Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do:
Well, for the purpose of this, I’m a writer. But really, I split my time between a VERY boring and EXTREMELY reliable day job.
How did your interest in writing begin?
I think I always had a way with words, not even like great or professorial diction, but just like, a rhythm? I liked but didn’t love reading through high school. I would mostly read to get out of doing other homework; I went to a pretty hip public school where if it just looked like you were going deep on something they’d kinda leave you alone. Then, I think like a lot of young artist-people, I started playing music. And the part of playing music I always liked was the making and recording of stuff much more than the performing part. So that’s where the writing really started. I loved writing lyrics and figuring out the melodies: the song part. I think that’s where the bug of writing really came from.
Can you tell us about something that continues to influence your work?
Um. There are a couple stories I can read that will put me directly in the brain-space to write. But truly, movies/plays/podcasts, I get SO much inspiration from listening to people talk and walk and, just like, be. I think taking in that kind of stuff fires my brain up to write a lot more than reading other writers does. (I also think there’s probably a stopgap in there where when I’m reading something, I don’t want to ape someone’s voice or structure, so I probably purposely don’t let other writing influence how I’m writing the way I did for the first years of my writing journey.)
What kind of imagery are you drawn to?
Tony Scott movies. Maynard Dixon prints. However they shot the first few seasons of the Arsenio Hall show. Any of the Ashcan School artists.
How often do you write, do you work spontaneously, continuously, something in between?
I think in between would be the best way to describe it. I’m constantly texting myself (I have a 10-year-long conversation going on) and every time I write down a word, sentence, or paragraph, my phone buzzes; it seems like I’m getting confirmation or something? Like: hey man, here’s that idea again. But when it comes to burning through a story, I do that in a few days. By the time I feel like the idea is good enough to go down on paper, it just sorta jumps out like the way the NPCs bail out of cars in Grand Theft Auto once they’ve been hijacked.
How has your work evolved over time?
Sometimes I think it has. Then I finish a story and I’m so blank I realize “evolution” is just a word we ascribe after the fact. It’s an explainer. In truth I think art—especially good art—is very random.
What role does humor play in your work?
I hope none but I fear a ton.
What is it like living and working in Boise?
For me and the things I struggle with, not living in a major city is key to sanity. I’d like to live in a bigger place! I would! I like dumplings and a global diaspora! But it’s just not for me. And I just turned 35. And it feels good to know that I know something about myself.
What is something you’ve always wanted to do and are working toward achieving?
Finishing a novel. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do right. Literally. Writing one good book is impossible.
What was the last thing you changed your mind about?
The NBA Finals. I think it’s going 7.
Could you share some recent, current, or upcoming projects you’re working on?
I’m working really hard to finish a book, but it’s like the marshmallow stairs in A Nightmare on Elm Street, the harder you work the sloppier and more difficult it becomes. It sucks. But I’ll get there! Or I won’t. Oh, okay, so ACTUALLY the last thing I changed my mind about is whether I’ll finish my novel or not.
What do you collect?
Comic books and empty ZYN containers.
Interview by Paul Fitzpatrick