hobie anthony, writer, who lives in an attic, lets plain wrap get to know him better. this is the forty-eighth installment of plain wrap’s interview series in which plain wrap interviews all its facebook friends. thank you, hobie anthony.

1. Tell us about yourself?

1. I am a 41 year old writer living in Portland Oregon. I came out here from Atlanta three years ago and I have also spent a good deal of time in Chicago, the setting of my first book. I am an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, NC and I studied Philosophy at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.

I work as adjunct faculty for an online university and I also do freelance writing as a means toward paying the bills.

I live in an attic. I am single. I have never been married.

I have been published in a number of journals and I’m now working on publishing my book and writing a new one.

2. Have you read any good books lately?

2. I have been enjoying the new Nicholson Baker book, House of Holes, and I’m slowly making my way through the Collected Lydia Davis. There are plenty of others I’m pecking away at, too. I try to read a good mix of poetry and prose fiction.

3. Why did you leave your last job?

3. I was fired for insubordination. On my way out the door, I was sure to let the supervisor know how my manager had been screaming at and berating our mentally challenged clients. Defiant to the end.

4. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?

4. I read constantly and try to check my biases at the door, though that’s hard to do. I seem to collect new knowledge every day. It’s a sickness.

5. Tell us about the most fun you have had in life?

5. I’ve had the most fun since throwing myself full-force into the writing life. Trying to live as a working stiff who wants to write is only half a life. Now, I’m a writer who needs to be a working stiff and I make sure that work is related to my overall project. No more “sacrifices” and living a sick, inauthentic life. Life is too short to not pursue your passions.