Interview with Jake La Botz

Meet NUNUM's Contributor: Jake La Botz

12/29/2025

NUNUM

Blending Flash Fiction & Art

Interview with Jake La Botz

What was the first book you remember picking up and reading by yourself?

It's hard to recall a book that wasn't recommended to me in some form or another, a book that I picked out "on my own." There was a period in the 90s, though, when I was a heroin junkie living in downtown L.A. and I spent many hot summer days in the central library's lower levels staying cool. Interestingly, the Economics dept. was located down there which housed many books on

vagrancy, crime, and hoboing (topics I could relate to at the time) including the autobiographies Sister of the Road - Boxcar Bertha and You Can't Win - Jack Black (no relation to the goony comedian). Those were impactful reads. I think, in some subconscious way, they gave the feeling that no matter what I did with my life, it could have future literary significance if (like the book's protagonists) I could make it to the other side of my troubled situation.

What writer(s) or which book(s) influenced your decision to become a writer?

Nelson Algren, The Neon Wilderness.

Is there a writing craft book that you would recommend to new writers?
I've never read one.

Is there a writer who has influenced your current writing style?

Recently, I had a piece accepted for publication by Gotham Writer's The Razor. Their editor, Emma Stephenson, kindly compared my story to Denis Johnson's work. I was embarrassed at not having read him (though I didn't admit it at the time) and immediately jumped into his books. I've become obsessed since then. Denis Johnson is easily my favorite author at this point.

Why write flash fiction?

My "dayjob" is (or was, before having a child two years ago) writing songs and touring as a musician. I think flash fiction was the simplest transition for me from lyrics to literature.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting to send their work out to journals?

It's rare for journals to offer editorial feedback.

When they do, it's usually because they see something of value in the work. To be a writer, you don't have to join a writing group or go to school, (I didn't) but getting genuine, critical feedback is gold. Remember to thank editors who take the time to offer you notes.

Why and when did you start writing?

I had a dream of being a writer when I was a teenager, but soon realized it

required more discipline than I could muster. I did, however, find a job writing obituaries for a small Chicago newspaper when I was 17.

In my 30s, just after getting clean from drugs, I befriended writer Eddie Bunker when Steve Buscemi cast me in the movie version of Eddie's book Animal Factory. After many conversations with Eddie about our mutual love of literature, comparing notes on what we were reading, I once again had the idea to try writing.

But it wasn't the discipline issue I ran into then. After spending an entire day/night (sixteen or so hours) writing a story, without breaks for food or rest, I feared that writing was dangerous for me-- that my inner world was overshadowing the outer world in an unhealthy way. It wasn't until three years ago when my wife became pregnant, and I could no longer tour as a musician, that I began writing in earnest.

What do you have coming out next year?

On April 21st, 2026 my first book, Your Place in This World, a novella and story collection, will be released via University of Wisconsin's Cornerstone Press Legacy Series. AND it will contain my NUNUM piece "Mall Doors"!

I've also finished a second collection, The No Name Guitar, which is entirely on the topic of "the pitfalls of making music". Beyond that, I'm in the middle of my first novel and am collaborating on a graphic memoir with artist Nic Breutzman as well.

Jake La Botz's fiction has appeared in Mojo Journal, The Razor, and Exacting Clam. His music and acting have been featured in film and television, including True Detective, Animal Factory, and Rambo (the fourth one). His debut collection of short fiction is forthcoming from the University of Wisconsin's Cornerstone Press.