We chat with author MJ Wassmer about Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, which follows a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive…
Hi, MJ! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! Sure. I’m a debut speculative comedy author living in Tennessee with my wife. I recently gave up Diet Coke and I’m a having a really terrible time.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I actually remember the exact moment. It was a middle school science fair. My project left a lot to be desired—I essentially just microwaved a potato—but I also wrote this eight-page research paper explaining how and why microwaves work. That’s a tremendously dull topic, so I goofed off throughout the whole thing. Made little jokes about friction and leftovers and the soul-crushing loneliness of microwave dinners.
The teacher gave me a C—totally fair—but she laughed behind her desk as she read my paper. That’s when I realized I loved writing.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: We were a Clifford the Big Red Dog
- The one that made you want to become an author: Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
Your debut novel, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, is out August 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sad boy’s sun goes boom
What can readers expect?
Hilarity, hijinks, and heart at the end of the world.
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a speculative comedy about a couple on vacation in the Bahamas when the sun mysteriously explodes. What was once an “all-you-can-eat” resort quickly devolves into a survivor’s camp with rationed resources. You can imagine how well that goes.
Where did the inspiration for Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend come from?
Turning thirty was my personal apocalypse. Like Dan, the main character in the book, I spent my twenties cubicle surfing, too lazy—or scared—to pursue my dream of writing. It’s easy to dismiss your dreams in your twenties. You have all the time in the world! But then thirty hit and I was bald and had grey beard hair and my knees began making a Velcro sound when I stood up. I was officially getting old and I hadn’t accomplished anything professionally I was proud of.
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was my way of working through those feelings. I thought an end of the world scenario—a scenario where an underachieving character was literally out of time—would make a decent canvas to explore themes of inherent worth, modern restlessness, and toxic masculinity.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had a ton of fun writing Lilyanna Collins, the ultra-Southern “boss babe” who thinks she’s God’s answer to the apocalypse. She’s equal parts cunning and charismatic and outrageous and insufferable. My favorite villains are the ones who’re convinced they’re doing the right thing, and Lilyanna definitely falls in that camp.
Plus, I love the way she talks. Whenever I was having trouble with her dialogue, I’d pop into Hobby Lobby and read some of the sayings printed on the cheap wooden wall art they sell. That informed a lot of her character.
Do you have any favourite apocalypse stories?
The Road by Cormac McCarthy was a big influence, though its tone is much darker than my novel. I usually gravitate toward zanier apocalyptic stories that highlight human absurdity, like Shaun of the Dead or This Is the End.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Long and fraught with detours! I’d like to say I’ve developed a scab on the part of my brain where rejections hurt the most, but it feels like it’s picked open each time. Is that gross? Sounds kind of gross.
But after I caught the interest of my very charming agent—shoutout to Brady McReynolds at JABberwocky Literary—it’s been mostly smooth sailing. Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend has an amazing team of folks backing it, and I’m very grateful.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a new novel cooking.
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve gathered the ingredients. I’m about to pre-heat the oven. The actual cooking will commence shortly.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Recently finished James by Percival Everett, which I thought was brilliant. It’s harrowing but hilarious, bleak but somehow hopeful. Couldn’t put it down.
This is cheating because it comes out early next year, but I can’t wait to read Grady Hendrix’s latest, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I love all of Grady’s novels—receiving a blurb from him for Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was perhaps my biggest “pinch me” moment so far.
