Tuesday, May 9, 2000
Web posted at: 2:00 p.m. EDT

(CNN) — "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" is not a novel so much about how to find a man as about how to find oneself. Following the "average" Jane from teenager to working girl, through the relationships, career choices and events of her life, Bank uses her witty style to highlight how someone can end up in the right place for the wrong reasons. It is a story with universal insights into the vulnerability of everyone who seeks companionship.

The winner of the 1993 Nelson Algren Award, Melissa Bank’s work has appeared in "The Chicago Tribune," "The North American Review," "Ascent," and the "Rolling Stone." She splits her time between Sag Harbor, Long Island and New York City.

Chat Moderator: Welcome, Melissa Bank, to CNN Book Chat.

Melissa Bank: Thank you for having me, virtually!

Chat Moderator: Please tell us a little bit about "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing."

Melissa Bank: It is a book about a girl from the time she's about age 14 to age 34 and how she hunts and fishes for a life for herself; finding love, a career that won't destroy her, and her own identity.

Question from Jeff-CNN: Would men enjoy your book as well?

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Melissa Bank: I know they would. Most of the letters I get are from men. And though it's a book about one woman in particular, I think it's funny and real. It's not just for women.

Question from Sunny1: What do men say to you in their letters?

Melissa Bank: They just tell me how much they like Jane, who is the main character, and that it was good to read a book that was funny and smart. Occasionally, the men will ask me to call them. I've started an FBI file for some of the more questionable men.

Chat Moderator: What is most endearing about your main character, Jane?

Melissa Bank: I think what's most endearing about Jane is that she never gives up. She tries very hard to figure out what's happening, even when it's not in her best interest. And she's full of hope.

Question from Susie-CNN: How would you respond to someone saying that your book was demeaning to men, equating them to a stupid animal species that must be lured or trapped?

Melissa Bank: Well, I would say that someone who thought that probably hadn't read my book. What the title stands for is the final story in which two authors of a self-help book, like "The Rules," are counseling her, Jane, in how to hunt or fish for a man. She's met someone she's fallen in love with, but she distrusts herself because she hasn't succeeded in love.

Initially, she tries to follow the authors' advice because she's kind of desperate. It's really not about a woman trapping men, or men trapping a woman. It's really about how we're all hunters and prey, and fishers and fish -- nothing demeaning about men or women.

Question from NotBot: Will this book help men to understand women a little more?

Melissa Bank: I hope so. I hope it will help women to understand themselves, too. Although, it's not a self-help or a how-to book, it's more of a "how to" book.

Chat Moderator: How did this story evolve for you? Why this theme?

Melissa Bank: I started this book about ten years ago without knowing it was a book. I just kept sitting down at night after work and writing. I never had a plan. I don't think I've ever had an idea for a story. Anything I've written that's worthwhile seems to happen of it's own free will while I'm at the computer, while I'm in the process of writing.

Chat Moderator: You were working many other projects?

Melissa Bank: I was working in advertising during the day. I did write some other stories, but this started to take shape as a book, so I went with it.

Question from Harry: Is this your first novel? Where else might I read some of your work?

Melissa Bank: It is my first book. I'm a slow girl. I have a story coming out in "Rolling Stone," in what must be their August issue, and one in "Allure" and "The Guardian" in England. But no other books.

Chat Moderator: Will we laugh or cry when reading this book?

Melissa Bank: I'm told that you will laugh and cry, according to the readers I've been meeting on the tour. Although that makes it sound like a movie review, "You'll laugh. You'll cry. It's the date book of the summer."

Question from Sunny1-CNN: What is the "Rolling Stone" story about?

Melissa Bank: With the "Rolling Stone" story, the assignment was to write about a memorable summer. I had never written any non-fiction, so it was really hard for me to write. I realized that real life lacks narrative momentum.

I wrote about a trip I took with a then-boyfriend to Costa Rica, when we were both hoping that the other one was "The One". Didn't wind up that way.

Chat Moderator: What kinds of reactions have you gotten from the book?

Melissa Bank: One feminist called my book anti-feminist, saying that it was too much about relationships, as though that was all women cared about. That bugged me, because while I didn't set out to write a political book, I don't believe it's "anti" anything or "anti" anyone.

My favorite reactions were from an 85-year-old woman who told me that I'd written her life story with all the details changed, and a 13-year-old girl from Minnesota wrote to me saying how surprised she was that an adult could understand what her life was like. That was a big thrill.

I also met Joseph Heller at a party last summer in Sag Harbor, and he said, "You're the one who wrote that terrible book." I said, "Did you read my book?" He said, "No." I said, "Talk to me after you've read it."

I got a letter from him saying, "I am the terrible one. You have written a beautiful book. The only problem is you know more about us than we want you to." Then he wrote, "I hope you make a million dollars -- you won't." Unfortunately, I didn't get the letter from my publisher until a few months after he died. I loved that he wrote to me, it was right up there with the letter from the 13-year-old.

Question from Your: Why did he think that?

Melissa Bank: I think because he had heard about my book in conjunction with "Bridget Jones", and he assumed it was really about how to snag a man. Some sort of "girl-lit."

Question from Harry: After reading some excerpts from the B&N website, I have to ask. Was it you who actually found the Armani sheath at Loehmann's?

Melissa Bank: It wasn't! I made up that story, you silly person. I wish I could find an Armani sheath at Loehmann's in a size 10.

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Are you a full-time writer now?

Melissa Bank: I am. Happy, happy, happy day! I didn't even hope that would ever happen.

Question from Jeff-CNN: Do you consider yourself a "feminist?"

Melissa Bank: That's a hard question to answer because I think the word "feminist" means different things to different people. When I was growing up, no woman would say she wasn't a feminist. We understood feminism to mean "pro women", but a totally positive thing. There was no connotation of being anti-male, as I think there may be now. I am pro woman and pro man -- and pro dog.

Question from Harry: I'm reading the scene where you give the toast at the wedding. I'm hooked. I love the line, "Max is the man Sophie didn't know if she could hope for." Sheer poetry, Melissa!

Melissa Bank: I love you, whoever you are!

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Are you doing any kind of tour with this book?

Melissa Bank: I am on tour right now. I am sitting in a Marriott hotel room on a big bed in Dayton, Ohio. I'm going to 15 cities reading, and signing, and drinking Diet Pepsi from the mini-bar. It is a very strange experience, but great to meet people who like my book from all over the country. Then I go to Europe.

Question from Harry: Are you coming to Kansas City?

Melissa Bank: I was in Kansas City last summer. I read in a Unitarian church where there was a Jung meeting on dreams down the hall.

Question from Your: When is your next book coming out?

Melissa Bank: I am hoping I will have another book. I am writing hard, but I never know what I'm writing or whether it's worthwhile until I'm finished. I'm always the last to know what I'm working on.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts for us today?

Melissa Bank: I would like to say to the writers out there not to be discouraged by rejection. I was rejected from everywhere for years before the book was published.

And I think that it's an endurance test. You're like a boxer getting into the ring, getting punched. Unfortunately, that is part of becoming a writer. It doesn't mean a thing. You just have to keep standing and keep your hands in front of your face!

Chat Moderator: Thank you, Melissa Bank, for being with us today.

Melissa Bank: Thank you all, and especially you, Harry.

Melissa Bank joined the chat from Dayton, Ohio by telephone. CNN.com provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the chat.