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"In interviews with 16 contemporary American authors—popular, award-winning and mostly of the younger literary persuasion—Johnson returns to the form that made her Conversations with American Women Writers such a treat. Interview questions cover the basics-early writing interests, requests for advice and words of encouragement—but also elicit enthusiastic explication on the writing process... Throughout, Johnson uses insightful questions about specific works to elicit wise and peculiar nuggets on the ‘inspiration, struggles, triumphs, and work ethic’ of the writing trade."—Publishers Weekly (starred review, publishersweekly.com)
An inspiring collection of interviews with some of today’s hottest authors.
Once again, Sarah Anne Johnson offers insightful interviews with some of today’s most popular and accomplished writers. Steeped in a thorough knowledge of each writer’s work, Johnson asks about a range of topics on the writing craft, nurturing fictional ideas, and the daily practice of writing. The authors offer insights and practical advice that will delight their fans and be cherished by aspiring writers. Michael Cunningham recalls how the structure of The Hours evolved as he wrote it. Edwidge Danticat honors the Haitian storytelling tradition she encountered in her childhood. And Jonathan Lethem reflects on working from inside and outside the literary establishment.
Johnson’s interviews have been praised for her “thoughtful and knowledgeable questions” (Bloomsbury Review) that “provoke thoughtful responses from her subjects” (Publishers Weekly) and provide “an opportunity to participate in intimate and often illuminating dialog” (Library Journal). Her previous collection, Conversations with American Women Writers (UPNE, 2004), was described as “17 miniature instruction books on craft” by Publishers Weekly.
Other writers interviewed include Rick Moody; Donna Tartt; Myla Goldberg; Mary Gaitskill; Ha Jin; Bret Anthony Johnston; Edward P. Jones; Chang-rae Lee; Alice Mattison; Nancy Rawles; Marilynne Robinson; lê thi diem thúy; and Mary Yukari Waters.
"Johnson interviews sixteen authors as diverse as Edwige Danticat and Ha Jin, who discuss the experiences, quests, and thinking that shaped their distinctive literary voices."—ForeWord Magazine's Ninth Annual Look at the Big Ten Outstanding Books from University Presses' includes The Very Telling in its Also Recommended section
"Telling is a masterwork in the literary interview, a genre of non-fiction in which Johnson is quickly becoming a leading authority."—Provincetown Banner
"If you love books, you invariably become curious about their making and who their parents are. A good literary interview will introduce you to the parents and how they met the inspiration of the stories and characters that are now part of you. A good interview with an author illuminates the nervous system that grows among people and words—it’s a spangled tree that makes the act or reading and writing more curious and luminous. With The Very Telling, Sarah Anne Johnson does a first-rate job in turning on the lights that festoon the family trees of contemporary literature."—D.W. Fenza, Executive Director, The Association of Writers and Writing Programs
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SARAH ANNE JOHNSON teaches at Lesley University and conducts workshops on “The Art of the Author Interview” at MFA programs around the country.
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