The PEN Ten: An Interview with Hanif Abdurraqib
“I’ve needed stories as a way to keep loved ones alive, as a way to contextualize histories, as a way to push back against things I was told to… More
The PEN Pod: Empowering Youth to Use Their Voices with Jessica Bohrer
“We’re trying to really give the message that everyone has a voice, and there are so many ways to use that voice, and we want them to feel empowered.” More
The PEN Pod: The Propagation of Disinformation and Protocols of Protest with Suzanne Nossel
“It’s an ecosystem—a dysfunctional, polluted ecosystem. Within that ecosystem, among the most powerful actors—no question about it—are the social media companies.” More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Carribean Fragoza
“Fiction is very real to me, not just because my characters and settings are often inspired by real people. . . but because they also address emotions and ideas… More
The PEN Pod: On Speaking Up and Questioning Authority with Lora Burnett
“It’s a little bit chilling to say the least—and I think deliberately chilling—as in a deliberate attempt to chill free speech, for the college to single out three women… More
The PEN Pod: The Right to Protest and Vaccine Hesitancy with Suzanne Nossel
“The introduction of this sweeping anti-protest legislation that restricts where you can protest. . . really runs counter to freedom of assembly rights.” More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Forsyth Harmon
“Ali, [the] teenage narrator [in my book, Justine], struggles to communicate in words. I used illustrations as another way to represent her interior.” More
The PEN Pod: On Using Storytelling to Push Back Against Systems with Imbolo Mbue
“This story came from [my] childhood fascination: this idea of people pushing back against systems that are way more powerful than them.” More
The PEN Pod: On Making a Safer Internet with Suzanne Nossel
“Things like disinformation, online harassment. . . people feel that they are worse because of the small number of platforms that control so much content.” More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Jamie Figueroa
“Why do people need food and water? That’s how strongly I feel about the function of stories. We need stories to survive. . . to remember, to imagine, to… More