Enjoy getting to know, Chassis Albuquerque (like the body of a car, and the place in New Mexico):
Thank you for joining me today. Tell us in three words how you would best describe your writing.
Humorous speculative fiction
Your book, “The Sundial Salesman” was released in November 16, 2016 Share a passage that you’d like for us to enjoy.
The phone rang. It kept ringing but I didn’t pick up, picking up the phone so soon now would be like an atheist admitting God existed. And that’s the last thing you want to do, admit anything – more shrewd advice from my father, January Johnson, my father who liked everything to be precise but with a degree of flexibility varying from circumstance to circumstance depending on how guilty he may be.
“Just remember, all that maths and geographic stuff’s a bunch of shit, the shortest distance between any two points is always by dishonesty – always,” he’d tell me. Then he’d disappeared – where’d he gone that time? Jail. I’d just assumed that’s where all father’s went.
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author, but can never write again, or write forever, but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?
Option 2 for me, my goals are very small and writing is such an important part of who I am: A very minor writing of very minor standing.
If you could live on a college campus and never leave, or live in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?
Small town and travel.
Okay, how about in an amusement park or in an airport?
Hmm, very interesting. Both have appeal, however, the airport is a way out, maybe see some other amusement parks?
And how about Australia or Scotland?
Scotland. Our families would not survive the trip to Australia to see there one and only grandchild.
Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?
Yeah! Counting Crows for sure, Nirvana, Pearl Jam – this is a long, long list, man…
Are there any good bands out there today that we’ll talk about in 50 years?
Hmm, very tough question – I think because of budget constraints I’d say: Kings of Leon, James Bay, Stereophonics – oh, and The Black Keys, The White Stripes?
And what about your favorite comedy on TV (My favorite is still The Office)?
Easy: Seinfeld, The Office (British version please), Fawlty Towers, Extras
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
Currently I’m about to finish my fourth book – a take on the Detective genre, Detective Wolffe Gunstormer’s called in for tough, unusual cases (preventing communists from taking over the world with a deadly wormhole machine but also: Being commissioned to find the President’s golf ball, providing evidence to the Church God exists for). Full of one-liners and popular with the ladies, his motto is: The best way to get to the bottom of anything is always by Force. Or bribery. Whichever’s easiest.
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
Knut Hamsun. He really made me aware for the first time about “voice” and his was very strong. Don’t forget, he was writing in the late 1880’s – 1950’s, very advanced, modern writing for back then. Unfortunately, he was – apparently – a Nazi sympathizer.
My question: “How could you, man?” because he was such a great writer who influenced people like Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, the Beatnik guys and so on.
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Mountains
Yogurt or ice cream? Ice cream
M&M’s or Skittles? Neither
Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert? Who???
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Both
Beer or wine? Neither
Flying or driving? Driving
Hemingway or Twain? Twain
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take two things with you, as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?
Laptop with solar power gear, and my very supportive wife, and our little baby girl.
You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house or meet at their place of royalty?
Winston Churchill – pompous sounding but he delivered.
Have to be our place.
You can wish for one thing and one thing only, not world peace and no more wishes. What’s it gonna be?
I wish we were here:
Apart from referring to himself in the 3rd person, Chassis Albuquerque suffered from a speech defect as a child – when he spoke, he continuously lied, and to counter this habit, was given a typewriter by his parents, and began to write. Often asked where his creative process comes from, well, as with most things these days, it’s China. Quite religious about writing, he always writes facing south, usually toward Spain…
Jackson Paul Baer 