OLD TRICKS, NEW TREATS is book three of the BAG OF TRICKS trilogy: a compilation of short stories about San Francisco punks in the early 80’s.
- Babs feels both fearless and fragile—what inspired her character?
Babs is more or less me, from back in the day. I was young and insecure- uncertain about how much space I should be allowed to take up in the world. But I was also innocent and unaware of my own mortality, so I dove into experiences head first, consequences be damned! Jump in this car with a bunch of dudes I don’t know and go somewhere where I don’t know where I am? Sure! Put needles in my arms and not even know what’s int hem sometimes? Why not? But then- hide who I really am from everyone around me because they probably wouldn’t like me as much if they knew who I really was…
- Did you base her “Bat Cave” apartment on a real place or a metaphorical refuge?
I’d always fantasized about having an apartment that I could decorate and do what I wanted to do inside- have seances, make movies, whatever. Babs just got to do what I’d ideated all those years ago.
- How did writing her encounters with violence and danger challenge you emotionally?
Funny you should ask this- I actually felt empowered, as though all those situations and scary circumstances I’d truly put myself through, I was able to see with clearer, open eyes, and see Babs through to the other side safely and in one piece.
- How do you see Babs evolving through her choices in the story?
I think Babs doesn’t really evolve quite yet throughout the course of these stories. Sure, she gets some gumption and stands a little taller on her own. But I see her as continuing to trip along, unaware really of her place in the world, and certainly not awake to the situations she keeps getting herself into. But she’s also incredibly lucky in her ability to live that life nearly effortlessly, and unscathed, more or less. Think about it- she becomes a big time drug dealer, hooking up with the Hell’s Angels, making huge amounts of cash that will always catch the eye of folks with bad intentions. And yet, when she’s rolled, she had nothing on her, so she got away unharmed.
I imagine that Babs does eventually mature- but which way? Does she do too much of her own product and have a mental breakdown, and never really come back from that? Does the life eventually lose its lustre and she drops out to become a soccer mom? Hmmm…
- What would Babs think of San Francisco today?
I would have to spend some more time there myself to honestly be able to ask her that. From what I know about Babs though, she might not pay much attention to the homeless or other signs of desperation. She may just question the loss of some of her old stomping grounds. But that brings us back to your last question- how would she have evolved? Maybe she became an activist and would be working in social services to help alleviate some of the issues San Francisco is dealing with these days.
About:
OLD TRICKS, NEW TREATS is book three of the BAG OF TRICKS trilogy: a compilation of short stories about San Francisco punks in the early 80’s.
Follow the adventures of The Shits, Val, Sophie, Babs, Carla, Red, Marco, Bags and all the rest of the rag-tag gang of street punks that populate these stories. Ride with them as they hit new highs and lows, make mostly bad and occasionally good choices, and aim for uncharted lives in the end.
Link – https://amzn.to/4oFYSzL
About the Author
Ruby grew up in the foothills of Northern CA and the West Texas flatlands, riding horses in the back woods near Folsom Prison, and singing with family on the back porch. She attended SDSU at fifteen- studying electrical engineering and drama- then stumbled into life on the streets of San Francisco, enchanted by all the grime and glitz, the drugs and wild nights, even the discordance and insanity of life as a punk in those early days. Moving on, Ruby co-founded the North Coast California Earth First! in Arcata, CA while attending Humboldt State, and fished across Alaskan waters. Eventually, she moved to Seattle, WA where she opened a series of restaurants, then transitioned from restaurateur to singer/songwriter when she started the roots-rockabilly band Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers in 2002. Thrice Grammy-considered, they tour the world and produce award-winning records. In 2023, Ruby wrote Bag of Tricks after reconnecting with old punk friends and reminiscing about those lost years. Most of what she wrote came from events that really occurred, though Ruby took liberties and changed some details because she could. Find more at https://www.rubydeephilippa.com/
Find Part Three HERE