Tao Lin is a force in modern literature. He writes self-reflexively with irony and cynicism. His metaphors are laced with Elizabethan collars. If I had to pick the one book that was the most influential to my writing, it would probably be Tao Lin's short story collection, Bed. He might not have answered my interview questions, but at least he responded. Here's his succinctly-worded email to me:

I'll "pass" on this (I'm trying to focus more on my novel) but thanks for asking.