What books have most influenced your life?
In my youth, Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” opened my eyes to the importance of both literature and social dissent, John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” taught me the beauty of simplistic, concise prose, and the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe taught me about myself during those awkward teen years we all encounter.

In my adult life, Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” resonates strongly with me; I draw from Chbosky’s distinct style in my own writing, and I look to his intriguing storytelling when reflecting on my own life choices. In recent years, I’ve also come to appreciate the minimalistic beauty of Ezra Pound’s “In a Station of a Metro,” possibly the most multi-faceted, poetically-perfect 14 words in history.

Who are your favorite music artists?
As both a guitar enthusiast and professional writer, I must always mention Bob Dylan for his skill with the 6-strings and his poetic command of the English language. Other favorites are “The Moldy Peaches,” “The Beatles,” “Major Matt Mason USA,” “Against Me!,” “Justin Sane,” “The Who,” “Stiff Little Fingers,” “Woody Guthrie,” and “Ben Kweller.”

What are your favorite websites and why?
Jstor.org is a personal favorite for its impressive collection of archived scholarly journals and literature; it is a great resource for any literary buff. I am also a regular on Duotrope.com, a large directory of independent fiction and poetry publishers.

Where else can people find you on the web?
Jstor.org is a personal favorite for its impressive collection of archived scholarly journals and literature; it is a great resource for any literary buff. I am also a regular on Duotrope.com, a large directory of independent fiction and poetry publishers.

The first place to look is my blog, found at JustSuppositions.WordPress.com. Additionally, my work appears on websites such as Scars.tv, eHow.com, AssociatedContent.com, and BrightHub.com. I also have profiles at Facebook.com and MySpace.com/jgapinski, used primarily to keep in touch with friends out-of-state and overseas.

What are your professional highlights?
My first chapbook publication, in 2007 by Scars Publications, was an important high-point in my career. Additionally, I take pride in my time as co-editor of “Beauty/Truth: A Journal of Ekphrastic Poetry”—during this time, I also received a grant to research ekphrastic poetry and draft my own poems using the techniques I was studying.

What advice do you have for the journey of life?
Do as Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” suggests: follow the path less traveled.

What are you most passionate about in life?
Aside from writing, I am extremely passionate about environmental conservation and animal rights. In 2007 I received the J. J. Rao Award for my work exposing the environmental degradation and animal cruelty caused by the meat industry. Today, I continually augment my writing with ecological commentary.

What ticks you off?
I’m not sure that I particularly like this question. I always try to give credence to multiple perspectives, and I am not quick to judge others or get angry at philosophies incongruent to my own.

That being said, there are some things in this world that are just unethical and wrong, regardless of how you look at them, and any reaction other than disgust and resentment would be foolhardy. The current staggeringly high level of global animal cruelty comes to mind, as does war profiteering and other forms of human exploitation.

Any thoughts or ideas on living a greener life?
Eat vegetables rather than meat. Meat by its very definition is not an efficient food source, given the fact that livestock must eat multitudes of plant-food and consume tons of water to grow to maturity. Cruelty issues aside, meat essentially converts large amounts of plant protein into small amounts of meat protein.

Also, make small daily changes for the better. Don’t give into a “Tragedy of the Commons” mentality; every little bit helps. Use energy efficient light bulbs, walk to the store rather than driving, and always recycle.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
Before following my true passion for literature, I worked as a licensed body piercer for two years.

Ernest Hemingway encapsulated my writing philosophy well when he said “prose is architecture, not interior decoration.” I choose every word carefully, knowing that even a minor tweak can drastically alter the purposeful, meaningful message of a well-crafted piece of literature. I write to create substance, not merely a shallow aesthetic.