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The Morning News

Saturday, July 4, 2009

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More People We Like

Associate Editor,
People We Like,
Heather Rasley

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People We Like

Jon Armstrong

Photographed by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

Jon Armstrong on a couch
—Published February 14, 2008
Hometown: I’ve lived in New York for more than 20 years

Your first novel, Grey, is a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award. Has 2008 presented any developments that point to the future as you’ve depicted it? Unfortunately, yes. Especially with the writer’s strike, there’s more reality TV. My novel begins with a post-date press conference between the world’s most famous couple.

I understand sci-fi isn’t necessarily your usual genre. I started writing sci-fi years ago. Years ago. But then became dissatisfied with what I was doing and switched to more mainstream stories. I’m so glad I returned, and am writing a sequel to Grey, but sometime in the future I’d like to work on other ideas.

You also host a podcast interview show, “If You’re Just Joining Us.” When I recorded myself reading Grey and gave the whole thing away as a podcast novel, I enjoyed the experience and feedback so much, I bought a gizmo so I could record phone conversations and started with some writers and artists I knew.

Who would you love to interview next? Jad Abumrad of WNYC’s fabulous “Radio Lab.”

Pitchaya Sudbanthad
TMN Contributing Writer Pitchaya Sudbanthad lives and writes in New York City. Aside from being an all-purpose rabble-rouser and raconteur, he is the founding editor of the Konundrum Engine Literary Review. Visit him at his site.

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