Jack Saunders-The Proust Questionnaire

Jack Saunders is a true blue Florida writer. He is the real thing and in this day and age, they are scarce. What I enjoy most about his work is that it's soaked in Florida cracker lore and culture. He is our own Marcel Proust, as he works on an immense epic novel that he posts online. Parts of this massive literary feat have been published via traditional channels through out the years. One such volume that was published not too long ago by Pat Simonelli's Lit Vision Press was Bukowski Never Did This. I also highly recommend Forty, which could be his most accessible work. Jack Saunders reminds me of The Ramones. Like The Ramones, he is an immensly inspirational figure. To remain in the underground for so long, puching out volume after volume despite constant rejection by the mainstream is an odyssey of Herculean proportions. I salute you Jack Saunders, Florida writer.




1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

What I'm doing now.

2. What is your greatest fear?

Used to be letting my loved ones down. Now, I can't think of any. I let them down and they still love me.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Small-mindedness.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Small-mindedness.

5. Which living person do you most admire?

Most of the people I admire are dead or old. When they die, I think, "Oh yea. I admired him." Alive, they're out of the limelight. Private.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

I steal time to write. From my employer and my loved ones. I stole 38years.

7. What is your current state of mind?

At peace.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Is it's important to you it's not overrated.

9. On what occasion do you lie?

I haven't noticed any pattern to it.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I could stand to lose some weight.

11. Which living person do you most despise?

Anybody associated with George W. Bush. I don't much like him either.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?

A sense of humor. Intelligence.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Intelligence. A sense of humor.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I fucked up.

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

So far, my wife Brenda.

16. When and where were you happiest?

Just writing about that. On sabbatical after Lucent Technologies laid me off. I was on unemployment.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

Sing and play a musical instrument.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I worry too much.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Writing the great American novel without a lot of encouragement and support.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Don' want to come back. Pretty sure I'm going to die.

21. Where would you most like to live?

Where I live now. Parker, Florida.

22. What is your most treasured possession?

Don't own anything I can't do without.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Receiving several rejection slips a week.

24. What is your favorite occupation?

Writing hardback books for money. Haven't done it yet, but still hope to,before I die.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

Irritable and preoccupied by writing.

26. What do you most value in your friends?

Loyalty.

27. Who are your favorite writers?

Charles Bukowski, Charles Willeford, Hunter S. Thompson.

28. Who is your hero of fiction?

Henry Chinaski, Hoke Moseley, Hunter S. Thompson.

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

The Unknown Soldier.

30. Who are your heroes in real life?

See No. 27.

31. What are your favorite names?

Bob, Bill, Jim.

32. What is it that you most dislike?

Arrogance. Possibly aggressiveness.

33. What is your greatest regret?

Didn't make a living writing.

34. How would you like to die?

Soon. Go to sleep and not wake up.

35. What is your motto?

Always merry and bright (from Henry Miller).