Read “How to Slay Monsters” here and “Yours Truly” here.
JOSH: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview, Andy. My first question is: what first got you into writing?
ANDY: I have always liked the process of creative writing, always wanting to create my own stories after being inspired by whatever form of media I had just consumed (video games, novels, cartoons, etc.) After watching/reading a piece of media I liked, I would then reimagine it in my own image, changing things around in my head so that it become “perfect” by my own standards. In terms of what got me into writing as an actual profession, that would have to be my creative writing classes at Lindenwood. They showed me that writing is a career that I not only enjoyed, but could actually succeed in.
JOSH: That’s awesome. Next question: What kind of things are important for you to present in your own writing?
ANDY: In my writing, I always want to present a clear and cohesive story and plot. I think one of the most important elements in writing is communication; ensuring that the reader understands what is going on and why. If my piece is confusing the reader and leaving them lost, that’s a sign that my piece needs work.
JOSH: That is very important, I agree. Now, let’s talk a bit about your submissions. What made you choose to send “How to Slay Monsters” and “Yours Truly” to the Grotto?
ANDY: Both pieces I felt as though they fit the theme of the Grotto. The Grotto is more light-hearted than most literary magazines and my two pieces don’t take themselves too seriously. The Grotto’s example poem is a short yet sweet (pun intended) acrostic, just like “Yours Truly”. It just seemed like a good fit.
JOSH: That’s fair. We do try not to take things too seriously around here.
JOSH: “How to Slay Monsters” is a very unique piece of writing. Not exactly a story, but doesn’t fit nicely into any other genre either. Did you have any worries about getting something like this published?
ANDY: Admittedly, “How to Slay Monsters” is one of those pieces I wrote due to my own inspiration, not because I was trying to format it for a particular magazine. I was a bit unsure of where to submit it, but the Grotto struck me as a place that would accept more flexible pieces, so I submitted it here and only here.
JOSH: Well I’m glad you did, we quite enjoyed it. I wanted to ask, there is a lot of humor in How to Slay Monsters, but the humor comes from the narration, not content or plot. I’ve noticed this is a common thread in your writing. Is this an intentional aspect and does it reflect the humor in your own inner voice?
ANDY: I would say so. For me, humor generally comes from character interactions and banter rather than story. As such, I tend to place a story’s more humorous aspects in the character’s thoughts and dialogue. When I write something that’s meant to be funny, I need to at least find it amusing for it to make the final cut, so yes, I would say it does reflect the humor in my inner voice.
JOSH: That’s great and I think it comes across very well. Do you have any future plans for Stroff the Grueling, or is he a one off character?
ANDY: I’m not sure. I don’t have any particular plans for him, but he would be real easy to reuse or give more content to. I may give this piece a sequel some day.
JOSH: Absolutely. Ok, now let’s talk about your poem, “Yours Truly.” It really is a nice poem about yourself. Did you have any worries about it being seen as too self-centered?
ANDY: No, the piece is meant to be more silly and humorous than anything else. The intent wasn’t meant to promote myself, it was to come up with a funny little acrostic using my name.
JOSH: It seems that humor is one of your strengths, I appreciate that.
JOSH: I know you’ve said you don’t often write poetry. Did this poem inspire you to get more into poetry, or will you stick to prose?
ANDY: I wrote this poem a couple of years ago, so it didn’t serve as a source of inspiration. I’m still more of a prose guy, I have a preference to narratives in my writing.
JOSH: Totally fair. Ok, just a few more questions. Are there any things you would like to see more of in the literary world?
ANDY: I would like to see more modern novels and series receive more recognition. I feel as though many people are hung up on the idea of “The Classics” being the only novels that can be well-written and worth reading. To me, that is a disservice towards a plethora of authors and novels. I also wish more fantastical series (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc.) were acknowledged for their writing. Books with these kinds of genres tend to be seen as “junk food” rather than high-quality books, unless it’s “Middle Earth” or “A Song of Ice and Fire”. I would like to see that remedied.
JOSH: Very interesting. I suppose there can be a level of elitism when it comes to what people respect in the literary world.
JOSH: As a developing writer, what is your biggest goal(s) for the next five years?
ANDY: My biggest goal is coming up with a story idea I like well enough to turn it to a full novel. I want to publish something that I am proud of and can help my career take off. In the span of five years, I would like at least to have written two novels.
JOSH: Well I’m rooting for you!
JOSH: Ok, one last question. If you are able to eat it, what’s your favorite kind of ice cream/gelato?
ANDY: My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.
JOSH: I appreciate your time. If there’s anything else you’d like to share, feel free to share here.
ANDY: Thank you for accepting my pieces, it means a lot to me!
Andrew Rashleigh is currently an undergraduate student at Lindenwood who is majoring in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. He is a member of Lindenwood’s Creative Writing Club and has taken classes such as Advanced Creative Writing, World Building, and Getting Published – Tips for Writers. His favorite genre to write in is fantasy, but he also writes creative nonfiction, realistic fiction, and humorous work as well. When not writing, he enjoys reading, playing video games, and watching movies, always assessing what makes them good, wondering how he can apply those good qualities to his own writing.
Bill Geblato's Lotto Gelato Grotto 