INTERVIEW: JASON ANTHONY
Hello to author Jason Anthony!
Jason Anthony is the author of Amsterdam Angel and The Reverie Bubble. He has lived around the world and is currently working on his next book The Khat’s Mejou. Anthony resides in Manhattan.
How do you identify?
Writer
What do you write?
Books on my life and travels. As well as short stories of my modern day experiences for my blog that center mostly around LGBT, living in NYC, or travels. I’ve also recently explored screenwriting, which is something that I will return to when current projects are sorted.
Tell us about your books Amsterdam Angel and The Reverie Bubble! These are memoirs about your own life, right? What made you decide to start writing your life down? Do you remember the moment?
Amsterdam Angel and The Reverie Bubble are memoirs that begin with my brother’s death and leads to coming-of-age/out, as well as love. The books are combined with my adventures around the world that served as therapy, inspiration, and a more destined direction for my life to take. They, along with my next book The Khat’s Mejou and an as yet untitled fourth book, were originally one manuscript that I decided to split into four. But as the third and fourth come out I’m exploring creative non-fiction and fiction. The first three set-up the fourth, which will tie everything together.
Part natural instinct to heal and part to share were the driving forces for writing. The desire to write a book struck at 19, in a creative writing class with that teacher to me. But lack of confidence in my ability or something to write about led me to give up fairly quickly. I did try, it began with two young men, who were the best of friends, the underlinings for a love I didn’t know existed, what it felt like, or even that I wanted it. So I gave up.
My brother died and I graduated university. Immediately afterward I backpacked Europe for two months. Along the way as I continued to heal from Joe’s death, I felt happiness again, inspired. When I returned from Europe the desire stuck again. I wanted to share my experience of travel for those that may never go to the places I visited. I felt humbled and grateful as travel opened up my world. I began writing again, but then gave up when life pulled me to live in California to play out more of the larger story bubbling within and that was eventually written several years later.
It feels like from that first moment this idea and dream has been formulating and manifesting for over twenty years. It’s a nice marker to see the progression in a way I could never have imagined at 19.
What are you reading/watching/listening to right now? How is it?
I just finished reading The Rainbow Comes and Goes. It was one of those books that comes just at the right time. There were some shocks in my family a few months ago. The book had many parallels to draw from and it felt kindred to have someone write similar feelings around life experiences as well as offer new perspectives.
Before that I was engrossed back in The Mystery of the White Lions, a book I read ten years ago when I was in Africa. A couple months ago I returned to Africa and volunteered with the white lions. It will be part of a future story so it was part research, part refresh. The book is very in depth with various ancient African beliefs in general, and specifically around the white lions. It’s absolutely fascinating.
And before that Michael Graves’ latest book Parade. I love Michael’s writing because he creates characters that you become attached to very quickly and root for.
I usually download a new album when I work on a writing project to hear something new and get me going. Recently I discovered Deadmau5 and his 2008 album Random Title. It’s electronica dance music and is a great album to listen to with someone naked.
What do you find yourself passionate about outside of books and writing?
Travel. I enjoy art, going to both museums and galleries. I love going to a matinee movie, especially in the cold or rainy weather. Yoga, biking around the city. When I need to just create something outside of writing, I’ll bake.
Lately, I haven’t been able to get enough pinball. The old classic was reintroduced by a friend and it sucked me in. It’s been a great way to get out of my head after intense days of writing. My highest score, just recently, 109,000,000!
Daydreaming.
Describe for us a seminal reading moment in your history.
In kindergarten I was assigned a reading in the class play about Chicken Little. I was excited to be a part of it but it didn’t really hit me until I was sitting in the cafeteria, and the teacher placed this piece of paper with words, assembled in this thing she called a paragraph, that I didn’t know how to read. As the teacher began sounding out the first letter, “Aaa” my five-year-old brain began to make a connection and wake up, that’s what ‘a’ looks like and sounds like. I knew that much from my A, B, C’s. Then she slid her finger to the right on the bottom of the word and finished sounding it out, “nnnddd.” Just as she did I got it, I knew those were what the letters sounded like and together they spelled, ‘AND,’ and I knew that word in my audio language. It made sense and with my first read word I felt an excitement toward words and language.
Pen and paper or keys and screen? Or other?
It’s alternated over the years, but now I have a fair amount of both. I jot things down in journals: ideas, thoughts, experiences then refer back to them when I use the keys. Although sometimes the words I jot down, I can’t read my own writing so I’m more conscious of that otherwise it turns into a game trying to figure it out. Pictures I’ve taken have also proved useful to spark memory or ideas.
What are the biggest distractions to writing for you?
3 dimensional people, and America.
I recently returned from Amsterdam. It is where I go to write when I start a new project, or continue one. I’m fortunate to have friends to provide a haven to allow me to go into my zone to create and leave life in America, in America. There’s something about the ocean in between that solidifies the separation of present day world from from the ones I go into to write about. While I’m in Europe, I can just be, a writer.
While there a book I didn’t expect to write came forth. It was begun simply for me, as a cathartic process to release some feelings around certain events in the last year. What was going to be a small blog series has surprised me as another book. It’s like having one baby later this year with The Khat’s Mejou and realizing I’m having twins.
Give us a piece of writing advice.
Always carry pen and paper, especially as you age.
Give us a piece of non-writing advice.
Remain playful.
What’s important to you?
Quiet time.
What are you asking yourself these days?
Peacefulness and calmness. As with the recent shocks I mentioned, I’m learning life has a lot to do with how you react to its lemons. It seems the world keeps accelerating at a faster rate. My job, the city, and technology all contribute. So when I can have some moments of peace they are cherished.
Give us a collection of favorite things.
The Alchemist is a book I re-read every 4-5 years. I always get something new from it depending on where I am in life. I’m drawn to blue and orange and I love, love autumn. Although every time a new season approaches I feel ready and excited for it. Not always summer, sometimes it can be quite sticky in the city. But if I can get to the ocean enough then its more enjoyable. And, I love s’mores, guacamole, chips, salsa, and tea!
Rank these five fears from most afraid of to least afraid of.
carpal tunnel syndrome, death, vermin, societal collapse, the void of interstellar space
vermin
carpal tunnel syndrome
societal collapse
the void of interstellar space
death
Rank these five consumables from most favorite to least.
candy, pasta, brussels sprouts, water, coffee
water
brussel sprouts
pasta
candy
coffee
Rank these five places from most want to go to least want to go.
the moon, the bottom of the ocean, back in time, forward in time, Yellowstone National Park
back in time
forward in time
Yellowstone National Park
the moon
the bottom of the ocean
I hear you’ve traveled the world. Can I make you pick one moment of your travels to share with us that you feel really changed you or your perspective? Like a little snapshot from somewhere?
Amsterdam, January 2000, a bar near Central Station. The atmosphere is lively and fun, different colored lights flash around. It felt like there was something else going on, something unseen, but felt. To my left there was a handsome man with a mountain look smiling and into it as well. He looked over at me and I could sense we were both feeling that something going on in the air as if we were in another realm. We both laughed. “You could write a book about it one day,” he randomly said referring to the energy around. His words were the exact feelings in me. We both turned to be absorbed back in. I felt I would write a book about that feeling in the air, never realizing the story was preparing to begin. All I know of him is he is Dante from Maine.
At the end of that year I met the boy who became Amsterdam Angel. Our brief experience inspired me with the stories to write about, about that feeling in the air, still, sixteen years later. Unfortunately I didn’t get his name or know where to find him. I only know what he looks like and how he feels. Perhaps the story will land in front of his eyes one day and he’ll come forward to reveal his real name to both me and my readers who have come along on the adventure.
Your next book is due out later this year, right? Tell us about it!
The Khat’s Mejou is based on my experiences living in Africa. I had an opportunity to model in Cape Town, but it turned out to be more of a catalyst to get me there. Three months turned into six and in that time safari and travels were added. I’m exploring more creative non-fiction with this book. A lion guardian spirit, who is introduced at the end of The Reverie Bubble takes over as the narrator. It continues the story of the first two, and to set-up the modern day, adult-fairytale that ties everything together in the fourth book.
Where can we find your other books to read/buy?
They’re on Amazon, or a local bookstore can order them. More samples of my writing are on my blog, and along with Twitter andFacebook, can be accessed through amsterdamangel.com
Many thanks to Jason Anthony! If you’re a human who writes things and are interested in an interview, contact me at interviews at markwilliamlindberg dot com.
