We love learning more about our contributors, and an interview seemed like a fun way to hear more about the writers and artists we publish, so we gave them a choice of questions to answer. We hope you also enjoy hearing more about the artists and their works. Read on and check out issue 28 for work from J. Federle.
What was the inspiration for the piece published in the issue?
Bananaquits! I live in Lima, Peru, and our local park always has these vibrant yellow little birds called bananaquits: "A lemon yellow as a bird."
Who or what inspires your work generally?
I grew up in Kentucky, solidly in the suburbs, with the woods always in sight through our kitchen windows. I think a lot of what I write is inspired by the comfort and mystery of nature combined with all that goes unsaid in the suburbs, the "ghosts."
Who are some of your favorite writers, and what do you like about them?
Lately, I've been a big fan of Jarod Anderson and T. Kingfisher. Anderson's poetry is so compassionate and empathetic, always through the lens of his relationship with nature. And Kingfisher is so creative with her brand of horror. Both also balance their writing with this great, witty light humor.
What is your #1 advice for other writers?
Try things! Experiment. New genres, perspectives, processes, types of critique partners. (Reading new authors also counts!)
What do you do in the rest of your life and how does that connect and/or conflict with your creative life?
I do a newsletter, the Author-Oddity Newsletter, that lets me pull all my interests together! In addition to books, I share art, indie video games, film shorts, science . . . if it's odd, eerie, haunting, or uncanny, plus 100% made by humans, it's going in the newsletter. You can subscribe here or at my website (jfederle.com) if you're interested! I'm always looking to inspire and boost other creators.