Frank Deford has had his share of tough interviews through the years. But he’s never experienced a Q/A like the one he will face Monday night:

Being interviewed by Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report. (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET)

“It’s going to be different, that’s for sure,” Deford said.

Indeed, how do you handle an interview with somebody who is working in character? Charlie Rose is one thing, but the Stephen Colbert on the show is not the real Stephen Colbert.

Deford, 73, says he will go in prepared.

“If you’ve seen the show, you know he’s not mean,” Deford said. “What he’ll do is make a characterization of you. If you’re scientist, he’ll portray you as being a nerd. He’ll try to make me the typical slovenly sportwriter. I’m going to dress as well as I can.”

That won’t be out of character for Deford, whose stylish purple-inspired wardrobes always blasted the stereotypes about the profession.

Deford also is going to follow another piece of advice he received during a pre-show interview Friday. Don’t try to one-up Colbert.

“You’re not supposed to be the comedian,” Deford said. “When you try to be something you’re not, that’s when you get in trouble. I learned a long time ago I am not a comedian. I once did a roast (for Ahmad Rashad), and it was awful. I learned my lesson.

“I hope I do OK. I’m not too worried about being embarrassed.”

Deford will be on the show to promote his new book, Overtime: My Life as a Sportswriter. Last week, he was thrilled to learn the book hit 30th on the New York Times bestselling list.

“It allows us to put a sticker on the book that says we’re a New York Times bestseller,” Deford said.

The book isn’t selling by itself. Deford said he has given 50 speeches and done more than 100 interviews throughout the country for the book. Trust me, as someone who has experienced the interview blitz on a much smaller scale for a golf book, it can get tedious answering the same question over and over.

Deford, though, isn’t complaining.

“The only thing worse than going out on tour is not going out on tour,” Deford said. “Some people think it’s horrible, but I know there are writers who would kill to get one question.”

This isn’t Deford’s first trip to the bestseller list. But this one is different, he said, because the story is about his life.

“Do I want it to be successful? The answer is yes,” Deford said. “This is a little bit different than the last novel I did. This is mostly about me. Stephen Colbert wouldn’t be having me on to talk about a new novel. (Writing a life-story book) is a one-time thing.  I figured I might as well leap into it, and give it all I have.”