BY Led Black (@Led_Black)
Q. Now that you’re book is available for pre-order, how does that feel knowing that your book will be in the market in the matter of months?
A. It’s surreal. I never wrote these stories with a collection in mind. I wouldn’t have bothered with the book if I didn’t have so much respect for the publisher, Roxane Gay. I would have just focused on my novel. But working with Tiny Hardcore Press seemed like the right thing to do. How could it not with a name like Tiny Hardcore?
Q. How long did it take to write?
A. The stories in the collection represent a span of about two years and a lot of nights going straight home after work to write.
Q. What is it about?
A. It’s about a vampire who falls in love with a werewolf but the werewolf falls in love with a zombie — and there are unicorns and out-of-work NBA players! Actually, no. I wish. That would probably sell more copies. (Don’t steal that idea.)
The best way to get a feel for what’s inside Steal Me for Your Stories is to read a couple of the pieces. One of the stories, Gracias, Pero Si, was recently nominated for Best of Net 2011: http://www.pankmagazine.com/robb-todd/
There are also links to more of the stories on Tiny Hardcore’s website: http://www.tinyhardcorepress.com/books/current-titles/steal-me-for-your-stories/
Q. Is Uptown represented in the book?
A. Absolutely. I never expressly say Inwood or Washing Heights in the stories, but much of what went into many of them — the inspiration, overheard conversations that I stole, you name it — happened Uptown. Even the photo that artist Scotty Albrecht (scottyfivealive.com) used to make the cover is Uptown.
Q. Any final words?
A. That question is ominous — but fitting. I am donating all of the money I make from this book to a trust for the family of a cousin of mine who died in September. If you buy it and think the stories suck, at least some of their money went to a good cause: seankealyfamilytrust.org
Also, any other information anyone wants about the book can be found here: stealmeforyourstories.com
Click here for our Uptown Artist column on Robb Todd.
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