The Official Blog of Joseph Baker

I am in New York right now I have to say North Carolina was fun I'm glad I'm back on the tour and it's great to hear what people think of my books. Anyway here is that long overdue Q&A :

From Georgia:

Will you ever get a college degree ?

I'm honestly not much of an academic and I don't see myself doing that right now. People go to college to make money or learn about and do what interests them and I'm already doing that so no, it's not a real priority for me but, I'll never say never.

How did you feel when your book first went on the best sellers list ?
I was 2 things. I was really happy that I might be making some money but, I was also freaked out that people were reading what I wrote and what affect that might have on the people in my life.

Is it true you are writing an autobiography ?
I am messing around with a few things. I really want to write something that is based entirely on fact but, I'm not really sure where to begin. I can't really call it an autobiography because my life was influenced by so many other people if that makes any sense. In short yes, it is something I want to do but, I would not put a release date on it just yet.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from ?
It's funny when I was younger (crap, did I just say that) I used to model for Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren Polo and they gave me free stuff and that used to be all I wore. As a matter of fact I still have shirts I wore 10 years ago that I wear occasionally. But, now if I buy clothes for myself which is hardly ever I will get either a nice Hugo Boss suit or some shirts from Target.

Has making money and becoming successful changed you in any way ?
I mean, I occasionally get invited to nice events, I get to do things like sponsor my own tour but other than that not really. I mean it is nice to have money but, I still drive a Volkswagen Jetta so . . .

I know you have a lot of kids, how do you come up with names ?
Usually it's just names that me and their mother like at the time and by at the time I mean after they are born. Also, I like to think of what sounds good with the last name Baker I don't think we ever really try to name them after people we've known or anything. However i have always been fond of the name Josiah but, she wouldn't have it. My mother named all her children with two names and I try to get away with that as much as I can.

From Tenn / Kentucky

Who were some of your writing inspirations ?
The two authors who influenced me the most as a writer are A.A Milne and J.D Salinger . . . don't ask me why they just really stuck with me.

In your newest book Blemished: A set of Vignettes I wanted to know how you came up with all your characters and their connections ? Also what made you write the book in a series of little stories ?

A lot of what I write is based on what I observe going on around me. Ideas for characters, names of towns and even storylines usually come from things I've seen or heard and think other people might be interested in seeing or hearing in a different way.


I decided to make this book a vignette because thats how it came to me. It wasn't a linear storyline it had different narrators and backstories that had to be told seperatley. Also, I like my books to reflect life that's why most of them are based on my experiences and real life is a series of small autobiographies that usually end up intermingling eventaully if that makes any sense. I was being sterotypical when I wrote this book and wrote most of it watching my neighbors from my front porch or sitting on a bench at the beach and it was intersting to me to watch other people's lives in the small cul-de-sac exist as seperate but also together. I'm pretty sure I'm just rambling now.


For those of us who don't indulge in tabloids what is the story behind your crutches, that scar and why you've been seen in a wheelchair ?


Although the circumstances are private I was in a domestic dispute that ended with me being posioned and pushed out a window about 3 years ago. I was healing just fine when my ribs cracked a few months ago and I ended up back on crutches. As for the scar it was a misunderstanding that occures between me and another person and they slashed my face. It was all a terrible time in my family's life we don't like to talk about it but, having these injuries gave me alot more time to write.


Just because we love it, how many tattoo's do you have, where and what are they and have they affected you professionally ?


6;A poem on my neck, a name on my chest, wings on my back, sleeve on my upper right arm, breast cancer ribbon on my left wrist and my childrens names on my wrist. Having them hasn't affected my work because most of them are invisible and the one visible on I do have I got after I had a contract. I mean occasisionally I admit it could make a bad impression but, thats other peoples problem.


How do you feel about the recent accusations by Southland Magazine ?

I feel like Southland Magazine is a weak-ass publication that makes their way by gossiping and budding into people's lives where they have no business. They are abrasive, rude and anyone who says they are a fan of mine I hope they are also smart enough not to even look at that crap. They have no intergrity and never get their facts straight.


There little posts just make me pissed off and I am an open person and will put parts of my life out there so, if there was something I wanted people to know I would tell it to a publications I trust. If I don't than it's personal and I would expect most people would understand that.


There will be more coming soon ! If you have Q's feel free to post them.