Interviews
"The Mad Rebellion of King Ludwig and Empress Sisi"
Electric Literature
Elizabeth McNeill: "You’re trapped in the smallest room in Ludwig’s smallest castle for a month. You can’t leave or admit anyone else into the room, except for either Ludwig or Sisi, who is also trapped in the room with you. Whom do you choose and why?"
Jac Jemc: "This is such a hard question. I would have to choose Sisi because I feel like Sisi would at least potentially talk to me or communicate with me in some way. I am not convinced that Ludwig would not just shut down and rock in the corner and ignore the fact that I was there with him. He would be so much more tormented in that situation, and I think Sisi could deal with it a little better. I say that with great difficulty because, when push comes to shove, I am more fascinated by Ludwig. But he’s more of a wild card. And I don’t know if that’s what you want for a month."
"Foraged Mushrooms and Memories: An Interview with Iliana Regan on Fieldwork"
Chicago Review of Books
Elizabeth McNeill: "I was struck by your attention to homemaking in the most literal, nonanthropomorphic sense: a drive to create a safe place for ourselves and our loved ones. Warbler mothers do it for their young, and so do we. Has your idea of 'home' changed with setting up a home off the grid?"
Iliana Regan: "There was something about nests that kept reoccurring for me and came out through the book and writing. I think it was how much I was paying attention to the birds and other animals, but also how much I was feeling unsafe at the moment with the pandemic and political climate. I think my idea of home is where my family is—my wife and dogs, and beyond that my mom, sisters, dad, nieces, nephews. I think no matter what, home is inside of you."
"A Pharmaceutical Voice: An Interview with Anne K. Yoder on The Enhancers"
Chicago Review of Books
Elizabeth McNeill: "I was wondering if you could talk more about language in this novel. In an earlier interview, you said that you thought of The Enhancers as 'a poet’s novel' when you began writing it, but that the narrative became more prominent over time."
Anne K. Yoder: "I was really interested in language and how that creates voice. So, I think a novel that’s more language-forward and maybe more philosophical—having that as the guiding force was really compelling for me [...] The pharmaceutical voice is the closest to the original in terms of being poetic. Its presence isn’t grounded in any one character, and it’s interwoven throughout the novel. The other thing I was thinking about with the 'poet’s novel' was the structure. I was thinking about a package insert for medication."
