D. J. Waldie is the author of Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir and Close to Home: An American Album, among other books. Waldie has been the Public Information Officer of the city of Lakewood since 1978. He lives a not-quite-middle-class life in Lakewood, in the house his parents bought in 1946. Read more about him below.

Q. What was the last habit you tried to kick?

A. Worrying too much about being not on time.

Q. If you could live in any other time, past or future, when would it be and why?

A. 1890. There was a moment in the late 19th century when a host of possibilities were under way, particularly in art and literature, that got smashed, if you will, by the First World War. We had to reinvent what was modern after that. In the 1890s, and the early 20th century, it was still possible to be modern without being cynical or ironic.

Q. Who was your childhood hero?

A. The pastor of my church. I wanted to be a priest when I was a boy.

Q. What do you believe to be the greatest simple pleasure?

A. Sleep. Sleep is the greatest pleasure, not simple or complicated, just the greatest pleasure.

Q. What do you do to clear your mind?

A. I go to a place in my head which is not the place where I am. I sometimes imagine other houses to live in, imaginary houses.

Q. What do you wish you had the nerve to do?

A. Dance.

Q. What is something you’ve changed your mind on?

A. I think I’ve become a little bit more conservative as I’ve gotten older. I’ve changed my mind on the value of armed revolution.

Q. What was the last thing that inspired you?

A. Simply encountering the natural world, light and air. I get inspired when I feel a breeze flow across my face. The world inspires me frequently.

Q. What music have you listened to today?

A. I heard some street music as I wandered thru Guadalajara today. I expected it to be played on traditional instruments, but it was all electronic.

Q. What is your favorite word?

A. I have two. Murmur and home.

Q. Who is your favorite fictional character?

A. Ishmael from Moby Dick.

To read about Waldie’s panel on L.A. writers, click here.

*Photo by Miguel Izquierdo.