters. Makes you come off as a playboy, the stereotypical surfer. Do you think this is a fair representation of you?
Sam: Look, you can't fault the author, none of us can. He gave us life. Without him, we'd never exist in the first place. You either, Mitch. I don't really care about family history and my dad didn't either. Really, we focus on the here and now and don't worry about the past so much. Nothing we can do about that. But the now? That's what's important. We are writing the past, so-to-speak, as we go along. Drake, he's the future. He doesn't care where he came from, only that he has people that care about him. To answer your other question, yeah, I guess in some ways I am a stereotype, but aren't we all? At least in someways? Besides, what exactly is a stereotype, but someone's idea of what elements make up the type of person you are. No two people's idea are exactly the same, Mitch. So you can call me whatever you want, but in the end I am just me.
Mitch: That is very philosophical.
Abby: That's just a typical day in the life.
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Mitch: So, I think I'd like to start with Abby. First of all good morning. In the book you are portrayed as a tycoon. You could say you are the Donald Trump or Scrooge McDuck of Alabaster Cove. Is your business savvy something that you come by naturally or did you go to school?
Abby: Good morning, Mitch. Wow! Donald Trump and Scrooge McDuck? Well I'd like to think I have better hair than the Donald and that I'm more generous than the duck.
Sam: That's debatable.
Abby: (punching Deek) I took on your sorry ass didn't I? That seems pretty generous. Anyway, I'd like to think it's a combination of both, Mitch. I went to school at Stanford, but you can take a monkey through those classes, it doesn't mean they'll be good at business when they come out. It just means they're a trained monkey. I think it just takes a certain instinct to run a successful business, to know when to invest and when not to. But basically, this town makes it easy. It's pretty obvious, at least to me, what will and will not succeed.
Sam: All kidding aside, Mitch. I think the biggest variable that has made her successful is that Abbs isn't greedy. The grocery store and the surf shop, for instance, were failing because the previous owners were trying to milk them for every penny they could. Abbs is willing to put the profits last. She hires good people and takes care of them, and re-invests in the place. Have you been to the Spin Cycle and seen the before and after pictures? It's remarkable.
Mitch: I have and you're right. The place is the picture of health now. So, Abby, your key to success is generosity?
Abby: Sure, that's part of it. But you also have to know what to invest in and what not to. This town is a little different because of the isolation factor. Most of the businesses are what we need, there isn't a lot of room for frivolousness because we can't support it. The rules of supply and demand still apply.
Mitch: At the end of the book you are pregnant. Clearly you aren't now, in fact you look fantastic.
Abby: Thank you. It took a few months but I got all that baby weight off. A lot of running with Sam and Abby.
Mitch: How is the baby doing and how are you enjoying motherhood? Also, how are you balancing motherhood with being a tycoon.
Abby: Little Drakey is a our little football player, he's, let's see, four months tomorrow. Hard to believe the time has gone by so fast! I love being a mother, I couldn't be happier.
Sam: Though a little more sleep would be nice.
Abby: Yeah, Drake can be a little cranky, but on the by and large we got lucky with him. He looks like his dad, but he has my brain.
Sam: Your brain? You think? Mitch, the kid is only four months, but he already follows the New York stock market and his first words were municipal bonds. I don't even know what that is. Seriously, it doesn't get any more Abby than that.
Abby: As far as balancing personal and professional life, well, just like every other parent in the world we do the best we can. Fortunately I have an awesome partner and a huge crew that helps out. Sometimes it seems like his uncle Sam and aunt Pauly are raising him more than we are. Fortunately I love them both. It's actually pretty great, because he has so many safe places to go and people who love him.
Mitch: Deek, let's talk about you for a minute. In the book, you are portrayed as this laid back surfer / painter / designer who isn't so much book smart as has this underlying talent that makes you special.
Sam: Yeah, I'd say so. In some ways I am pretty laid back, anyone who spends all day thinking about and living in the surf has to be, right? You have to feel the cadence of the water, otherwise your boards won't be in harmony with the surf, and that's what makes a good board: harmony. I'm not book smart. I finished towards the bottom of my class, but that's why I hooked up with my girl. I mellow her out and she takes care of the paperwork.
Mitch: The author makes it sound like you don't even know you're own family history. When Sam asks you about your name you say, and I quote, "it's French or something." According to the book, in the shop there are posters on of you with Triniti and other hot, barely-clothed surfer babes. This is case: I've been to your shop and seen the posters. Makes you come off as a playboy, the stereotypical surfer. Do you think this is a fair representation of you?
Sam: Look, you can't fault the author, none of us can. He gave us life. Without him, we'd never exist in the first place. You either, Mitch. I don't really care about family history and my dad didn't either. Really, we focus on the here and now and don't worry about the past so much. Nothing we can do about that. But the now? That's what's important. We are writing the past, so-to-speak, as we go along. Drake, he's the future. He doesn't care where he came from, only that he has people that care about him. To answer your other question, yeah, I guess in some ways I am a stereotype, but aren't we all? At least in someways? Besides, what exactly is a stereotype, but someone's idea of what elements make up the type of person you are. No two people's idea are exactly the same, Mitch. So you can call me whatever you want, but in the end I am just me.
Mitch: That is very philosophical.
Abby: That's just a typical day in the life.
Back to Character Interviews