Interview With A Writer

Biography:

Jim Marquez was born & raised in East Los Angeles, Calif. He's 35 years old. Born November 16. He's a Scorpio! He's very straight. Loves backpacking solo through Europe and enjoys the madness that goes with it. He loves film, books, his own writing, soccer (football), horse racing, women, the art scene in Los Angeles, being alone, lots of coffee, way too many goddamn bars, the rain from my desk looking out the window, world news events, memories of many sorts, the smell of a woman's perfume, the back of a woman's neck, the taste of her sweat on my lips, the quite of 3:30am, and my baby nephew. You can reach Jim at Writer@JimMarquezTheWriter.com

How did you get into writing?

2cd grade teacher gave me a giant Tootsie Roll for best story in class. I was hooked.

Can you talk a little bit about your working process? Who/what are your main inspirations?

Drink a great deal, if I can remember anything after a couple days, and, after I get my color back, I write about whatever happened to me that night. First, long hand on yellow legal pad, after about 10-20 pages transcribe to my laptop, make a hard copy, edit, then continue on the back of that print out; go back to computer, make corrections, make another copy, repeat, rinse, dry off. Takes about 1-2 weeks for a 2,000-word piece. Sometimes less. Sometimes more. Depends on my mood. Inspirations? Yeah, me!

How do you think travel has changed yourself and our planet?

Expanded my mind, heart, & soul; grasp of culture, world politics, our place in it, gained insight into man's psyche and nature, and added immeasurable knowledge overall about life's mysteries, histories, and the same goes for anybody else on this planet who has traveled I'm sure. It's just sad to say that people from my own country, U.S., don't do as much traveling since only about 17% of the population carries a passport.

What books are you reading?

"Lunar Park" by Bret Easton Ellis, "The Sexual Life of Catherine M." by Catherine Millet, "Betting on the Muse" by Charles Bukowski, "Filth" by Irving Welsh, "Death in the Afternoon" by Ernest Hemingway.

Your best moment of the day?

Aside from coming to in the right house and in one piece, 1am-4am. Quiet, dead, the city at peace, great time to write!

Your favorite place & most recent trip?

Paris and Paris.

Favorite quote?

"There's no sympathy for the devil...you buy the ticket, you take the ride."--Hunter S. Thompson

Favorite food? Drink?

Jameson Irish Whiskey & Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!

What kind of music do you listen to?

World music; Celtic, Trad, Arab, Reggae, electronic, classic rock from late 60s-70s, 80s stuff, U2, Pearl Jam, The Doors, Sinatra, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday.

Any new projects and/or trips coming soon?

Projects:

My 6th book: "European Me: Debacherous Tales of European Backpacking".

My other books ("L.A. Bitch!", "L.A.Bitch II: The Second Coming!", "A Syringe Full of Loyalty", "East L.A. Collage", "L.A. Bitch III: The Writer Strikes Back!") can be found at www.lulu.com/JimMarquez & various fine shops throughout Southern California.

Trips:

St. Patrick's Day 2006-Dublin, Ireland
FIFA Soccer World Cup 2006-Germany

Other Related Links:

www.LuLu.Com/JimMarquez
www.JimMarquezTheWriter.Com
www.SpoiledInk.Com/Jimmyz
www.myspace.com/JimTheWriter

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