PAULA BOMER is the author of the novels Tante Eva (Soho Press, 2021) and Nine Months (Soho Press, 2012), the story collections Inside Madeleine (Soho Press, 2014) and Baby and Other Stories (Word Riot, 2010), and the essay collection, Mystery and Mortality (Publishing Genius, 2017). She grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and has lived for over 30 years in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Bomb, Full Stop, The Cut, Los Angeles Review of Books, TalkSpace, and elsewhere.

My current favorite thing to read is: …after a phase of reading the diaries of Patricia Highsmith and Alice Walker, and the letters between Nin and Miller, I’m back to fiction. Reread A Way of Life, Like Any Other by Darcy O’Brien, accurately described as “bonkers” by Geoff Dyer. LOVE IT.

My current favorite things to watch are: horror movies that are 90 minutes long, with one location, featuring about 5 actors. Hush, In the Tall Grass (eh), The Lodge (FAVE), Annihilation, The Ritual, The Wretched.  

My current favorite thing to listen to is: Pete Yorn’s new album, Hawaii. Jesca Hoop’s Memories Are Now. Lots of classical music.

My current state of mind is: caffeinated. 

My current chemical romance involves: low dose THC gummies, CBD and Kava. Really miss real drugs, miss them terribly from dawn to sleep, and in my dreams. Bad habit-cake.

My current words of wisdom are: …I have none.

My current mode of transportation involves: public transit.

My current favorite fast food establishment is: Sweetgreen.

My current workout routine consists of: bouts of tons of yoga. Hiking trips.

My current regrettable decision involves: a man.

My current hopes and dreams are: to live longer than my mom did. Her brain was gone in her early 60s due to vascular dementia. I’m 54. Wish me luck. I miss her.

My current hobbies include: always writing and trying to see humans and go places. And housework. To quote Anthony Burgess—“My first thought when I wake up every morning is: My God. The kitchen!”

Paula Bomer is online at paulabomer.com.

Brian Alan Ellis runs House of Vlad Press, and is the author of several books, including Sad Laughter (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2018) and Hobbies You Enjoy (serialized daily on Instagram: @hobbiesyouenjoy). His writing has appeared at Juked, Hobart, Fanzine, Monkeybicycle, Electric Literature, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, X-R-A-Y, Heavy Feather Review, and Yes Poetry, among other places. He lives in Florida.

Photo credit: Jason Rice 

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