Drinks with Lukas Tallent

green tea, no lemon

(Photo Credit: Devyn Andersen, the artist formerly known as Digyphus)

Lukas is the picture of innocence as he sits in the office/bedroom of his cozy Astoria apartment, telling me about John Wayne Gacy’s “last victim.”  The room has a warm glow and neat stacks of books barricading the windows to keep the honking cars at bay.  The bed looks like it came right out of a catalog with its neatly tucked linens and a fresh aloe plant on the nightstand.  As I admire the tidiness of the room, I feel that his attention to detail must connect to his fascination with serial killers, somehow.  He wears the uniform of New York City: a black t-shirt, as he sips his tea, and we return to the task at hand:

What’s the last great book you read? 

Surprisingly, Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.

Why?

It’s a real novel that feels like a breath of fresh air.  I knew who the culprit was from the beginning, but it didn’t stop me from having a good time.  

Which fictional character do you relate to the most?

Nick Caraway from The Great Gatsby is a relatable character for me.  Now that I’ve moved (at age 29) to New York City, I particularly relate to his observations.

Also, Dickens’ David Copperfield, because he is an unassuming character who becomes his own person.

What do you envision for the future of literature and storytelling? 

We are going to see a lot more esteemed independent presses.  These presses generally have less of a corporate sensibility, and we are starting to see works of notoriety come from them.  For example, Elena Ferrante is published through an independent press, and her novels are ridiculously popular.

What kinds of stories do you think we need more of in today’s world?

We need more of every kind of story.  They just need to be good, interesting, and entertaining.  The goal should not be to preach, but for the reader to have a good time.

What does a “wrong turn” mean to you?

A wrong turn, I think, is emblematic of a risk.  It shows that you have taken the risk of going against the mainstream or what is popular.

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You can find Lukas’s latest work this month in Door is A Jar Magazine and Bright Flash Literary Review.