A couple months ago, I didn't know who Tiffany Scandal was. I've ordered her latest novel JIGSAW YOUTH as a part of my Broken River Books' March Madness loot because I wanted to try a novel from each of their new imprints. It turned out to be one of the highlights of my reading year. I'm going to review JIGSAW YOUTH this Friday and I'm still recuperating from the intensity of the reading, but I'm telling you right now: it will be one of these nerdy reviews you all love and obsessively email me about, so make sure to drop by.
In the meantime, I invited Tiffany for a chat, so that you guys can get to know her better. Don't be like me and let fate decide which standout literary talent crosses your path next. Read this interview, check out my review of JIGSAW YOUTH on Friday and make sure to get some Tiffany Scandal fiction for your summer. You can also visit her website TiffanyScandalSucks.com, connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Suicide Girls and she also wants you to check out Erik Wilson's Facebook page, with whom she's collaborating on a project.
Thanks to Tiffany Scandal for taking the time to stop by and drop whatever you're doing right now, read this interview and order you copy JIGSAW YOUTH. You can thank me later. I hope you enjoy the interview, my jaw dropped a couple of times when I first read the answers.
As a kid, I always kept journals with poetry and short stories that read like nightmares. It was a coping skill for me. A way to ignore my surroundings, because, let’s be honest, I didn’t have very many friends growing up. I was that weird kid that loved horror movies and was usually seen reading books written by (mostly) dead guys. But it just a hobby. Despite coming from a very creative family, it was strongly encouraged to pursue a career that would lead to a consistent paycheck. So I went to a university, got some degrees, and pursued a career in social work.
I didn’t realize how much of myself I lost during my seven years as a social worker. After getting fired for my involvement with Suicide Girls, I sank into a deep depression because I didn’t know who I was if not a social worker. Walking through a cemetery with a friend, he pitched the idea of me writing a Bizarro book. I had been a fan of the genre for a while and was always happy to recommend titles to whoever asked, but I had never considered writing anything myself. I didn’t even think I had the attention span to write anything longer than a short story. But, because I didn’t have anything better to do, for shits and giggles, I sat a computer and wrote a 20k novella in two weeks. I felt on top of the world. This was 2012.
Shortly after finishing the draft, I heard about Bizarro Con. Figured it would be a great way to actually meet the people who’s work I had been reading for years and maybe network. The bizarro community was so warm and welcoming, Bizarro Con immediately became my version of Band Camp. I was invited to pitch ideas, they welcomed a manuscript, and I had my first book published with Eraserhead Press by the next Bizarro Con.
So it took getting fired from a job that was slowly turning me into a zombie to reevaluate my life and start pursuing my passions.
What piece of your own writing are you the most proud of, why is that so and where can we find it?
I don’t know if proud is the accurate term, but I felt a tremendous relief after writing a few of the chapters in JIGSAW YOUTH. I exorcised a lot of demons with this book, and it felt real good to get a lot of this out. I remember going to coffee shop in downtown Portland to write. I sat down and started writing the first draft of YOUR SCENT. I was so in the zone, I hadn’t realized I was full on crying in public until an older woman came up to the table I was sitting at, put her hand on my shoulder and said, “I hope whatever you’re writing brings you peace.”
The best writing advice I’ve received has been from Carlton Mellick III. That dude has a wealth of information. He’s so prolific, how can you not learn from him? Anyway, the TWO best pieces of advice I’ve gotten from him are:
1) When writing a first draft, you can’t be afraid to suck.
2) If you’re ever stuck, go back and change some things because you probably set up a roadblock for yourself. When you’re in the zone, the words will freely come.
I can’t really think of worst advice. Everyone has tricks that work for them, and sometimes you get curious and try them out for yourself. Sometimes they’ll work. Sometimes they won’t.
Who are the five authors you would recommend to someone who wants to familiarize himself with what you do?
Well, shit. I want to say that this is a tough question to answer, because I like to read a lot of different styles and depending on the tone I’m going for on a project will influence that stack of books I keep near me during the writing process. For JIGSAW YOUTH, I read a lot of Sam Pink and Juliet Escoria. I usually always carry Roberto Bolano's ANTWERP with me everywhere I go. Amy Hempel and Jorge Luis Borges are also huge influences. My work is nowhere near that level, but they’re consistent go-tos to study from. BUT as I’ve said, different books will inspire different tones. I’ve been reading a lot of John Waters for a current project I’m working on.
Kurt Cobain and Henry Rollins both play a part in Ella's life in JIGSAW YOUTH. Your portrayal of Rollins in particular is oddly precise and moving. What is your relationship to his art?
Henry Rollins was a household name growing up. Outside of home, his name/image always came up at the most random times. I remember the first real relationship I had out of high school was initiated because we were both reading BLACK COFFEE BLUES out in public. I would have dreams that would start out as nightmares, and then Henry Rollins would show up and be the calm and collected presence. He always has cool shit to say, and also, he’s kind of a fox. Thinking about it, he was totally the Spirit Animal to my adolescent self.
Hardboiled, Crime, Noir, Gun Porn, Fairies, Whatever. Should genre label matter? Yes or no and why is that so?
Yes and no. I have a love/hate relationship with labels. I love them because they can make finding new books/authors easier. Who hasn’t fallen in love with some hybrid genre and wanted to read more stuff like it? So for that reason, yes, genre labels are awesome. Conversely, they could also inspire some discrimination. If a reader has generally not had good experiences with a particular genre, they’re probably not going to be interested in a book that is classified as such. For example, had JIGSAW YOUTH been labeled as feminist/queer fiction, how many people would pick it up for that reason? How many people would pass it up because they don’t identify with either of those labels. I wish awesome fiction were a genre label, but then how many fucking books would be listed there?
I don’t know if proud is the accurate term, but I felt a tremendous relief after writing a few of the chapters in JIGSAW YOUTH. I exorcised a lot of demons with this book, and it felt real good to get a lot of this out. I remember going to coffee shop in downtown Portland to write. I sat down and started writing the first draft of YOUR SCENT. I was so in the zone, I hadn’t realized I was full on crying in public until an older woman came up to the table I was sitting at, put her hand on my shoulder and said, “I hope whatever you’re writing brings you peace.”
What was the process of writing JIGSAW YOUTH? It's so lean, tight and squeaky clean of any possible bullshit, I'm under the impression it must've taken forever?
I had my first draft done in about three months, and that’s including all of the week-long breaks I would take because parts of this book were really hard to write. I had an idea and knew how I wanted to execute it.
JIGSAW YOUTH is, I believe, a proper feminist novel that really understands what the movement is about. Given that feminism is having a high profile year in mainstream culture (GamerGate, Mad Max, etc.), what are your thoughts about how the movement is portrayed by the media and what are the most pressing feminist issues no one's discussing yet?
Thank you.
The media still doesn’t know how to portray feminism. It’s become an “ugly” term, and I really don’t like the mixed take on it. Feminism is about achieving gender equality, doing away with the double standard and recognizing worth based on individual merit and not the anatomy we conceal with our clothing. It bugs me that some women are scared, even resentful, of the word. And it bugs me more when people try to shame a person for coming out as an advocate for gender equality. Emma Watson gave a beautiful speech in front of the UN about feminism. Some people applauded her for using her celebrity as a platform to bring up such a hot topic, and then there were some douchebags who threatened her if she didn’t “stand down.” I just want the hate to end. We are all human.
What was the single best writing advice you were ever given? What was the worst?I had my first draft done in about three months, and that’s including all of the week-long breaks I would take because parts of this book were really hard to write. I had an idea and knew how I wanted to execute it.
JIGSAW YOUTH is, I believe, a proper feminist novel that really understands what the movement is about. Given that feminism is having a high profile year in mainstream culture (GamerGate, Mad Max, etc.), what are your thoughts about how the movement is portrayed by the media and what are the most pressing feminist issues no one's discussing yet?
Thank you.
The media still doesn’t know how to portray feminism. It’s become an “ugly” term, and I really don’t like the mixed take on it. Feminism is about achieving gender equality, doing away with the double standard and recognizing worth based on individual merit and not the anatomy we conceal with our clothing. It bugs me that some women are scared, even resentful, of the word. And it bugs me more when people try to shame a person for coming out as an advocate for gender equality. Emma Watson gave a beautiful speech in front of the UN about feminism. Some people applauded her for using her celebrity as a platform to bring up such a hot topic, and then there were some douchebags who threatened her if she didn’t “stand down.” I just want the hate to end. We are all human.
The best writing advice I’ve received has been from Carlton Mellick III. That dude has a wealth of information. He’s so prolific, how can you not learn from him? Anyway, the TWO best pieces of advice I’ve gotten from him are:
1) When writing a first draft, you can’t be afraid to suck.
2) If you’re ever stuck, go back and change some things because you probably set up a roadblock for yourself. When you’re in the zone, the words will freely come.
I can’t really think of worst advice. Everyone has tricks that work for them, and sometimes you get curious and try them out for yourself. Sometimes they’ll work. Sometimes they won’t.
Well, shit. I want to say that this is a tough question to answer, because I like to read a lot of different styles and depending on the tone I’m going for on a project will influence that stack of books I keep near me during the writing process. For JIGSAW YOUTH, I read a lot of Sam Pink and Juliet Escoria. I usually always carry Roberto Bolano's ANTWERP with me everywhere I go. Amy Hempel and Jorge Luis Borges are also huge influences. My work is nowhere near that level, but they’re consistent go-tos to study from. BUT as I’ve said, different books will inspire different tones. I’ve been reading a lot of John Waters for a current project I’m working on.
Kurt Cobain and Henry Rollins both play a part in Ella's life in JIGSAW YOUTH. Your portrayal of Rollins in particular is oddly precise and moving. What is your relationship to his art?
Henry Rollins was a household name growing up. Outside of home, his name/image always came up at the most random times. I remember the first real relationship I had out of high school was initiated because we were both reading BLACK COFFEE BLUES out in public. I would have dreams that would start out as nightmares, and then Henry Rollins would show up and be the calm and collected presence. He always has cool shit to say, and also, he’s kind of a fox. Thinking about it, he was totally the Spirit Animal to my adolescent self.
Yes and no. I have a love/hate relationship with labels. I love them because they can make finding new books/authors easier. Who hasn’t fallen in love with some hybrid genre and wanted to read more stuff like it? So for that reason, yes, genre labels are awesome. Conversely, they could also inspire some discrimination. If a reader has generally not had good experiences with a particular genre, they’re probably not going to be interested in a book that is classified as such. For example, had JIGSAW YOUTH been labeled as feminist/queer fiction, how many people would pick it up for that reason? How many people would pass it up because they don’t identify with either of those labels. I wish awesome fiction were a genre label, but then how many fucking books would be listed there?
What are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the next year or so?
A few things. Jennifer Robin, a local performer/writer who I have tremendous amounts of respect for, recently told me that she envisions me always huddled over computer and typing every minute I get. It was a laughable moment, but really not that far from the truth. There is currently a manuscript that is under consideration over at Eraserhead Press. I’ve also begun the outlining/planning for a thematic sequel to JIGSAW YOUTH. There’s a short story or two floating around. I’m also really excited to be a part of Erik Wilson’s new art book. I’m one of thirty authors who will be contributing a piece of micro fiction, and Erik will do an original painting for each one. Other authors in this book include John Skipp, Richard Kadrey, and Joe Lansdale. It’s pretty phenomenal company.
Oh, and I have a full-time and part-time job.
A few things. Jennifer Robin, a local performer/writer who I have tremendous amounts of respect for, recently told me that she envisions me always huddled over computer and typing every minute I get. It was a laughable moment, but really not that far from the truth. There is currently a manuscript that is under consideration over at Eraserhead Press. I’ve also begun the outlining/planning for a thematic sequel to JIGSAW YOUTH. There’s a short story or two floating around. I’m also really excited to be a part of Erik Wilson’s new art book. I’m one of thirty authors who will be contributing a piece of micro fiction, and Erik will do an original painting for each one. Other authors in this book include John Skipp, Richard Kadrey, and Joe Lansdale. It’s pretty phenomenal company.
Oh, and I have a full-time and part-time job.