I've had the pleasure of knowing Kristin Allio, virtually, since not long after her debut novel, Garner, was published. It was a Litblog Co-op selection that I had happen to nominate so it was with great excitement to publish her story collection, Clothed, Female Figure with Dzanc Books in 2016.
EWN: Your short story collection, Clothed, Female Figure, was published in 2016. What story within the collection had the earliest publication history outside of being in the collection, and what was that history?
Kirstin: Dan, in your gracious and generous way, you solicited short stories through the Emerging Writers Network way back in 2005 or 06 for a project, as I recall, that entailed packages of stories and poems emailed to subscribers around the holidays. You kindly included one of my first short stories, “Millennium,” which was then published in the Denver Quarterly later that year or the next.
EWN: How did the publication of this particular collection come about? Were you solicited by the publisher, win a contest, agent submission, etc.?
Kirstin: I submitted the collection to the Dzanc Short Story Collection Competition, and I won! (Thank you, Dzanc!)
EWN: Where do short stories fit within your life as an author? Primary form to work with, or something you write when an idea hits, or …?
Kirstin: I’m not sure yet. I always have one or two short stories in my writing rooming house. If I’m not locked up in a room with them, I catch them in the kitchen or the hall. I’ve begun to notice that stories accrue, as if in passing, sometimes more effectively than when they’re effortfully conjured and composed…
EWN: Where do short stories fit within your life as a reader?
Kirstin: I admit I prefer short stories aesthetically to novels; I revere the exacting form; there’s pent-up magic in the best ones, and a relief from narrative filler.
EWN: How will you be celebrating National Short Story Month this May?
Kirstin: What can I say? Gorging on short stories!
EWN: Thank you very much for your time!
Kirstin: Thank you, Dan!
Kirstin Allio's novel, Garner, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. She is a recipient of the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 award, a PEN/O. Henry prize, and other honors for her short stories and essays. She has been a Howard Foundation Fellow at Brown University, and she lives in Providence, RI with her husband and sons
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