Interviews & Features
PEN America produces a breadth of interviews and features throughout the year.
Megan Fernandes | The PEN Ten Interview
My focus was just on the insecurity of being. Everything that happened narratively came from focusing on that feeling as much as possible. More
Stephenjohn Holgate | 2023 PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize Winner
I’m quite interested in the tensions of these things, how we are pulled in many different directions as the different bits of ourselves, musician, worker, lover and so on,… More
Bronwyn Fischer | The PEN Ten Interview
My focus was just on the insecurity of being. Everything that happened narratively came from focusing on that feeling as much as possible. More
Teachers and Librarians Describe a Climate of Fear Stoked By New Laws
new 'educational intimidation' Laws lead to classroom censorship By: Lisa Tolin | August 22, 2023 In her 30 years as a school librarian, Jill Blake fielded the occasional request from parents… More
Andrew Ridker | The PEN Ten Interview
By: Anna Lasek | August 17, 2023 In a way, the structure of the novel reflects one of its primary themes: the desire to break away from one’s… More
Rachel Eliza Griffiths | The PEN Ten Interview
By: Malcom Tariq | August 11, 2023 This book was my attempt to assure young Black girls that there are beautiful, resonant ways to live, to investigate love,… More
Ben Purkert | The PEN Ten Interview
I followed Seth on his downward spiral and simply tried to keep up with my pen. And no, I didn't worry that my novel was too dark. I only… More
Eddie Ndopu | The PEN Ten Interview
We need to save ourselves. We need to show ourselves the kind of tenderness and compassion that we know deep down we deserve. More
Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond | The PEN Ten Interview
Relations, like all of my work to date, is invested in expanding the mainstream POV to include the overlooked, ignored or unexpected. More
‘Rainbowland’ Teacher Melissa Tempel Prepares Lawsuit
Melissa Tempel was fired after tweeting that her first-graders weren't allowed to sing 'Rainbowland.' Now she's speaking out. More