Here’s another abandoned post from my defunct blog tour. I was asked questions about my new novel, Is There Life After College?, which would’ve been more relevant several months ago when the book was released. Anyway, since I don’t want to waste the time I spent answering these questions, including a bonus mini-round, here it is!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?
Sure. My book is about a college valedictorian named Mark Jans whose entire life has been inside a classroom. Eager to learn about the “real world,” he runs away to New York City, where he meets Astra—a mysterious, street-smart punk who is the opposite of him in every way except for a shared desire to be truly seen. As their connection deepens, they are forced apart by clashing beliefs and personal demons. When Astra returns home to confront a dark secret from her past, Mark must decide whether he can help her—or whether he’s the one who truly needs saving.
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Most of my books are at least semiautobiographical. Mark is an exaggerated version of me, as almost all of the main characters from my books are. I’m not as smart as him (I was definitely not the valedictorian), but I basically lived at school for the first 22 years of my life and was very isolated. I rarely went out during my teenage years, so I thought it’d be fun to take a character like that and thrust him into the deep end of the cruel world of New York City. Astra is an amalgamation of all the girls I knew in college—both as friends and girlfriends—only more punk. (I went to a very conservative Jesuit school.)
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
My favorite character to write was Astra. I’ve never really had such a major female character in one of my books before. She shows up fairly early in the novel and then pretty much stays for the rest of it. The only other book I’ve written that featured a fairly substantial female character was in Déjà View, but she didn’t show up until near the end. I also just loved Astra’s personality: playful, sharp-tongued, spunky, spirited, sexy, sarcastic, and spiteful when she needs to be.
My least favorite character to write was Astra’s father, for obvious reasons (if you read the book).
What is your favorite passage/scene in your book?
My favorite scenes to write came at the end during a high-stakes murder trial. (Spoiler!) I’ve never written a trial scene before, and it was a lot of fun inserting lines like, “Objection, your honor!” I’ve said it before to other people, but writing is as close to playing like a kid and using my imagination as I can get.
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
Like most of my stories, Is There Life After College? is based on experiences I’ve lived through (well, except for the aforementioned murder trial). They’re not exactly autobiographical, but my first four books are based on what I was going through in the various schools I attended. Although my debut novel Danger Peak takes place in early junior high, it’s really about the experiences I had in elementary school: riding around town on my bike with my two best friends; getting into various misadventures; and, unfortunately, the death of my brother. My follow-up, Déjà View, is all about that awkward transition from elementary school to junior high and how difficult growing up is. And even though my next book, The Electric God and Other Shorts, was a short story collection, most of the stories featured the same theme: feeling like the only sane person in an insane world, and that’s exactly how I felt in high school. Naturally, Is There Life After College? is about how I felt in college, though it mostly takes place after school ends. I was wrestling with my faith and identity, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, and also struggling with—and enjoying—various romantic relationships, which was fairly new to me at the time since I was mostly a loner in high school.
What are you working on now?
I promised I’d never write a sequel to one of my books, but my next book is a semi-sequel, in that it’s only tangentially related to one of my previous books. I’m not going to reveal which one yet, but here’s a hint: it’s not a novel.
Lightning Round Questions
What are you reading right now?
Since Halloween is approaching, I’m finally going to get around to reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. I usually read a horror-themed (or at least horror-adjacent) book around the spooky season. Two years ago was Dracula, last year was Frankenstein, and this year is Bradbury’s classic.
Favorite social media site?
I’m old-school, so I try to avoid social media as much as I can, but these days, that’s like saying you try to avoid driving, especially if you’re an indie author like me and trying to get your work out there. If I had to choose one, I’d go with Instagram since I seem to get a lot more interaction on that one.
Favorite Superhero or Villain?
The Joker. I’ve been in love with the character since Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of him in Tim Burton’s iconic Batman. I even gave a shoutout to the movie in my novels Danger Peak and Déjà View. I just read John Jackson Miller’s Batman Resurrection, which was an officially licensed continuation of Burton’s film, and even though The Joker dies at the end of the movie (old Spoiler Alert!), Miller found a way to sort of bring him back. Without giving too much away, he gets to have his cake and eat it, too.
Favorite TV show?
The Simpsons. I’ve seen every single episode at least once, and that’s saying something since it’s been on for over 35 years, though I should say I’m only a huge fan of the first eight or nine seasons. If you had told me when I was 12 that this show would still be on the air in my late 40s when I have a wife and two children, I’d never believe you.
Sweet or Salty?
Sweet. Just like me!
Any Phobias?
I hate bugs of any kind, especially praying mantises (so creepy!), though, ironically, I have no problem with spiders. Maybe that’s because we have a common enemy, since they eat bugs. Also, I’m a sucker for Charlotte’s Web.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
Anything from the ‘80s. Again, I’m old-school.
2026 movie you’re most looking forward to?
The answer was Toy Story 5 since I’m a huge fan of the franchise, but I already saw it. It was better than the last one, though that’s not saying much, but not as good as the first three, which I was expecting. I thought the toys-vs.-tech theme was very relevant today, especially having kids of my own who recently shifted away from playing with old-school toys and using their imaginations to just staring at a screen. Also, Toy Story 2 is my favorite in the series, and without giving too much away, the new one ties into that superior sequel in a surprisingly delightful way.
Do you play videogames? If so, what are some of your favorites?
I used to, but I honestly don’t have time anymore. Besides writing books, I have a “regular,” full-time job, not to mention I’m raising a family.
MTP
P.S.: Next blog: My “Valedictorian” Speech
P.P.S.: The Danger Peak audiobook is available!
P.P.P.S.: Is There Life After College? is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:
