by Brian James
Intellect and open-mindedness.
Where do you go for peace and quiet?
I live in a remote part of the Catskills, so there’s no lack of peace and quiet. If I’m feeling even more in need of seclusion, a long hike through the mountains is as good as it gets.
What makes you laugh out loud?
Junie B. Jones, Homer Simpson, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
What’s your favorite song?
I’m a music junkie and have a collection of a few thousand CDs, so choosing a favorite song might be the hardest task for me to imagine. I couldn’t even tell you my favorite album without naming at least twenty or so.
Who is your favorite fictional character?
Addie Pray from Paper Moon.
What are you most afraid of?
Any evil that cloaks itself in an elaborate disguise.
What time of year do you like best?
Winter. I love cold, grey, snowy weather and always have. I’ve read that people most enjoy the season they were born in . . . at least for me, that theory holds true.
What’s your favorite TV show?
I think Lost is the most creative show on the air. So many television shows assume viewers are dumb. It’s one of the few shows that assumes its viewers are smart and can handle big ideas. I’m also a nut for Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica.
If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you want for company?
My wife. We’ve never run out of things to say and she’s the only person I’ve ever met whose company I never grow tired of at any point.
If you could travel in time, where would you go?
The future . . . WAY in the future . . . as far as it would take for long-distance space travel to be possible.
What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?
Strangely enough, it wasn’t meant to be advice. A teacher (not one of mine) tried to discourage me from pursing writing because he said there were only about a thousand people that could make a living as a writer and asked if I really thought I was one of them. I thought about it for a second and decided that, yes, I did think I was one of them. And whenever I’ve felt discouraged, I remember that conversation and it always helps me regain my confidence. I think in order to achieve anything, you need first believe that you can.
What do you want readers to remember about your books?
Whatever is important to them. I think that’s the great thing about art. It’s a fulfillment of personal creativity that people respond to their own personal way. For me, what readers take away from my books isn’t too important. As long as the book is meaningful to them in some way, that’s all that matters to me. That the book has some personal meaning for them is the greatest compliment a writer can get.
What would you do if you ever stopped writing?
Probably teach, though I’m not sure I’d like it . . . so I’m going to hope it never comes to that.
What do you like best about yourself?
The fact that I’ve never completely lost the ability to be a child.
What is your worst habit?
Smoking. It’s such a disgusting habit that I’ve been able to scale back but never quite kick. My biggest regret in life is that I ever started.
What is your best habit?
I’m a clean person without being a freak about it.
What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
I like to think I haven’t reached my greatest accomplishment yet. I still believe that the best work I’ve done is always the latest. By never feeling that I’ve accomplished anything, it keeps me motivated to keep striving.
Where in the world do you feel most at home?
New York City. I lived there for ten years before I moved away for a variety of reasons. But anytime I’m ever there, I feel that I belong.
What do you wish you could do better?
Sing. I’d give anything to be able to sing.
What would your readers be most surprised to learn about you?
I’m not-so-distantly related to Jesse James.
