SmokeLong Quarterly

What inspired this piece?

I’ve always been a champion of the disenfranchised, particularly educated misfits who find themselves unable to fathom how intelligence and earning power often remain entirely unrelated. This mini-life story is one such tale, short, powerful and layered with humor, metaphor and meaning (or is it?).

What are some of your favorite words?

I’m not sure I have a list of favorite words. I do tend to overuse the word “just.” I’ve also found most published authors use the words “plangent” and/or “lambent.”

An uncanny number of writers I’ve met say they knew they would be writers right around fourth grade. What is it about fourth grade, do you think?

Fourth grade was nifty, but I’d already begun writing before that. I had Ms. Gorman that year. She was young and exciting compared to many of the teachers that had been teaching since the dawn of time. I often wonder what became of her.

Ms. Gorman, if you are out there, little Gary Glauber says “hello!” Now Gary, tell the truth: Is the character in the story you wrote really you in disguise?
Every character I ever write is me in disguise, even those who aren’t.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

Please support the independent literary scene, both online and off. These zines and journals often contain the raw gems you will come to know as diamonds in the future. If a story moves you, don’t be afraid to email an author to tell him/her. Writing can be a lonely business, and it’s always a good time to hear from actual readers.