Ask the Author: Tommy Wallach
Answered Questions (61)
Tommy Wallach
Writing doesn't require inspiration. It's work. Like being a plumber. You just sit down and do it every day. The inspiration comes sometimes, but it never lasts. You have to work anyway.
Tommy Wallach
Look up my stuff! It's not hidden! :)
Tommy Wallach
Hi Jordyn,
Sorry for slowness. Not trying to be mysterious, but lazily don't feel like writing a whole long history. But if you search for interviews I've done, you can easily get answers to those questions. As for author visits, I don't really at the moment, but you are welcome to have your school contact my publisher if they really want to make something happen! :) Be well!
Sorry for slowness. Not trying to be mysterious, but lazily don't feel like writing a whole long history. But if you search for interviews I've done, you can easily get answers to those questions. As for author visits, I don't really at the moment, but you are welcome to have your school contact my publisher if they really want to make something happen! :) Be well!
Tommy Wallach
Why are you weird?
Tommy Wallach
Probably: yes, it will eventually happen for you, but it'll take way longer than you think.
Tommy Wallach
Hey Lexi,
I've answered these questions lots of times, so I'd google search me for interviews and such. To your last question, I really did just write to agents from the Writer's Market book. I didn't have any connections or anything. But the system still works, believe it or not.
I've answered these questions lots of times, so I'd google search me for interviews and such. To your last question, I really did just write to agents from the Writer's Market book. I didn't have any connections or anything. But the system still works, believe it or not.
Tommy Wallach
Hi Gabby,
I just always knew, from very young. It feels terrible. Writing is really hard. I would rather be doing anything else while I'm doing it. But it feels great to finish. Hope your day is also nice, five months later. :)
I just always knew, from very young. It feels terrible. Writing is really hard. I would rather be doing anything else while I'm doing it. But it feels great to finish. Hope your day is also nice, five months later. :)
Tommy Wallach
Mostly inspired by the film "Melancholia," to be honest!
Tommy Wallach
Anywhere! Itunes, Spotify, Bandcamp. All those places. And you can order a vinyl from my website, if you're so inclined.
Tommy Wallach
Hi Hannah! Hm. I'm a boring hard worker like Anita. I also lived for music during my teen years, like Andy and Anita. I'm least like Peter, as I'm a pretty passionate atheist, and I'm most like, Eliza, both because art is my reason for living, and because I've been somewhat promiscuous in my day. :)
-t
-t
Tommy Wallach
Hey Oakley,
Apologies for my terrible slowness. I'm so very glad you liked the ending! Certainly I've had more conversations with readers about the ending of WALU than any other part of anything I've written: and that was my plan all along (bwahahahaha!). Anyway, thanks for reaching out, and be super well!
-t
Apologies for my terrible slowness. I'm so very glad you liked the ending! Certainly I've had more conversations with readers about the ending of WALU than any other part of anything I've written: and that was my plan all along (bwahahahaha!). Anyway, thanks for reaching out, and be super well!
-t
Tommy Wallach
Dear Ferial, I never said I was a better person for being an atheist. But I do believe the world would be a better place without religion. Many people believe the same; many people don't. It's a debate. It's a conversation.
As for your point about money, it doesn't make much sense. I guess I could try and write essays about everything that has ever caused conflict between human beings, but I have books to write. I wrote about atheism because I think it's a subject that doesn't get enough exposure. People, particularly the young people I wrote for, are afraid to voice their problems with religion because this country is predominantly religious, and there is often angry, very personal backlash. In fact, you're the living proof. :)
-t
As for your point about money, it doesn't make much sense. I guess I could try and write essays about everything that has ever caused conflict between human beings, but I have books to write. I wrote about atheism because I think it's a subject that doesn't get enough exposure. People, particularly the young people I wrote for, are afraid to voice their problems with religion because this country is predominantly religious, and there is often angry, very personal backlash. In fact, you're the living proof. :)
-t
Tommy Wallach
Hey Kayla! Thanks so much for the kind words. No chance of a sequel, but definitely a good chance of a TV show. :)
As for the ending, I've written about it at length on my blog. Just look for the post called "On the Ending of WALU," or something like that. Enjoy!
As for the ending, I've written about it at length on my blog. Just look for the post called "On the Ending of WALU," or something like that. Enjoy!
Tommy Wallach
Hey Oakley,
Thanks for saying nice things. Sorry about Peter. Sorry you didn't like the ending. And you are welcome. :)
-t
Thanks for saying nice things. Sorry about Peter. Sorry you didn't like the ending. And you are welcome. :)
-t
Tommy Wallach
Sorry for how slow my response here is! Thanks for all the kind words. And yes, I keep putting out books all the time! My newest is "Strange Fire," which is the first volume of a trilogy. Give it a go, perhaps?
-t
-t
Tommy Wallach
Hey Gina! I only just remembered I had questions on here! Sorry.
And as for the time frame, I certainly set it purposely so that first night could take place on Halloween, which obviously shares a lot of characteristics with Dia de los Muertos, but is historically distinct (my understanding is that it was moved to coincide with Halloween because of those similarities, but has a completely separate origin). For me, the holiday was useful not for the death theme (though that would've been viable), but for the disguise theme. It gave Parker room to consider what of his personality was "real" and what was projection, as well as to become more curious about Zelda.
And thanks for the kind words, by the way! :)
-t
And as for the time frame, I certainly set it purposely so that first night could take place on Halloween, which obviously shares a lot of characteristics with Dia de los Muertos, but is historically distinct (my understanding is that it was moved to coincide with Halloween because of those similarities, but has a completely separate origin). For me, the holiday was useful not for the death theme (though that would've been viable), but for the disguise theme. It gave Parker room to consider what of his personality was "real" and what was projection, as well as to become more curious about Zelda.
And thanks for the kind words, by the way! :)
-t
Tommy Wallach
I just remembered I had questions on here! The next book should come out in early November. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it now!
Tommy Wallach
Hey Abigail!
Sorry for the slow response. I've always been of the opinion that there are a LOT of hours in the day (before you have kids, at any rate (from what I hear)), and you don't have to choose. Plenty of writers are also serious musicians: Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Josh Ritter, Leonard Cohen, Charlie Chaplin, and a bunch more. In my case, the music has really helped the writing side of my career (in a purely professional sense), and vice-versa. So do both. Just don't waste a lot of time otherwise. :)
Sorry for the slow response. I've always been of the opinion that there are a LOT of hours in the day (before you have kids, at any rate (from what I hear)), and you don't have to choose. Plenty of writers are also serious musicians: Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Josh Ritter, Leonard Cohen, Charlie Chaplin, and a bunch more. In my case, the music has really helped the writing side of my career (in a purely professional sense), and vice-versa. So do both. Just don't waste a lot of time otherwise. :)
Tommy Wallach
Oh man. There are so many. I was thinking about writing a short story about a guy who is making a database of small local cemeteries and comes upon his own gravestone in some random town in the middle of nowhere. Run with that!
Tommy Wallach
I hope so! I'm trying very hard (mostly on the TV side at the moment, actually). We shall see!
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