***
Having read and enjoyed his Novel Advice, I emailed Jay Bushman to see if he’d be up for answering some questions. Kindly, he agreed. (This interaction has been enough to prompt me to finally check out The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (a web series based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice), which I’ve been hearing good things about since 2012.) Here’s what he had to say:
Our Q&A with Jay Bushman
Name: Jay Bushman
Position: writer, producer, social media storyteller, “enterprising fabulist” as per Vanity Fair
Date: February 17, 2021
I liked reading Novel Advice and your take on some of the classics. Do you have a favorite work from the literary canon? (Or maybe a few favorites?)
One of the privileges of getting to write this book meant that I could make sure to include some of my favorites. There were originally going to be more letters from characters in Hamlet and Moby Dick, but I was persuaded to restrain myself.
I’m glad you were able to spread the love around a bit! Is there a literary work that you’re supposed to appreciate but you just don’t?
I’m not really a fan of Gone With The Wind. Finding a way to overcome my personal feelings and to engage with the story on its own terms was a key early learning that helped inform the rest of the book.
That makes sense. Scarlett O’Hara is a tough character to like–she’s really monstrous in some ways. But she is also a very strong, tough character, very memorable.
***
What is your favorite children’s book?
Any of the classic 80s Choose Your Own Adventures books.
***
If you could give everyone in the country a reading assignment, what would it be? What should we all read?
Fallen Founder, by Nancy Isenberg. An incredible biography of Aaron Burr.
I’m unfamiliar with that one. I should check it out. (My to be read list is very long and getting longer!)
***
What is your next project? Is there anything you’re working on that you’d like to share?
Later this year, keep an eye out for something with my name on it over at Hunt a Killer.
Sounds intriguing! Lastly, what’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“After enlightenment, the laundry.”
Can’t argue with that. Thank you for your time!
***
Laura LaVelle is an attorney and writer who lives in Connecticut, in a 100-year-old house, along with her husband, two daughters, and a cockatiel.
Laura can be contacted at laura@newswhistle.com
***
Other Q&As by Laura LaVelle
* Alexi Auld, author
* Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director, Historic Districts Council
* Eric Bennett, author
*Lydia Bourne, Rastrello
* Victor Calise, NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
* Alexander Campos, Executive Director, Center for Book Arts
* Victor Carinha, Journey Lab
* Mark Cheever, Friends of Hudson River Park
* Yvonne Chu, Kimera Design
*Claudia Connor, International Institute of Connecticut
* Sarah Cox, Write A House
* Betsy Crapps, founder of Mom Prom
* Cynthia Davis, Our Woven Community
* Ameet Dhillon, US-Africa Housing Finance
* Margaret Dorsey, anthropologist
* Mamady Doumbouya, Jonathan Halloran, & Robert Hornsby, founders of American Homebuilders of West Africa
* Wendy Dutwin, Limelight Media
* Kinsey Dyckman, Board Member, Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
* Rhonda Eleish & Edie van Breems, interior designers
* Martha Albertson Fineman, law professor
* John Fletcher, photographer
* Christopher Fowler, author
*Guy Fraser-Sampson, author
* Bob Freeman, Committee on Open Government
* Les Friedman, Mikey’s Way Foundation
* Alex Gaudelet, INVEST HOSPITALITY
* Dr. Ramis Gheith, pain management physician
* Robert Girardi, author
* Carrie Goldberg, internet privacy and sexual consent attorney
* Alex Gruhin, co-founder of Nightcap Riot
* Leslie Green Guilbault, artist, potter
* David Halloran, City Running Tours
* Bill Harley, children’s entertainer and storyteller
* Tracey Hecht, author, Fabled Films creative director
* Garnet Heraman, brand strategist for Karina Dresses, serial entrepreneur
* Meredith Sorin Horsford, Executive Director, Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
* Margaret Pritchard Houston, author and youth worker
* Camilla Huey, artist, designer
* Dr. Brett Jarrell & Dr. Walter Neto, founders of Biovita
* Michelle Jenab, anti-racism activist
* Beth Johnson, Townsend Press editor
* Mahanth Joishy, founder of United States – India Monitor
* Alexandra Kennedy, Executive Director, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
* Jim Knable, playwright and musician
* Jonathan Kuhn, Director of Art & Antiquities for NYC Parks Department
* Elizabeth Larison, Director of Programs for apexart
* Ann Lawrence, Co-Founder of Pink51
* Jessica Lee, dancer, Sable Project Administrator
* Najaam Lee, artist and sickle cell advocate
* Devoney Looser, English professor
* Amy Losek, author
* Chris Mallin, theorem painting teacher
* Melanie Marks, CT House Histories
* Anthony Monaghan, documentary filmmaker
* Ellie Montazeri, Tunisian towel manufacturer
* Heather-Marie Montilla, Executive Director, Pequot Library
* Lorin Morgan-Richards, author
* Zoe Mulford, folk singer/songwriter
* Yurika Nakazono, rainwear designer, Terra New York
* Jibrail Nor, drummer
* Doreen Odom, Mental Health Project, Urban Justice Center
* Nick Page, composer, song leader, conductor
* Craig Pomranz, cabaret singer, children’s book author
* Alice Quinn, Executive Director, Poetry Society of America
* Laurie Richter, 100 Who Care Alliance
* Ryan Ringholz, children’s shoe designer, Plae Shoes
*Carrie Roble, Park Over Plastic / Hudson River Park Trust
* Alanna Rutherford, Board Member, Andrew Glover Youth Program
* Deborah Ryan & Frank Vagnone, Historic House Anarchists
* Steve Sandberg, musician
* Bill Sanderson, author, reporter, and editor
* Lawrence Schwartzwald, photographer
* Rose Servitova, author
* Lisa Shaub, milliner
* Marjorie Silver, law professor
* Peter Sís, writer and illustrator
* Charlotte Smith, blogger, At Charlotte’s House
* Patrick Smith, author and pilot
* Juliet Sorensen, law professor
* Jeffrey Sumber, psychotherapist and author
* Diana Swartz, Liger Leadership Academy
* Rich Tafel, life coach and Swedenborgian minister
*Jonathan Todres, law professor
* Andra Tomsa, creator of SPARE app
* Maggie Topkis, mystery fiction publisher
* Pauline Turley, Irish Arts Center
* Vickie Volpano, Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut
* Carol Ward, Executive Director, Morris-Jumel Mansion
* Krissa Watry, Dynepic & iOKids
* Adamu Waziri, creator of children’s television program Bino and Fino
* Ekow Yankah, law professor
* Brigit Young, author
