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words by > Margot Carmichael Lester
Big Fish in a Small Town
*Novelist Daniel Wallace has lived in Japan, traveled the world and even been to a fancy Hollywood movie premiere. But given his druthers, he’d rather hang around his adopted hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Daniel Wallace’s first novel, Big Fish, has been translated into 18 languages and was adapted by Tim Burton and John August into a critically acclaimed film starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. His other books include Ray In Reverse and The Watermelon King. The author spends much of his time cloistered in his office writing. But when he wants to stretch his long legs, he ventures out into the small college town where he lives with his wife, Laura, and son, Henry.
“Chapel Hill is quiet,” Daniel says. “I love going to New York and Los Angeles for business, but I’d hate to live there. This is a respite from all that. It’s a sweet little town—quiet and safe—a nice place to be and a nice place to be from.”
Where do you go when you have writer’s block?
“I don’t get writer’s block. If I have it, I stop writing and it becomes ‘I can do something else now.’”
So where do you go when you can “do something else?”
“I go out for coffee a lot. I like Caffé Driade (919-942-2333, www.caffedriade.com) on a beautiful day, sitting outside. It’s different than any other coffee place in town. You could be anywhere in the world, especially in spring and summer, when the flowers are blooming and the trees are thick with leaves. You just feel transported.
“The other place is 3 Cups (919-968-8993, www.3cups.net), because they have a great selection of teas. The people know what they’re talking about, know what they’re doing. They’re nice, and there’s a sandwich place next door if you’re hungry.
“I also like to go to the Farmer’s Market in Carrboro (open 3:30pm-6:30pm on Wednesday, and 7am to noon on Saturday, 919-932-1641, www.carrborofarmersmarket.com). I like Carrboro; it’s not corporate—it has a real identifiable spirit and openness. It’s a place all its own, not just an adjunct of Chapel Hill.
You write in the morning. Where do you like to grab lunch?
“Oishii (919-932-7002). It’s got a fantastic selection of Japanese cuisine that’s not limited to just sushi, though the sushi’s great. The menu has so many items, you almost don’t want to order because you’ll miss something. And it’s not too expensive.”
And if you want an adult beverage?
“I like Lantern (919-969-8846, www.lanternrestaurant.com). It has a unique personality. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what it is, but there’s a feeling that you’ve almost left town, and that anything could happen there. Like maybe there’s a spy in the corner waiting to exchange a briefcase with someone.”
Most writers love bookstores. What’s your favorite shop to poke around?
“Definitely McIntyre’s (919-542-3030, www.fearringtonvillage.com/mcintyres.asp) at Fearrington Village [eight miles south of Chapel Hill]. As a writer, reading there is great because they draw an audience who’s really interested in books. As a reader, the selection is really good. And the staff—they’re book people.”
Big Fish became a great movie. Are you a movie-goer?
“Yes. We have a selection of movies you don’t get anywhere else in the state. They may come a little later than in big cities, but the Chelsea (919-968-3005), the Carolina (919-933-8464) and the Varsity (919-967-8665) theaters get a selection of independent films that’s great.”
You’re an artist, too. Where’s the best place in town to draw?
“My back porch. But if not there, Caffé Driade.”
Where do you go to get your fix of all things artsy?
“The Ackland Art Museum (919-966-5736, www.ackland.org) is the place for fine art. But I’m a big fan of outsider art and folk art, and there’s a lot of that around here. Fearrington Village has a big show each spring, and McIntyre’s has smaller shows. The Ginger Young Gallery (919-932-6003, www.gingeryoung.com) also has a really amazing collection of folk art from Southern folk artists. If you’re interested in folk art, that’s the place to go.”