The Morning News

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Currently: watching the angry right
Today’s Feature: “A Point-by-Point Evaluation of My Build-a-Bear Workshop Experience” by Fortunato Salazar
NEW!  Latest in Digest: City of Refuge
» Advertise on TMN via the Deck

More People We Like

Associate Editor,
People We Like,
Heather Rasley

Are you a photographer? Do you like people? If you’d like to shoot photos for our People We Like column, let us know.

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 is aware that he bears no resemblance to any living celebrity. He, however, has been accused of resembling a cartoon character. He won’t say which one, but he likes to think of it as a compliment. Pitchaya is the founding editor of the Konundrum Engine Literary Review. He lives and writes in New York City.

TODAY’S FEATURE

A Point-by-Point Evaluation of My Build-a-Bear Workshop Experience

If you could have any bear in the world—what would it look like? A mall visit poses tempting challenges, as FORTUNATO SALAZAR constructs an ursine fantasy.

GET KVETCHIN’

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Non-Expert Rosecrans Baldwin finishes the lyrics that Mr. Simon left behind.

NEWSLETTER

Prize Lovers Apply Here

More addictive than heroin, more challenging than Sudoku: the TMN Map Quiz, delivered hot, fresh, and diabolical to your inbox every Friday.

» SIGN UP

DIGEST

City of Refuge

In his new novel, Tom Piazza vividly describes the few days before and after Hurricane Katrina wrought mayhem on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.