We are so happy to talk with Tom Lutz. By day, he teaches creative writing at the University of California in Riverside and manages the LA Review of Books, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting writing about literature, culture and the arts. By night, he’s a rocker in bar bands. In between, he’s on a quest to visit every country in the world: 135 down, only 60 to go. This vagabond has dovetailed his wanderlust and passion for writing into seven nonfiction books—some on travel, one on the history of slackers, another on the history of tears. His first crime novel, Born Slippy, was published 1/14/2020.

We talk about writing in odd places, making the leap from short to small pieces, the way characters (including a well-read sociopath) can surprise the writer with their dialogue, and tips for nourishing your creative life.

You can learn more about Tom and his work at https://www.tomlutzwriter.com/.