The summer season has seen the release of several beach-worthy reads, but the title on everyone’s lips these days seems to be Cassius Delecuir’s Beneath the Surface: Aging Gracefully with Foundational Self-Appreciation. It seems like a mouthful, but the narrative within has enraptured the entire city. We’ve taken a moment to sit down with the author for a quick interview about his book, his inspirations, and life in general:
“As I rocketed at incredible speed through my life, I suddenly felt the walls closing in around me, as though my friends were rapidly abandoning me to my own demons, the shadows threatening to overtake me. But then I suddenly realized they weren’t actually getting away–they were stuck in it with me, because I’m just too pretty to abandon. Or hit, apparently.”
-Prologue: “The Catacombs of Middle Age”
Simone Wraithwait: Those are some powerful words to kick off this book, Mr Delecuir. I know we’ve spoken before, but this has a certain vulnerability to it we haven’t seen before. What brought about this change?
Cassius Delecuir: Simone, I know I’ve said before, call me Cash. And really, I’ve suddenly realized that I’m getting older. Like, a LOT older. And when you’re staring down the back nine, a little vulnerability seems like a strangely effective defense strategy.
SW: And what inspired this particular passage? You’ve had enough extraordinary experiences (that even this newspaper has covered on occasion) that I’m not sure which this might reference.
CD: Oh, that’s easy. The Cleaners got stuck in those Philomath catacombs and attacked by shadow demons in tight little hallways. It was a bad time for Nimble. Poor cat’s strength left him and he got his ass handed to him.”
“It may seem foolish, but the potential for growth availed to those who grab every mysterious silvery orb they see behind a big magic door is undeniable.”
-Ch. 3: “The Doorway to Wisdom”
SW: This is one of the more puzzling snippets I’ve noticed in Beneath the Surface. Would you be able to speak on what exactly you were driving at with the passage.
CD: Certainly, Simone. In general, I’ve found that people remember the big swings. Nobody gets any wiser by gently tapping their way through life. If you want to make a splash, if you want to become your best self, sometimes you’ve just got to, you know, grab it by the ball.
“Sometimes, I wonder why anyone confronts their past. I mean, the past is, by definition, over. I confronted it when it was the present. Confronted and overcame. You can tell, because I’m hear writing this right now. There’s no reason to get burned by what you’ve already experienced. Don’t look back, that’s my motto. Shit. I just noticed that I used the wrong “here”. Whelp, there’s one example of a personal precept biting my editor right in the ass…”
-Ch. 5: “Burning Memories”
SW: I think most readers would agree with me that this chapter really subverts expectations concerning how we’d expect you to address the past. What was it that led you to this sort of present-moment priority philosophy?
CD: There are some moments in my past that I really don’t think I need to dredge up over and over again. You know about my friend Nesbar, and how he…how he died when we defended Skyleaf from a demon. It wasn’t a heroic moment for me, but I got through it right then and there. It seems like an unhealthy obsession, a weird self-flagellation, to get burned by that kind of memory by confronting it over and over. You experience it, you accept it, you move on. That’s the seed of wisdom right there.
“I’ve realized that, as I get older, I seem to run into the same cast of characters over and over again, in increasingly unlikely locales. It really makes you thing that, even when you know there’s an enormous number of sentients on the planet, it’s actually a relatively small cast all revolving around the main character. What I mean to say is, I’m pretty sure I’m the main character. And that’s okay. It’s pretty cool to be the main character.”
-Ch. 8: “Revolving Acquaintances”
SW: I have to admit, when I read this excerpt, it made me feel so seen. You really hit the nail on the head with this one. It’s so true! You do run into the same people all the time. It’s wild. Is there a particular person who inspired this section?
CD: Actually, there is. The whole party recently ran into…huh. I technically promised I wouldn’t mention her being around… Oh wait, I’ve got it. She’s a dwarven founder’s daughter who’s name rhymes with Timbek Rememberfell. There, nailed it.
“Every once in a while, you’ve just got to admit that you were in the wrong place all along. It happens. Accepting that and moving on are signs of maturity. Occasionally you get lucky and that wrong place taught you something you didn’t know before, or introduced you to people you should know to have a better life. I highly recommend being lucky. Waaay better than the alternative.”
-Ch. 11: “Acceptance Isn’t Just Giving Up”
SW: I think I speak for everyone who’s read this book when I say that this is the chapter that pushes this title above and beyond the standard self-actualization guide. The idea that acceptance is an entirely unrelated concept from giving up is just such a powerful one. And you come to it with that little touch of humor that makes internalizing it that much easier too.
CD: Oh, that’s not humor. I really do recommend being lucky if you’re given the option!
SW: Haha, of course. Well, what’s a time that you’ve been in the wrong place all along and just had to accept that fact?
CD: Well, I’d say those blasted catacombs were the wrong place to be, right? I can barely remember what drove us there in the first place. Were we looking for our friend Greg down there? I mean, hello? Why would Greg Serpentwood be in the derelict Philomath catacombs??
“People like to focus on just one thing to get through the day as they get old. I’ve had a single focus before. You stare long enough and suddenly, it’s like you’re in a different dimension. The familiar looks strange, the invisible comes to light. Gotta be careful, though. That sort of experience can become dangerous if you’re unprepared.”
-Ch. 14: “Eyes Wide, Fangs Out”
SW: I’ll admit that this section is a bit of a ride. I’ve never been able to tell if you’re advocating for keeping a wide focus, or being prepared by keeping you eyes on a single thing. And keeping your fangs out?
CD: Both. It’s the focus that has the eye and fang. You’ve just got to apply it widely and be prepared for that shift in your perception. I promise you, if you ever get the experience of seeing the invisible writing on the wall, you’ll really feel your whole life changed and this chapter will become super clear…
“In the end, the truest expression of life in middle age is how you interact with others. Who do you work with, who do you work against? I like to maintain that the best way to achieve your goals, help your friends, and save the world can be boiled down to a single concept: charity.”
-Epilogue: “It’s All About Charity (Parties)”
SW: What a lovely sentiment to end the book on. It’s a little hopeful, a bit proactive. Just…lovely.
CD: Not only that. It’s also a practical reminder. Did you know that Triumph House is having a charity dinner event? We’ve got to get into that thing. Greg wasn’t in the catacombs, but I’m betting Sabre knows where he is.
SW: I’m sorry, did you say Sabre?
CD: No, I said…potater…? Potater knows where he is? All the kids are saying it these days. It’s about staying current with the culture, you know? And I’m charitably including it in my closing remarks to get it more exposure… Also, buy my book! Available at Bookmark Joe’s in Fool’s March, Bartleby’s in Philomath, and Artisan’s Corner in Golden Cape! Get it while supplies last!
The Clearcrest Chronicle 