“I don’t ever really think a work is done, but I’m excited when a work is doing something, anything further.” Kristen Arnett chats with Barrett Bowlin about representing queerness, Florida writers, and drafting her debut novel, Mostly Dead Things, out this week from Tin House books.
“We want to be understood, but we don’t want to, or feel unable to, share our own stories.” Matthew Robinson sits down with Thea Prieto to discuss Memorial Day, writing the war experience, and his novel-in-stories, The Horse Latitudes.
“I think it’s human nature to dream of what’s on the other side.” Benjamin Woodard chats with Caleb Michael Sarvis about his debut collection, Dead Aquarium, out now from Mastodon Publishing.
“[My favorite] stories, by the way, were submitted to over 100 literary journals before they found homes. I really loved them, which I guess is why I kept plugging away at the revisions until they were accepted”: Julie Zuckerman talks with Jolene McIlwain about persistence, family lore, and the thrill of publishing her first collection of linked stories.
“I wanted to explore how the uniquely female experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding might impact women who otherwise often try to resist traditional gender roles”: Polly Rosenwaike talks with Danielle LaVaque-Manty about her debut collection, Look How Happy I’m Making You.
“I’m grateful now for having had so many strange work days and stories to hold on to afterward.” Jason Allen talks with Barrett Bowlin about his debut novel, The East End, out next week from Park Row Books.
“I know I’m on the right track when I’m terrified for a character”: Maggie Shipstead talks with Lydia Fitzpatrick about her debut novel, Lights All Night Long, as well as where books begin, leaps of imagination, the momentum of a murder mystery plot, and more.
Melissa Scholes Young talks with Melissa Rivero about her debut novel, The Affairs of the Falcóns, as well as making time to write, the immigrant narrative, and writing as a political act.
“If you can find that sweet spot between what the market is favoring but also what calls to you as an artist, you can’t top that combination”: Jessica Knoll talks with Polly Atwell about writing, success, suspense, and more in the latest installment of Atwell’s new interview series with women crime writers.
“It was only then that I realized I’d started a new novel, and I just kept going.” Steven Wingate talks with Chip Cheek, author of Cape May, about shifting gears, the shock and elation of a big release, and letting parenthood change your writing life.
“Life often feels overwhelmingly absurd and viscerally meaningful at the same time. I wanted to write from that feeling. So, even though my book is a satire of sorts, it’s also a work of loving fascination.” Evan James talks with Mark Mayer about his debut novel.
“I feel like genre is one of those terms that is becoming less clear and even less relevant all the time”: Janelle Brown talks with Polly Atwell about her new novel as part of a new interview series with women crime writers.
