Actor, writer, man of letters: Ken Baumann is a busy 20 year old. Not only is he a co-star of ABC Family’s hit show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, he also writes for and edits several literary journals, adapts books for film, and blogs. While most guys his age devote  their time to dorm room World of Warcraft marathons, he’s living the life of a budding bon vivant. He also loves Dennis Cooper and water.

With all that on his plate, we’re happy that Ken found the time to be the subject of our first “Tells It All” feature. We sent him our questions, he provided some beguiling responses.

Watch this space for more “Tells It All” profiles in coming weeks.

1. Besides this questionnaire, what is the item [literally] closest to you right now? A copy of Log of the S.S. The Mrs Unguentine by Stanley Crawford and the July issue of Harper’s are both equidistant to my eyes & hands. [Ed. note: Mr. Baumann completed this questionnaire in July]
2. Besides this questionnaire, what is the item [figuratively/emotionally] closest to you right now? My copy of Log of the S.S. The Mrs Unguentine by Stanley Crawford; I’m adapting the book to film.
3. What item do you posses that you’ve had longer than any other item? Something imaginary.
4. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? I’m a sucker for water.
5. If you could erase one movie from the lexicon of film to save anyone else from ever having to watch it, what movie would that be? A film that I’ve totally forgotten, i.e. something that isn’t so bad it can be learned from, but just forgettable.
6. Which living person do you most admire? There are a few people, and they’re all family in some way.
7. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ‘Absolutely’ as an affirmative.
8. Who are your favorite writers? Kurt Vonnegut, Cormac McCarthy, David Foster Wallace, Stephen King, Albert Camus, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Søren Kierkegaard, David Milch, Michael Haneke, Stanley Kubrick & Dennis Cooper.
9. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I haven’t the stature to say.
10. Who are your heroes in real life? There are many, but here are a few:  My mother and father.  Patrick Welborn.  Dennis Cooper, for being one of the most artistic and loving people alive right now. Safe money in those picks.
11. What dead person would you most like to have known and been friends with? David Foster Wallace, if only to try my best to make him laugh.
12. If you could have lived in any time period, what time period would it be and what would you have liked to have done? 427 B.C. – on.  I would like to go back and speak with Plato in the Academy.
13. What was the name of the first pet that you named? Morning Glory
14. What is the last thing you bought and how did you pay for it? Chicken quesadilla w/credit card.
15. What is the one item you always hope will be on the menu? Dessert.
16. What is your standard Chinese food order? What about McDonald’s? I generally go with lettuce wraps of some sort, then something sweet & spicy like the ‘special’ chicken dish.  No McDonald’s for me, no thank you.
17. What was the last hotel you stayed at? The Country Inn & Suites in Champaign, Illinois, and before that the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City (which is my favorite hotel.)
18. What was your favorite class in high school? English, followed closely by Science.
19. How old were you the first time you traveled on an airplane? Where did you go? That’s tough.  I want to say I was around five & on the way to Disneyworld, in which I peed in the fountain on Main Street.
20. What was the first concert you went to? How old were you and who did you go with? It was a Ted Nugent concert with friends from school and their parents.  Ted fired a flaming arrow into an electric guitar.  It was hard to beat for awhile.
21. What is the last YouTube video you viewed? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8m_J6sXj_0

More Ken:

Ken’s Blog

Ken’s Website

Twitter

Ken’s Literary Journals: No Posit & No Colony