I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately for Jacket Copy. The latest, with Colum McCann — conducted all of yesterday — is up now on Jacket Copy. Not only is Colum McCann an accomplished writer — his “Let the Great World Spin” is nominated for a National Book Award, the occasion for the interview — but he’s got lots of interesting things to say; he’s thoughtful about about writing and about the writer’s place in the world. He told me one of his favorite authors is John Berger (which I kind of loved), and also that I really ought to read E.L. Doctorow (since I haven’t).
While it is no fun getting up before dawn to transcribe — which is exactly what I did this AM — I have to admit that I do love getting the chance to talk to amazing writers, and, even if I’m sleep deprived, I’m really lucky. Now, off for more coffee.
Finally just finished your Jacket Copy interview with McCann. Interviews with writers typically feature moments both humble and profound, are almost always totally riveting and tend to have so much to offer other writers interested in hearing about how colleagues access information and go through the process of completing a work of fiction. Great piece of reading — kudos.