A TEACHABLE MOMENT

An Interview with Alissa Nutting

Alissa Nutting’s Tampa makes me shy – the overt, descriptive sexuality of Celeste, the book’s “protagonist”, is most described by reviews as Lady Humbert Humbert.  Tampa is a dark, stalker comedy of tragic, sexually-disgusting proportions. Her first book, Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls, is a collection of short, surreal explorations of body functions and the loathsome. Together the two books make me wonder: Who is this nut ball? How did she make it out of her cave into the world?  I started to question her until my lady-in-waiting held up my mirror, and I remembered that people have said the same about me and the television shows I’ve made (Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel & The Heart, She Holler – TV shows that are always branded with the scarlet W – Weird). After wiping the tears away from a good, well deserved cry, I realize that the existence of such people affirms that Man is founded on the shoulders of creeps and weirdos.  Our history is littered with them.  If not for kooks, we wouldn’t be the civilization we are today.  Here’s to the tomorrow that Alissa Nutting promises.  

I tried to get to her inner most nugget while in the waiting room for what would turn out to be her last birthing class.  Her inner nugget was born 14 hours later, so we finished the interview post birth via email.

 —John Lee 

JOHN LEE: My older, only sister hated the local high school and its Condor mascot, so she convinced my parents to let her go to the rival school a town over. During one of her fights with the folks she wanted to call them a really mean name but knew she shouldn’t cross the line too far.  As her mental pot began to bubble up, she finally blew her lid and called us all “Condor Lovers!”

What’s the worst thing you’ve been called?

ALISSA NUTTING: Hmm. Sunshine? Princess pants? Talentless hack? Werewolf girl? Bearded lady? You know, things my husband calls me during foreplay.

JL: I was once at the doctor’s office, sitting on the paper covered table, feet dangling like a child, waiting for my examination.  The female nurse and male doctor came in, and she bashfully pointed to my private area.  I looked down and my weenie was pocking out of my boxers.  I’ll never go to that doctor again.

What would you not want to be exposed?  You’ve already showed your privates to your doctor and your book to the public.

AN: That’s a difficult question because I think I have this mental deficiency where I feel a constant...