At Table 28 with Cooper Devine

Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with writer and poet Cooper Devine

How we got here:

Seven days ago (as of formatting this interview) Mustard was tagged in this note from various friends of theirs. To say they were flustered by the support would be underselling it. These last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Being able to speak with humans about their writing and art is their favorite thing. cooper devine read their interview with lilly madison which inspired and sparked their note.

This though was not Mustard’s introduction to cooper devine. Cooper is a writer that has been on Mustard’s radar. As they should be yours. Cooper understands and uses words in such a captivating way. Their poetry and fiction has them so excited for the novel they are currently working on. If this is what they are sharing on here, can you imagine what a novel from them will be like?

Being able to speak with Cooper about their novel, along with their writing, and so much more was genuinely exciting. In our conversation you will get a chance to meet a human whose notes make our feeds more enjoyable. In our conversation below you will get an opportunity to learn more about writer, student, and poet Cooper Devine.

---

1. Mustard thanks you for visiting the diner today. How are you doing? How’s your day been so far?

Thanks for having me here! I'm doing pretty well, it's a slow day today so it's nice to spend time chatting with someone. The vibe you have going here is fantastic.

2. Mustard appreciates you for dining with them today. Anything on the menu sticking out to you?

Hmm…I'm always down for some French toast whether it's for breakfast or for dinner, so let's go with that.

3. Before we begin, Mustard wonders, if you are still up past your bedtime? Why is it important that humans have a solid and consistent sleep schedule?

I'm always up past my bedtime, so much so that I might have to push back my bedtime at this point. Although I'd argue it's not a great habit to have—sleep is important for feeling healthy and staying sane. But that doesn't mean it's not fun to stay up past midnight every once in a while!

4. Additionally, they wonder, how would they like to address you during our conversation? You go by many names such as kingfisher, cukcoo, and even whatever. How would you like to be addressed moving forward?

Whatever is great, I'm not picky. Sometimes my family calls me Coop, but I don't have any other nicknames aside from that. You can choose!

5. As a condiment, Mustard is curious, what is considered high fashion? Would you recommend that everyone obtain some Hidden Valley Ranch crocs? When is the best time in the season to wear these?

My version of high fashion is whatever is unique to you. Got a piece of clothing that people instantly recognize is yours and brings you joy? By all means, wear it—even if that means walking around town in Hidden Valley Ranch Crocs that you scoured Ebay for. I take a lot of pride in what I wear, so I always try to make sure my outfits match my personality instead of just throwing on something random in the morning.

6. You enjoy writing in the presence of nature and bird-watching. Is there a certain bird that brings you comfort? What bird best represents Cooper Devine?

Every bird brings me comfort! Some of my favorites include cedar waxwings, belted kingfishers, barn owls, and common loons. Choosing one bird that represents me is incredibly difficult, but I see myself the most in the black-crowned night heron. As their name suggests, they're more active at night, which fits with the quiet hours theme and my own habits. We also share a stoic and independent nature, with the capacity to be extremely social in certain situations. For evidence of my birding prowess, here's a Saffron Finch I saw in Hawaii.

7. Mustard has observed that you also enjoy rewatching old episodes of Survivor. If you could be a cast member on any season of Survivor which would it be and why? What would be your survival strategy on this television program?

Realistically I would not make it very far at all on Survivor. My survival skills would be abysmal, I would get homesick the moment I set foot on the beach, and the constant barrage of bugs would make me quit before anyone would be able to vote me out. That said, I think I'd excel at the social and strategic parts of the game. Maybe I'd play a game similar to Sophie Clarke or Michele Fitzgerald, just without the immunity wins. Hopefully someone out there who watches Survivor recognizes those names.

8. They have also observed that you are a college student studying both creative writing and information science. How are your studies going? Has studying creative writing helped you with your own?

My studies have been great so far, and I'm amped for school to start up again this September! Studying creative writing has made me a much better writer, too. I find that learning the technical and "craft" aspects of writing allow me to analyze and revise my own work on a much deeper level. When you know how a story or a poem is supposed to work on a fundamental level, it becomes much easier to see what's working and what isn't.

9. When Mustard went to Condiment University they were not the best student. They did well enough but sometimes goofed off. Can Cooper Devine be found getting into any shenanigans?

For PR reasons, I can't disclose much of the tomfoolery I get up to in college. I definitely engage in some hijinks every once in a while. But, rest assured, I'm still able to maintain good grades in school when it comes down to the wire. If you want a peek into the stuff I get up to, here's a picture of me the morning after a night out

10. Writing a book is all fun and games until you have to write a book. What has your experience been like so far writing a book?

Hard, but rewarding. It's so much fun to see a longer-form project come to fruition and breathe life into a world I imagined myself. In my opinion, every moment of writer's block (or procrastination) will make the finished product even better. Right now, I have the plot and characters mapped out along with a few fragments of chapters, but I'll be releasing some excerpts soon! Hopefully they're well worth the wait.

11. The novel you are currently working on is largely inspired by the Wisconsin suburbs you grew up in. For those who have not had the pleasure to visit these suburbs how would you describe it? What was your childhood like growing up in this environment?

The suburbs—especially the ones I grew up in—are like high school on a grander scale. There are cliques, secrets, popularity contests and social outcasts, so it's important to find a community that makes you feel welcome despite it all. For me, that's my family and friends. Still, the suburbs aren't all that bad! Having a quiet place to come home to and relax in every day is a luxury I am deeply appreciative of. I also like having a backyard for birdwatching.

12. Suburbs can sometimes be very unsettling in how structured they are. Each house has a similar appearance. There is an underlying horror element to them. Would you agree?

Certainly. The more I grow up and develop my own tastes, the more I despise the cookie-cutter homes and McMansions I see every day. As much as I appreciate a nice-looking house, suburban neighborhoods can feel just as claustrophobic as they are grandiose.

13. Speaking of suburbs, Mustard has to know, what are your thoughts on the HOA?

I've never had to deal with the HOA myself, but I've never heard anything good about them either. As far as I can tell, it's just a bunch of grown-up hall monitors and student council members who have an unhealthy obsession with rules and LARPing the social politics of Game of Thrones. Only instead of stopping Daenerys Targaryen from scorching all of Westeros with her dragons, they're stopping homeowners from painting their house a fun color.

14. Mustard loves how organized your newsletter quiet hours is. Poetry on Tuesdays. Fiction on Thursdays. Could you share more about your writing process? Is there any overlap between how you write these types of work and your novel?

Everything overlaps honestly. I try to set aside time to write every day, but most of my work comes in bursts—sometimes I'll write several pages in a day, sometimes I won't be able to write anything beyond a sentence. Usually, my initial ideas come to me in the middle of the night and I scribble them down in my notes app. It's unpredictable, but I kind of prefer it that way.

15. Mustard loves how you use and utilize words. Are there any poets or storytellers that have helped inspire your writing?

A lot of my inspiration comes from music, movies, and television. My first creative endeavor was writing song lyrics, and artists like Hayley Williams and Lorde still inform a lot of my poetry today. Maybe one day I'll set all those song drafts free, but for now I'm keeping them hidden! As for my current fiction writing, I like to imagine each of my stories as films or TV shows—some things that have inspired me lately (aside from what I've already mentioned) are Severance, The White Lotus, They Will Kill You, and Bugonia, to name a few. Above is a picture I took at a Paramore concert.

16. Some of your poetry often mentions boys. Mustard wonders if any of these characters were inspired by you or moments from your childhood growing up?

Not all of the figures in my poetry are directly inspired by my own experiences, but I do try to incorporate a nostalgic essence in a lot of my writing. I enjoy writing hazy, melancholic poetry, so using past memories and drawing upon my childhood is a great way to access that tone. I can't speak for all writers, but I like to pour a bit of my personality into each piece I write. Without a touch of my own personal voice, how could anyone connect with my work?

17. A major company wants to acquire and purchase the rights to Styrofoam Boy. They would like to expand on the concept and introduce them to new audiences. Do you accept? What are your terms?

First of all, it depends how much this company is paying me. Also, what's the company? Do they have nefarious intentions? Are they harvesting my words for a sinister goal? Much to think about before I can decide with confidence.

18. As a condiment, Mustard is curious, what are some signs that there may be a ghost in a graveyard? Do you believe in ghosts and the paranormal?

With a surplus of tombstones, I'm sure every graveyard is teeming with ghosts. Now, I've never seen a ghost, but choosing not to believe in supernatural entities is boring—pick up that Ouija board and have some good old-fashioned fun!

19. Before we depart, you shared that your new aesthetic is final girl. If you were placed into a horror movie what type would it be? How would you survive?

I think I'd fare well in a slasher flick. First of all, you only have one bad guy to worry about in a slasher (except for Scream, but I'll ignore that). Also, the slasher genre is pretty predictable and I'm familiar with the tropes, so I'd be able to sense my doom and avoid it before my time runs out. Not to mention, I'm gay! That has to count for something! In a world full of final girls like Laurie Strode and Sally Hardesty, why can't we have Cooper Devine as a final boy? Or final bi—we can workshop the title. Here's me as Johnny Depp's character in A Nightmare on Elm Street (along with my friend Joe Cool) to prove my point.

20. Mustard likes to ask this to all their guests but what brings you comfort?

Listening to music is a big one—I'm listening to After Last Night by Carly Rae Jepsen while writing this. Oddly enough, watching horror movies also brings me comfort, especially with friends. Oh, and the coos of a mourning dove in the evening. It doesn't get much better than that.

21. Mustard wonders if you have any last words?

So ominous…am I getting guillotined? Burned at the stake? Hm, maybe I would've been put to death in the Salem Witch Trials. If I have to leave this mortal realm, I say "make it quick!"

22. What is the best way for readers to stay in touch with you?

Subscribe to quiet hours, duh! Hasn't this interview showed you how cool I am? But on a real note, I always enjoy meeting new people on here and interacting with budding writers of any kind. You got a dystopian novella? A chapbook of prose poems? A scathing letter to your ex best friend? I want to read them all—chances are I'll be awake.

---