Los Angeles resident and author Samantha Josephs recently spoke with us about her debut novel, “Carrying,” and answered this week’s Books Pages Q&A, including some of her fave SoCal spots.
Q. Can you tell us a little about “Carrying”?
“Carrying” is my first novel, my first baby. It’s a disgusting horror comedy with lots of heart about a stealth trans woman who suffers from a mysterious illness and finds herself miraculously pregnant.
Samantha Josephs’ ‘Carrying’ will leave you gagging, but in a good way
Q. The story takes place in Los Angeles, and you’re also an L.A. resident. What are some of your favorite places in Southern California?
My favorite places in SoCal, in no particular order: the Hollywood Bowl, the volleyball courts at Ginger Rogers Beach, Kismet Rotisserie, the Academy Museum, my friend’s apartment building’s tennis court that she gave me the key to, the taco stand outside the Walgreens on 6th, Caveman Kitchen, Malibu Creek State Park, my friend Peter’s pool, the memory of the Glendale Joanne’s, Akbar, Barnsdale, the big houses in Larchmont, the Burbank Airport, and the UCLA Westwood Medical Complex.
Q. Can you also tell us about your tour kick-off event at Skylight Books?
I’m so unbelievably excited for the launch of the book at Skylight on Monday, Oct. 5th! From when this was a single page in a Word document, I always pictured it at my favorite bookstore in L.A. And I’m so happy to be joined by the effortlessly fabulous Jamie Clayton. She admitted to me she’s not much of a reader, but her bursting enthusiasm for this book and complete understanding of my twisted vision made me positive she’s the perfect person to chat with. You really shouldn’t miss it, because anybody who’s anybody is gonna be there. Not really, but it sure is fun to say.
(Be sure to RSVP to the event here.)
Q. What is something about your work that you wish people knew?
I wrote the first draft of this book sick and incredibly single, then edited it in a whirlwind relationship, and did the very final draft heartbroken. See if you can figure out which parts of the book come from which era!
Q. Do you have a favorite character or quote from a book or film?
My favorite character of all time is Roger from “American Dad.” He’s the most genius narrative invention and absolutely hilarious. “And remember, those books are for posture only. A literate girl is a lonely girl,” Roger as Madeline Carpal-Tunnel.
Q. Is there a person who made an impact on your reading life – a teacher, a parent, a librarian or someone else?
My 10th grade English teacher, Ms. Donovan, not only introduced me to some of my favorite authors like Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but she also encouraged my incredibly inappropriate writing. I don’t think I’d have written this book if she didn’t give me an A+ for writing a poem about nearly pooping my pants on vacation with my family.
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