Title: The Ugly Guys Club
Author: Dan K. Oh
Publisher: Tellwell
ISBN: 978-1-77302-159- 1
Pages: 513
Genre: Non-Fiction (Comedic Memoir)
Author Interview with Dan K. Oh
Today we are talking with author Dan K. Oh of “The Ugly Guys Club.”
PBR: What led you to this dark comedy genre?
Bathing years in low-middle class America, stressful life, and lack of sex will definitely do it––probably even for anyone…I bet.
PBR: Who do you see as your main target audience for this book?
Any young or old people (except minors) who can take politically-incorrect jokes and laugh things off, since it’s pretty required to have this wide range of tolerance for sarcasm to finish reading the story. Also, a sense of humor is a must.
PBR: As the book is written in the first person narrative form, have you drawn on any of your own personal experiences for the storyline? Autobiographical to any extent?
Yes. 30% true, 70% bullshit.
PBR: Dark comedies can often be construed as offensive. Any thoughts or disclaimers relative to the central character’s crude language, comments, or behaviors?
Yes. I would like to first apologize to all the handicapped people I made fun of in the book, particularly those with Down Syndrome. I acknowledge that it’s truly not funny. I would like to also send out an apology to all the women with less-than-perfect-bodies that are not complimented enough as much as the ones that do have, therefore, making them possibly feel body-shamed. I would then also like to give a shout-out of apology to all the wonderful people that lived in the city of Watts between 2003 and 2005, plus those who shopped at the Slauson and Compton Swap Meets in south Los Angeles. I only mocked or replicated the way they speak in public areas especially when they seem to appear mad. I would also apologize to all the starving people of Haiti and Somalia, for mocking hunger in “famine” countries is no joke and so politically-incorrect. That also brings me to sincerely apologize to the gorgeous women of Oaxaca, Mexico; I know that not all the women are short and have hairy forearms. And finally, I would like to apologize sincerely to the famous rapper-turned-actor Mr. Christopher Brian Bridges a.k.a. “Ludacris” for making fun of his poor acting skills in 2 Fast 2 Furious. This was all just to illustrate the flaws in the protagonist’s character and personality, which remain uncorrected in the story. With no intention to truly offend anyone or their feelings, I would remind everyone that none of the jokes and remarks are to be taken seriously. Plus, open minds with agnostic, secular views are very welcome.
PBR: Dave, the central character, clearly has some major self-esteem issues. He, himself, questions that he might be bipolar. Is this just dark humor, or do you see him as a true manic-depressive?
He’s just a typical loser grown without siblings who finds excuses and faults to blame for his miseries and short-comings all the time. He’s done it so much that he actually wants to believe that he hears or sees imaginary characters, just so he can start blaming them. When he runs out of those characters, then he blames God, although, Dave right away blames God from the beginning. Other than that, he’s actually fine. He just wants a hug from people that might feel sorry for him.
PBR: Oprah Winfrey has said that luck is “preparation meeting opportunity”. While Dave seems a go-getter in the business realm, he often appears unprepared? With women, he just doesn’t seem to have a clue. Any thoughts?
Dave definitely shows that he’s always unprepared. “Talk but no action” or “Complain but too lazy to change” should be his motto. Let’s just say Dave basically waited all those years to get laid. When he gets a chance to look at a woman’s vagina (I sincerely apologize for the lewdness) like during a scene where he sits in front of a Mexican stripper in Mexico City, he rebukes it just because the condition wasn’t rightfully set to his smooth terms or liking and the girl’s BO happened to turn him off. So he walks away. But several hours later, he immediately regrets not taking action. He has no idea how to think like a winner.
PBR: At times, Dave reminds me of a Charlie Brown-like character who always has the football pulled out from under him. Do you hope your audience has any sympathy for him?
Yes. I hope he’s the type that some women would later feel like adopting him to turn him into a Frog Prince.
PBR: Your prolific use of film analogies is quite impressive? What’s your favorite film?
Robocop (1987)
PBR: Any new projects coming up? Will we be seeing the further adventures of Dave?
Yes and no. I will start working on a different comedy novel (much shorter) called “Untappable.” Unlike Dave, who doesn’t get the girl, this next one, the main character will. It’s about a young starting-out Asian stand-up comic in Los Angeles with seven brothers who works part-time at Home Depot to make ends meet. But he’s incredibly attracted to a very attractive Latina coworker whom he finds out she’s married after all. But that shouldn’t stop him from using his tongue talent to squeeze into her heart.
PBR: There’s a dark, yet interesting fable on the author’s section of your web site that ends with “A Prayer of Thanks always outweighs others.” What are your own thoughts about God/Prayer/Redemption?
The pathway of the believer is never easy. Often times, it’s even harder or more “savage” than the lives of those who don’t believe, or have walked out of faith. But that shouldn’t stop believers from doing what the opposite wants. Once redeemed and have overcome those tribulations, there practically isn’t much a better joy to express or explain. Hence, I believe the reason why those redeemed by God give so many testimonials and speeches of their stories of victory and triumph with noticeable joy, but at the same time, appear very humble.
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