Louie Centanni- An Up and Coming Writer

Louie Centanni teaches middle school English and Social Studies in San Diego, CA. Though he never planned (or wanted) to end up teaching preteens and adolescents, his journey to—and passion for—his current occupation serves as a microcosm for how he has found so many of his passions, including writing.

Born outside of Chicago, his parents uprooted and moved the family to San Diego before he knew what the hell was going on with life. He was raised in a baseball-obsessed house and would take up the position of shortstop at age six until his retirement from college baseball in 2005. He is the self-proclaimed All-time Batting Average Leader in Trinity University history, with a career average of .667 (2 hits in 3 career at-bats, over two years).

It wasn’t until college that Louie caught the writing bug, beginning with a foray into the world of standup comedy. He wrote over twenty original humorous (and highly inappropriate) songs, which he performed on and off his college campus during his undergraduate years. This creativity bled into his coursework and led him into the world of creative writing.

His first, and only, novel is titled ‘A Couple of Unorthodox Love Affairs’ and was self-published in 2010. It follows an ambiguous narrator, Phil, who becomes obsessed with serial killers. As he drifts further away from his normal self, his wife Tara finds unconventional—yet darkly creative—ways to win back his heart.

Louie began it as a short story in 2006, challenging himself to write something “creepy, funny, but mainly creepy.” After working on the story for the five months he spent studying abroad in Florence, Italy, he unveiled a 44-page story that was met with lukewarm and unenthusiastic responses from his alleged friends and loved ones. He decided that the project would hibernate indefinitely.

After becoming a teacher and storing the piece for nearly three years, he finally had an ending to this story reveal itself to him during a conversation with his cousin in 2009. He wrote feverishly over the ensuing summer months, and the result came out significantly improved. Though still in the early stages of garnering any following, the debut novel has received wonderful reader reviews. He is currently working on two upcoming projects.

Apart from his interest in writing, Louie also has an unhealthy passion for the music of Dean Martin and all sports Chicago (minus the White Sox). He is working on beginning a music career as a standards crooner in between his million other dreams. In September, he will begin studying in a program at San Diego State University to earn his MFA in Creative Writing. He will also teach a Critical Reading course as a Graduate Assistant. He lives in San Diego, CA with his sister who always tells him his writing is good, even when he knows better. Peruse his website here, where you can sample his shorter works, or buy a copy of his novel here. Also, click here to read some of his musings on writing!

Our Interview with Louie

Who/what inspired you to start writing?

My first real inspiration to write came from the Far Side cartoons. I remember being in middle school Science class and sitting next to a boy who I thought was going to be a lifelong friend (whose name I no longer know). Bored by the doldrums of cell structure, I doodled a horribly inartistic broken pencil and wrote, “The Little Pencil Who Could” as the caption. I showed the now nameless boy of my memory and he laughed hysterically. I’m pretty sure Ms. McNeil sent me outside. That was enough motivation for me, though.

As for writing fiction, I took a Creative Writing class during my undergraduate years at Trinity University. I never took my ability to write seriously until the first workshop day when I received quite a few compliments and constructive remarks from classmates. I then realized that I was able to articulate my own imaginative ideas in a way that others related to: writing. After that, I strove to connect with others through the written word as much as I could.

Who is your favorite author? Why?

My favorite author is the late Kurt Vonnegut. I find everything he writes to be filled with compassion, love, and humanity. Interwoven into all of his pieces is his keen sense of humor. What more could you want from an author? I’ve yet to read anyone else who can communicate such philosophical and peaceful messages with such simplicity, lucidity, and euphony.

Pen or Pencil?

Pencil! I’m a big believer that the day peace and prosperity overtake the world must be preceded by our ability to do crossword puzzles and sign checks in pencil—without fear of judgment or legal tampering from others.

Where do you prefer to do your writing? Why?

I am a coffee-shop writer. Most of my ideas come from observations and thoughts I experience while in public, so my writing comes more fluidly in that environment. I have tried writing at home, but I thrive when there’s a slight buzz around me.