Interview:Paul McCusker (July 2001)
- When did you start working for Adventures in Odyssey? Why did you join them?
I began working with Family Portraits / Odyssey as a freelancer in 1986. I later came on staff as a scriptwriter in January, 1988.
- What is it like writing the Passages novels? Will you ever write more?
I enjoyed writing the Passages novels. After doing a lot of writing requiring research, it was fun to work in a world I could simply make up. (Though I had to research the Bible stories they were based on.) We have no plans to do any other Passages books right now.
- Do you think the program has matured and has improved since 1987 or 1988?
Yes. It has grown and changed a lot, I think. If it didn't, it would have stopped a long time ago.
- Where do you get the ideas for your books (AIO and non-AIO)?
Ideas come from a lot of different places: personal experience, other people's experiences, the Bible, books, films, newspapers and the like. But they're all filtered through my imagination.
- How about for the episodes? Where do you get the ideas for those?
Sometimes we start with a story idea, or the desire to do something new with a character, or a Bible story, or a specific theme we want to tackle.
- How long does it take to write a complete script?
It varies from writer to writer, but we usually allow around two weeks for each script.
- What is your favorite passage/story/verse in the Bible?
I have a lot of favorite passages, but Philippians 2 might be closest to my heart.
- Exactly what is it like now working with the rest of the Adventures in Odyssey team?
I think we have a great team in place, with each writer and producer bringing unique ideas and gifts to the program.
- What's your favorite part of working at Adventures in Odyssey?
The team-manship and comraderie in our brainstorming and discussions.
- Do you think Adventures in Odyssey will keep growing?
I hope so.
- When you wrote the original novels, did you sort of make it up as you went along, or did you have everything in your mind?
I guess the easy answer is "both." Some were planned, some were made up as we went along. For example, the original twelve novels were unique in that I created new stories, but kept an eye on what we were doing with the radio show at the same time, so they would be consistent. I think I was always aware of the "big picture," incorporating things that could be used later.
- What is your favorite moment working with the rest of the Adventures in Odyssey team?
There are a lot of favorite moments for me, but I suppose the playback of a finished show and the hope that it would be what we hoped it would be.
- Out of all of the episodes you have written (or Campbell Freed) which is your favorite?
That's a tough one to answer. I guess at the top of the list would be shows like "The Mortal Coil," "The Time Has Come," "Touch of Healing" and "Where Is Thy Sting?", to name only a few.
- What is your favorite episode that another writer has written?
That's another tough question to answer, because Phil and Marshal have written so many that would constitute "favorites." And the "new" writers like John and Kathy are doing great work. But let's see... Phil's "On Solid Ground," "It Is Well" and "My Fair Bernard" come immediately to mind. Marshal's "Hidden In My Heart" as well as so many of his "kid's-slice-of-life" episodes were a lot of fun, too. But it's too hard to choose.
- Thank you so much for your time!