Tagged: author interview
Living History: An Interview with Helen Dunmore
Helen Dunmore has twice written about a generation nearly swept away by history, first in The Siege and then in The Betrayal. Sarah Hilary interviewed her, to find out how this history pushes at the edges of the unfamiliar to expose controversies and truths that resonate for modern readers.
–
You’ve said that you didn’t choose Russia, Russia chose you. Can you tell us a little about your main characters and how their story chose you?
As a reader you have to be passionately interested in the fate of the characters. My heroes, Anna and Andrei, are seasoned survivors; their childhood and youth was spent in a climate of increasing repression. I’m very admiring of the resourcefulness of human beings when their backs are to the wall. But at the same time, Anna and Andrei are not wanting to rise above the everyday, because for them the everyday is precious and very, very fragile.
Your characters were living through an amazing period of history, but you don’t let that swallow the story of their personal lives, which remains very intimate. What struck you most when you were researching for the novels?
The sense of disbelief felt by those living through the Terror. Teachers, scientists and engineers who fell... more »
more »Interview with Laura van den Berg
Fringe had the opportunity to chat (virtually, at least) with Laura van den Berg about her debut story collection, What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us, published by Dzanc Books in October 2009. The stories, a collection that blends the intricacies of human relationships with the magic of myth, have been generating a good amount of praise, and Laura was featured as part of the Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” program.
Here are a few of Laura’s answers to our burning questions:
This is your first collection. How was the publication process compared to your expectations? How did having your stories published in journals like One Story, American Short Fiction, and Boston Review prepare you for the experience?
Since it was my first book, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve been really happy with the notice the collection has received. And I feel very lucky too—there are a lot of books out there, so finding an audience or recognition of any kind can be challenging.
In terms of story publications, publishing a book was a very different experience than publishing individual stories for me; the stakes, in a number of ways, felt much higher. But one thing... more »
more »Issue 19: My Magpie Eyes, My Trampoline Heart: Author Interview and Reader Discussion
An interview with Claire Mapletoft, author of “My Magpie Eyes, My Trampoline Heart”:
Fringe: What was the inspiration for this piece?
Mapletoft: Meeting someone who made me feel like I had a firework in my chest, and then later, the sudden realization that all fires burn out.
Fringe: How often do you write? Do you do it on a schedule?
Mapletoft: I am lazy about writing, but I have ideas all the time. In my head, I have thousands of stories, but on paper, very few. I try to schedule it into my day, but it’s irritating how often life creeps up on you and before you know it, the only story you’re writing is your tax return.
Fringe: How did you get into writing? How long have you been writing?
Mapletoft: When I was younger, I used to read books by the shelf-full and then organize them alphabetically. It was a natural progression then to record my ever so slightly over-active imagination. I still have diaries from when I was about seven, with whole novels based upon my rescuing a rabbit. I couldn’t imagine a life now without it.
Fringe: Is this piece typical of your work?
Mapletoft: As long as people continue having relationships, yes.
Fringe: Is Fringe... more »