Author Marlon James Answers the ‘Book Gossip’ Questionnaire

Key Points:

• Marlon James’s novel The Disappearers is set in late-1980s to early-1990s Jamaica and follows eight gay play actors who face a violent attack, exploring themes of authenticity, artistic freedom, and survival with humor and intimacy.
• James writes for about eight hours a day, often in his home office or a rented room surrounded by other writers, and listens to jazz to set the creative mood before writing.
• He never rereads his own work due to fear of finding typos and claims he rarely experiences writer’s block, attributing this to constantly reading other books that inspire him during the writing process.
• James identifies procrastination as his main vice, often researching extensively to avoid writing, and shares a quirky habit of seeking out the best "smashburger" in New York with a friend every two weeks.
• He admires writers like Toni Morrison and Maria McCann, enjoys early-’90s journalism style, and cites Buffy the Vampire Slayer as his favorite TV show, lamenting the canceled reboot while appreciating the original’s satisfying ending.