Steven Rowley
Author Interview - Steven Rowley
Author I draw inspiration from: Joan Didion. Early on I misguidedly tried to pitch my first novel, LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, as a cross between Joan Didon's YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING... and MOBY DICK. Let's just say that pitch failed to land me an agent.
Favorite place to read a book: Outdoors for sure, lounging by a pool or at the beach.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Willy Wonka, because then maybe it would be a glass elevator that could fly. And also he might have candy that tasted like entire meals in his pockets in case we got hungry.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: When I was a kid, maybe second grade, my father photocopied at his office a short story of mine and I was overwhelmed at the idea that there could be more than one copy of something I wrote. I was addicted from that moment on.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Hardback. I'm old school.
The last book I read: I'm going to amend this and say *for pleasure (I read a lot for work): Leading Men by Christopher Castellani and I enjoyed it quite a bit. And perhaps it informs my answer to the following...
Place I’d most like to travel: Italy. I've been to Venice and Milan and Lake Como, but I really want to see coastal Italy, Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast.
Pen & paper or computer: Computer. I would be lost without my MacBook.
If I wasn’t an author, I’d: Run an animal rescue. And fail miserably at placing dogs in new homes because I'd want to adopt them all.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I like a 1950s-style square cut swimsuit, but otherwise it's the 1970s. Or anytime I could wear a turtleneck. Why did those go away?
My signature drink: Vodka martini with olives, very dry.
Favorite artist: Lucian Freud. I can get lost in his portraits for hours.
Number one on my bucket list: I would quite like to see one of my books make it to the big screen. Fingers crossed!