1) THE KEPT MAN is your second novel. Can you talk a little bit about the specific pressures associated with a second novel, as opposed to a debut novel.

My first book, Instant Love, was actually a collection of short stories, but because the stories were linked, it was often reviewed as a novel. (I'm just psyched when anyone wants to review me so no formal complaints were lodged with the literary police.) But I think you sort of get a pass with the first book, review-wise, and people acknowledge that it's a younger, more inexperienced voice. The second book - you should know by then what the hell you're doing.

So yes, the pressure is on to step up your game. But I feel like as an artist I should be putting that pressure on myself anyway, you know? Always pushing myself to be better at my work.

2) What was your inspiration for the novel? Is it semi-autobiographical?

I live in the neighborhood I wrote about, Williamsburg, which is a part of Brooklyn right across the river from the Lower East Side and the East Village. And, like my narrator Jarvis, I've certainly known a lot of bad boy artists, and I did have wild days in my youth (and by youth I mean the whole of the 1990s.)

But I've never been married, nor has anyone I love been in a coma, and I really don't know too many right wing militant Christian activists. (Oh that I did! Maybe I will meet some now that this book is coming out.) So I guess from a setting perspective I plucked from my life, but the plot was all fiction.

3) What is your writing process? Do you write every day or do you wait until inspiration hits you?

I do not write every day! I am a bad, bad writer sometimes. Right now I am not writing at all because I'm getting ready to go out on this tour and I have no room in my brain to be creative. When I am writing though, I am very disciplined, and will sit down and usually write 1000-1500 words a day. Whether they are good or bad does not matter, just that I have a consistent output.

4) Before you do a reading, are you nervous? Or do you feel like you are in your element?

I guess it depends on the reading. When I do big New York readings I sometimes get nervous because everyone I know is there, and sometimes I shake and my voice quavers and when I try to hold it in - and this is true - all that is left is my butt shaking. Sometimes it helps to have a drink beforehand. (But only one. Because two will really fuck things up.)

But mostly I dig performing because the rest of the time I'm just hiding out at home with my head in my books or computer. So it's the only way I know if people like my work or not, if I'm hitting the right notes. And I like to meet people who have read my books. That is the best part of touring.

5) Do you love, hate, shrug at the whole marketing element of being a novelist.

I realize it is a necessary evil. I've worked in advertising off and on for the last ten years and sometimes I have my own ideas for ways to market the book, and if you've got good collaborators at your publisher (which I certainly do), it can actually get really fun. Also I have a small press/zine background so anytime I can indulge that guerilla marketing instinct, I'm pretty happy.

We did a fun flickr contest for The Kept Man (http://flickr.com/groups/tkm/), and my friends have stickered half of New York City for me with these great stickers my publisher gave me, and also there were two amazing videos my boyfriend made. Here are the links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8INi35rfF1I and http://youtube.com/watch?v=pO_qRV5ilok) So that kind of stuff is awesome and creative and really true to the spirit in which the book was written.

BUT, I will admit that a certain point I get sick of talking about myself because I'm not really that interesting, and I must resist the novelist's urge to start making shit up.

Jami Attenberg is reading twice on Sunday, January 13: Book Soup at 4 PM, and the Vermin on the Mount Reading Series at The Mountain Bar at 8 PM.