NEW GLUE: Jason Diamond

"I don't know if any of us belong here anymore."

Jason Diamond lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter. His debut novel, Kaplan's Plot, will be published in September by Flatiron.

1) What is the first thing that burned you?

A car cigarette lighter. My mom's Pontiac Bonneville. I think it was purplish? I don't know why, but I decided to see what the lighter felt like. I must have been three or four because there wasn't much thought that went into it besides "Touch and see."

2) What do you smell like?

Depends on the day, but I try to smell nice. I'm not a huge fan of the whole "signature scent" thing, but I also know what I like. I have a few different bottles of cologne and realize I go for scents from nature more often than not, so grass, citrus, maybe more rum than whisky. Besides that, I try to not smell like anything.

3) What do you feel is more true: Every crazy person is a movie, every movie is a crazy person, or neither?

I think everybody is crazy, but not enough of them are good crazy. We don't make enough movies and too many of the ones we do make tend to stink.

4) How does your heart feel?

Very full of love. My family and friends have helped me understand that. I used to think it was broken, but I was wrong.

5) What was it like to ride in your parents car as a kid? What about now—or equivalent?

Terrifying. Quiet. Not great, Bob. I haven't ridden in a car with either of them in...20 years. Hard to say. I don't think there's an equivalent, except when I get a Lyft driver who yells a lot. I hate yelling even though I have the deep sort of voice where people think I'm raising it when I'm not.

6) Does your misery love company?

I think so. I'll do anything for a laugh.

7) What does a potato chip mean to you? What does it taste like?

Damn, this is heavy. I love potato chips so much that I've never thought of it, so I went, bought a bag of Utz "Wavy," took one out and looked at it. First thought that popped into my head was I think the potato chip, when done right, is the apex of salt and crunch.

8) What does touching feel like?

Depends on what I'm touching, but I like touching that feels like sound.

9) Do you belong to and on Earth?

To, yes. I don't know if any of us belong here anymore.

10) What is your first memory and what does it mean to your work?

Parents yelling and also my Russian-born grandma who died when I was 3 saying "Lemon." I feel like the first one is pretty easy to explain for anybody with even a little bit of therapy, the second one...I don't know. I should ask my shrink.

Luke Goebel is an award-winning author and screenwriter known for his novel Fourteen Stories, None of Them Are Yours, and his screenwriting work on the films Eileen and Causeway.

His new novel, Kill Dick comes out in Spring 2026.