On a hillside in a sand-colored, Sante Fe style house, surrounded with natural, wild vegetation, writer John E. Stith is busy working on his next novel. (The landscape is tended by his wife, Karen, who is a master gardener.) Now 78, Stith is busier than ever. Last year his novel Disavowed (Amazing Selects) was published, as was his young adult trilogy, Tiny Time Machine. He’s also working with folks in the movie business to get his novel Manhattan Transfer to the big screen…or a smaller TV screen, or any screen. Stith is quiet, unassuming, a tech whiz, (he’s made his own computers) has a wry sense of humor, can discuss and is interested in…everything. As we sit in his sunlit front room, surrounded by books, his awards, and posters of his novels, he brings me up to date on his writing.
Category: Author interviews
An interview with Ekta Bajaj
The author of Let The Fish Fly talks about her new novel and its themes, the power of following the inner voice, how writing this novel changed her, her use of The Upanishads and other ancient texts, the masks women wear, Kali moments, the sacred amidst the everyday, and lots more.
Confronting Trauma with Resilience: an Interview with Molly Johnsen
Molly Johnsen talks about her debut poetry book, Everything Alive, her poetry journey, the devastating car accident that the book centres on, her use of dark humor, epilepsy, grief, trauma, parenting, love and lots more.
An interview with Tom Maremaa
The author of 2088 talks about his new book and how it came about, its theme, plot, characters, how 9/11 shaped the narrative, what readers can expect from the book and more.
An interview with Adedayo Agarau
The author of The Years of Blood talks about his new collection and its impetus, the Poetic Justice Book Prize, influences, structures, ‘Faith’ and the visceral, Yoruba culture, the catastrophe already here, the use of grammar, especially the em dash, in poetry, the impact of music on his writing, Nigeria’s vast literary tradition and upcoming books to look out for, and much more.
An interview with Connie Willis
Connie Willis has won more major science fiction writing awards than any other science fiction author. More than the Big Three—Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury—more than her “hero” Heinlein, more than George R.R. Martin, more than the irascible Harlan Ellison. When I chat with her on a beautiful sunny afternoon in Greeley, Colorado, she’s matter-of-fact about her writing accomplishments, and not all that impressed with herself.
An interview with Joshua Vigil
The author of Bastardland talks about his latest book, his writing habits, the satisfaction of writing, social media, on unsettling a reader, the joys of publication, and more.
An interview with Brian Jacobson
In this tongue-in-cheek interview, the author of Life Engineering and The Truth About the Moon and the Stars talks about his writing process, what he exclusively listens to, why he writes fiction, his ideal readers, what he does for fun, and more.
An interview with Stuart Nadler
I spoke with Stuart over Zoom to discuss the dangers of beauty, the difficulties of depicting atrocity in art, and the value of humor in dark times.
An interview with novelist Jamey Gittings
The author of Jane talks about his latest book, his writing process, his influences and personal history, his themes, his new book in the works, and lots more.