Both Presence and Absence: Safia Elhillo’s The January Children
The book, in the end, is shot through with a faith in human communion despite immense communal and individual loss.
Features & Reviews
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A Curious Swarm or Energy: Talking with Rachel B. Glaser
Rachel B. Glaser discusses her newest poetry collection, HAIRDO, her writing process, and the books and writers that have influenced her.
The Rumpus Mini-Interview Project #116: David Lazar
"Becoming an essayist has always seemed to me as a bit of a pratfall."
Sound & Vision: Celia C. Pérez
Allyson McCabe talks with Celia C. Pérez about her debut middle-grade novel, The First Rule of Punk, her inspirations for writing the book, and her own childhood.
Constantly and On Your Own: Talking with Natasha Stagg
Natasha Stagg discusses her debut novel, Surveys, obsession with celebrity, social media, and how she approached writing about something so ephemeral.
A Life of Words: A Conversation with Chip Livingston
Chip Livingston discusses his new novel, Owls Don't Have to Mean Death, his move to Uruguay, his writing life, and the significance of owls.
On Joy: Three Poetry Anthologies
With impermanence and “praise for the devil” all around, it’s a gift to rediscover joy, no matter how fleeting.
Slowly Converging Paths: A Conversation with Nate Blakeslee
Nate Blakeslee discusses American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West, cultivating trust in his sources, and recreating action-packed scenes he did not witness.
The Rumpus Book Club Chat with Katia D. Ulysse
Katia D. Ulysse discusses her forthcoming novel, Mouths Don't Speak, the importance of religion and music in the novel and in Haitian culture, and why Haiti will always be “home.”
Young People Are Our Hope: Talking with Lilliam Rivera
Lilliam Rivera discusses her debut novel, The Education of Margot Sanchez, world-building, and her desire to see bookshelves filled with stories by people of color.
Everything as Story: A Conversation with Kendra Levin
Kendra Levin discusses her new book, The Hero Is You, her influential mentors, her career in publishing, and the creative struggles that led her to put writing aside for many years.