Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Barrington resident Peter Johnson has edited magazines and collections of prose poetry, written stories for young people, and is a professor of literature and creative writing at Providence College. He is currently on sabbatical to work on his own books. His latest, “The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr., AKA Houdini” is set in Rhode Island. Mr. Johnson began teaching when he was 25, after several years working construction, and in a steel plant. This is Mr. Johnson’s eighth book, but the first with well known publisher Harper Collins. His books have won several awards, including the James Laughlin award and the Paterson Prize. His new book recently became available, and can be purchased through Amazon. It earned a Kirkus starred review given for “books of remarkable merit.” Mr. Johnson has two sons — Kurt, 26, who is teaching English in Japan, and Lucas, 9. He has lived in Barrington with his wife Genevieve and Lucas since June 2011.

Writing process: “To me, it’s like a job. Lucas leaves here at 7:45. I’ll sit here at 8 o’clock and write, probably until 11:30, then I’ll do errands, chores, or work out, and come back and kind of go over what I did because it’s always rough. I always end in the middle of something so I’m not starting a new chapter. When I’m teaching I don’t write during the school year; I don’t write, I revise.”

Thinking like a kid: “That’s something I get asked all the time; ‘How can you write from a 16- or 12-year old perspective when you’re older?’ I tell them, ‘Just ask my wife, she’ll tell me that’s not a big leap for me.’”

Story ideas: “My kids, all the things I learned with them, it’s everywhere in my books. It’s like a gift, writing middle school books with a nine year old; I’ve got five or six years to listen to his friends. If I let them (book characters) go for a week or two I’ll lose the rhythm of what’s going on.”

Last to know: “When I was in high school, all my friends said I was going to be a writer. I guess they saw something I didn’t see.”

No silver spoon: “People see you as a professor and think you have a privileged life. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, in a working class neighborhood, by the steel plants. My dad was a steelworker and a mailman.”

Boy author: “I think young adult books talk down to children, especially boys. I think we enculturate boys to be less than what they can be. I just wish there were more images for boys growing up. Where I grew up it was a really, really macho tough area. I just find that so stupid; I border between finding it humorous and finding it idiotic.”

Next book: “It’s called, ‘The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez; Mr. Negativity.’ It’s a comic novel, but it’s also kind of serious. It’s more situated in an environment like here; I’m thinking of it being more like a Barrington place.”

On teaching: “I’ve liked teaching. I think it’s just the energy and the enthusiasm of the kids. They’re not jaded, they’re not cynical, though they are concerned: ‘Am I going to have a job when I come out?’ I don’t like grading, judging people all the time.”

Play ball: “I’m coaching (my younger son) in basketball and baseball because I played sports as a kid. I was an old jock myself. I’ve become more of a swimmer because I’ve had so many injuries. I played basketball until my early forties.”

Spare time: “What spare time? This is so unusual that I have spare time. If I retire I’d like to work 20 hours at a nonprofit. I’ve always worked really well with people who are just on hard times. I’ve helped out at nonprofits with my sons; personally, I think that’s really important with kids.”