BAR: IRISH SNUG
It might seem an odd place for an Irish pub. But the Irish Snug, 1201 E. Colfax Ave., fits in like a shamrock in a pasture. It has all the trappings we’ve come to expect with these imports: lanterns outside, an ample patio, an Irish flag, bottles of Irish whiskey on the wall, Guinness on tap, friendly lassies serving up some better-than-average grub. And the Irish Snug has an eclectic roster of daily events, from Sunday sing-alongs to a 5K run with the Irish Snug Run Club Thursday before dinner and drinks. On weekends, you make your own fun.
GRILLED: MARK STEVENS
Mark Stevens, 57, has learned a little about a lot of things. He’s worked in journalism, television and education, and these days he’s finding success writing mystery novels about western Colorado. Stevens grew up outside of Boston and studied at Principia College in Illinois. He moved on to write for The Christian Science Monitor, covered city hall for the Rocky Mountain News, produced newscasts for PBS’s “The MacNeil/Lehrer Report” and bartended at Wynkoop Brewing Co. There was a five-year gig at The Denver Post covering Denver Public Schools, followed by PR gigs at the school district and then the state — until he was terminated in June. So the bad news is he’s looking for a job; the good news is his second novel, “Buried by the Roan,” has just come out to strong reviews. He plays bass in an oldies band, Falling Rock, with Denver Post political cartoonist Mike Keefe. He’s married with two daughters, 19 and 15. He orders a Guinness — followed by another mid-interview.
BH: Which paper did you like better, the Rocky or the Post?
Stevens: Hard to say. I worked for Michael Howard at the Rocky, and he was an amazing guy. What a legend. But Gil Spencer at The Post was the same way, he would come and sit at your desk. He wanted to help you and get the best story out of you.
BH: How was it to write about Denver Public Schools and then work for them?
Stevens: The transition was really, really tough. You go from throwing hand grenades to catching hand grenades. In the end, it worked out great.
BH: How do you think schools are doing these days?
Stevens: I think teachers and principals are trying to do the right thing — 99 percent of them are working their butts off. There is just so much politics and noise on top of it. Our schools and teachers are underfunded and underappreciated.
BH: Did you ever want to teach?
Stevens: Never. My wife is an art teacher at East, but it has never really occurred to me.
BH: What’s the plan now?
Stevens: I’ll find some other communications work.
BH: Maybe one of your two books will break out?
Stevens: That’s the dream, but it’s like playing the lottery. You do your best, you put it out there, but this is a very challenging market.
BH: What do you think of e-books?
Stevens: My book will come out as an e-book momentarily. But I have yet to read an e-book.
BH: You will.
Stevens: I know.
BH: Do your children read your books?
Stevens: Yes. In fact Justine, my youngest, was a huge help on this book. We were on a long drive, and she watches the show “Bones,” so she helped me analyze things.
BH: Why did you go into fiction instead of nonfiction?
Stevens: You have to do some research in fiction, but you’re using a completely different part of your brain. I found it really satisfying to put a story together.
BH: Is writing lonely for you?
Stevens: No. I write early in the morning, like 5 to 6.
BH: I don’t understand. Do you write for one hour or 13 hours?
Stevens: Forty-five minutes to one hour. Just a little bit every day, and you can make a lot of progress. For me, it’s 500 to 600 words a day. A page a day, so in a year you have a book.
BH: Nora Roberts says it’s all about “butt in chair.”
Stevens: That’s right. A novel won’t write itself.
BH: What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Stevens: One is writing, when you’re just doing it. And it’s similar to music when you don’t even realize that you’re playing a song. In both situations you just float above the moment.
BH: What trait don’t you like in yourself?
Stevens: I think I can control everything, and I know that’s not true.
BH: In others?
Stevens: Overpromotion, overclaiming.
BH: Have you ever seen someone reading one of your books, like on a plane?
Stevens: No.
BH: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Stevens: Good wine. Malbecs. Big, dark, chewy reds.
BH: What’s your current state of mind?
Stevens: I am very positive. Always have been.
BH: What do you dislike about your appearance?
Stevens: I wish I had smaller feet. I wear a size 15. My friends in college used to say I had to go down to the corner to turn around.
BH: Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Stevens: My whole family.
BH: Where would you like to live?
Stevens: You’d need a crowbar to get me out of Colorado.
BH: When or where were you happiest?
Stevens: Right now, Absolutely. I am on top of the world. Maybe I’m a little worried about the job thing.
BH: What talent would you like to have?
Stevens: I wish I could remember every joke I was ever told.
BH: What’s your most treasured possession?
Stevens: My Rickenbacker bass.
BH: What’s your favorite thing to do?
Stevens: My favorite moments are definitely getting out of the city, going up to the woods, sitting around with my friends, talking, singing, the night sky.
BH: Who are your favorite writers?
Stevens: Patricia Highsmith, James M. Cain, Joseph Conrad; and all the modern fiction writers, Richard Ford, Phillip Roth, Annie Proulx.
BH: Do you have a hero in fiction”
Stevens: Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom.
BH: What wouldn’t you eat, even to be polite?
Stevens: Veal.
BH: What about foie gras?
Stevens: That’s probably No. 2.
BH: What’s your greatest regret?
Stevens: That I didn’t start writing fiction earlier.
BH: How would you like to die?
Stevens: Unsurprised.
BH: Movies?
Stevens: Last movie we saw in a theater was Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.”
BH: Music?
Stevens: It’s endless. The new Drive By Truckers, the Decemberists, 30 years of R.E.M. and always Cracker, Cracker, Cracker. That band is one of a kind.
BH: Motto?
Stevens: My dad, long gone, said, “Have a good time, give a good time.”
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Bill Husted: 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com.
