In these strange and difficult times, the University of Iowa Press, with the Writing University, is reaching out to its authors to gain perspective, advice, humor and connection. We want to know how they are doing, first and foremost: we are primarily checking in. But we also want to know how they are living (or surviving, or managing) with the pandemic that surrounds all of us. We are a family here -- the press, the authors, the university -- and this is what families do: we check in.
Today's author conversation is with William Fargason. Fargason teaches creative writing at Florida State University. He is the author is Love Song to the Demon-Possessed Pigs of Gadara, from University of Iowa Press. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida.
1. What book(s) do you recommend for this time of isolation?
Marianne Chan’s All Heathens and Shane McCrae’s In the Language of My Captor are two books I read during isolation, and they’re both really wonderful.
2. What are 3 good things that happened today?
Had good coffee, listened to good music, and have the entire afternoon in front of me to read and play video games.
3. What is your isolation playlist? (Could be a list, screenshot of your spotify playlist or link, etc.)
I love making playlists so much. Here is one I made called “Stuck Inside Playlist”
4. Could you share an image of your new “coworker(s)” (pets, kids, etc.) or your new "office" (my desk is literally in a closet)?
My home office desk
My cat Minnie
**
Thanks William!
Established in 1969, the University of Iowa Press serves scholars, students, and readers throughout the world with works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. As the only university press in the state, Iowa is also dedicated to preserving the literature, history, culture, wildlife, and natural areas of the Midwest. The UI Press is a place where first-class writing matters, whether the subject is Whitman or Shakespeare, prairie or poetry, memoirs or fandom. They are committed to the vital role played by small presses as publishers of scholarly and creative works that may not attract commercial attention. For more information, please e-mail uipress@uiowa.edu.