Former Flame Fridays - BJ Louis
5/2/25
You were featured in volumes 6 and 7; what has happened since?
⁃What has happened since? I finished my novel's first draft, which has been 7 years in the making. Feels weird. I was so young then, and my writing has changed so much. But I'm excited for the editing process. Banana Girl, my story from 777, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize (thank you guys!!) And I started watching One Piece, which I said I would never do, but who cares.
What/who inspired Banana Girl & Jesus came back on crutches? How does it fit into your style/body of work?
⁃ Jesus Christ came back on crutches spawned from the thrift store - a statuette of our lord and savior greeting a lamb while on crutches. and i thought “holy shit, he would have needed crutches after returning on the third day” and i ran with the image. what if we all came back to earth after death and needed assistance? the after life is not all-cleansing and perfect. we will still have our wounds.
⁃ Banana Girl was inspired by a former classmate of mine in high school. semi-nonfictional. filled with anecdotes from going to school in the very early 2010s. it’s funny how lonely we thought she was. she’s married now. i’m not. interesting how that worked out.
Jesus Christ came back on crutches How else would he walk with nails in his feet? I imagine him, hobbling, greeting the lambs and his disciples and they say to him: “Jesus Christ, where did you get those crutches?” and Jesus Christ says, “Peace be with you, peace be with you.” So, when my mother returns to me on this earth, she will come dragging her oxygen tank, asking for forgiveness and a cigarette, and I will ask: “Mom, what’s it like in heaven?” And she will say nothing for she is not the Son of God.
Why Troublemaker Firestarter? What compels you to submit your work? Why be a writer at the end of the world?
⁃ troublemaker firestarter knows no bounds. i’ve become unafraid in my writing. what the fuck is literature anyway? as a writer i think there is this innate desire to be heard. to be noticed to some extent. listen to me! i’m beautiful and perfect and articulate. i have shit to say. why aren’t you looking at me? i crave validation. and rejection. it’s why i do any of this at all.
Who are your current favorite writers?
⁃ Donna Tartt has pulled me out from reading slumps twice. wicked prose with dialogue like a freight train. i’ve always admired Cormac McCarthy, Haruki Murakami, and Carver. Toni Morrison is the best to ever do it, i think. Most of these writers are dead. i’m a creature of habit. Tommy Orange’s There There, and it’s stunning.
Are you a troublemaker, a firestarter, a heartbreaker, a lucky duck, a devil, a terror, or sad and horny?
⁃ i’m sad and horny. i've been this way for the better part of my life. Plath described her bipolar disorder as two electric currents pulling her in opposite directions. i am also this way but with sadness and horniness. one will always prevail.
Where can people find you?
⁃ people can find me wandering around my local barnes and noble. or my mother’s basement. or on the internet somewhere @benedettohh on twitter
What would you want the lovely readers of Substack to do?
⁃ i want everyone to love and be loved. get rid of things and people that no longer fill you with goodness. ask out your crush. delete all social media. submit to Troublemaker Firestarter! finish your novel(!) take care of yourselves. call me ;)