Joanna Hershon interview

This interview with Joanna Hershon was first published in February 2008. Joanna Hershon is the author of Swimming, The Outside of August, and The German Bride.

Where were you born and raised? Joanna Hershon

Long Island, NY

What was it that first got you into writing and when did you start writing?

I have written for as long as i can remember, and I started keeping a journal when i was 13. As I grew older, I started also crafting stories, poems, plays, until I decided to try my hand at a novel when I was 23.

Which writers have influenced you the most?

Off the top of my head: Leo Tolstoy, William Styron, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Wallace Stegner, Michael Cunningham, Helen Schulman

What kind of things do you write?

I write fiction. Novels and short stories mostly, but every now and then I'll write a poem. That hasn't happened for a long while.

What are you working on now?

Having just finished my novel, The German Bride, which is being published MARCH 25, 2008, I am currently working on a long short story, the contents of which were originally supposed to be in my novel but were dropped years ago. It has been very satisfying to return to this material.

What is your writing day like?

An ideal writing day is one where I practice yoga first, have something to eat and then write for the rest of the day.

What’s the most exciting thing about writing for you?

Getting lost in the story and the characters.

What’s the most frustrating thing about writing for you?

When I can't seem to get lost in my story and characters and I feel too removed and stiff.

What’s the best piece of feedback that you’ve had from your audience?

The best feedback has been that they can't stop reading. The first reader from whom I heard about my first novel, Swimming, was a judge. She confessed to me that she had my novel with her on the bench and was sneaking reading pages during recesses. Also, my favorite feedback has been that my characters are fully living breathing people who are deeply flawed and deeply appealing. I am very honored when I'm told that I don't judge my characters.

Do you write for a particular audience, or is your first priority to satisfy your own creativity?

I don't write for an audience but I like to think I'm writing to communicate, somehow.

Do you have a homepage? Do you have any short stories or poems published online? (If so, please provide the URLs):

My official website is www.joannahershon.com

I will have a serialized story published in March or April at: www.fivechapters.com

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