Interviews & Features
PEN America produces a breadth of interviews and features throughout the year.
The PEN Ten with Harvey J. Kaye
My lifelong hero—ever since I was a boy—is Thomas Paine, the American Revolutionary and radical-democratic pamphleteer. I would love to be identified with his words, words such as “The… More
The PEN Ten with Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo
Fidel Castro as the measure of all things. Why is it that no Latin American writer, after almost a century of tradition with the so-called “novels of the dictator,”… More
Thai Freedom: We Can’t Breathe
He was speaking in code, of course, as many Thais do when discussing Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code that states: “Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King,… More
Hairy Bacon and Digital Censorship in China: an Interview with Jason Q. Ng
Why is the term hairy bacon banned online in China? We spoke with the author and tech activist to learn more about microblogging, censorship, and what issues to watch… More
The PEN Ten with Amanda Vaill
I'm still surprised to answer "I'm a writer" when people ask me what I do. I wrote as a child—pages of what we would probably call fan-fiction today, extensions… More
The PEN Ten with Michael F. Moore
As an interpreter I’m a bit of a stage mother, pushing the writer or director for whom I’m interpreting to jump into the conversation (Forza! Dai! Sfondi! I whisper).… More
The PEN Ten with Kyle Minor
I wish American writers in general were less anti-intellectual, more interested in the interior life and exterior systems of power. I don't come from a subculture that had much… More
Illuminating the Shadows: an Interview with Jean-Euphèle Milcé
We sat down with Jean-Euphèle Milcé, president of PEN Haiti, to discuss free expression in Haiti, the next generation of writers, and his new novel. More
Pour Illuminer les Ombres: Entretien avec Jean-Euphèle Milcé
On a parlé avec le fondateur visonnaire de PEN Haiti, Jean-Euphèle Milcé, pour entendre ses pensées sur la liberté d'expression, la prochaine génération des écrivains, et son nouveau roman. More
Conversation with Jean-Euphèle Milcé on free expression | PEN American Center
PEN America interviews Haitian author and President of PEN Haiti, Jean-Euphèle Milcé on free expression, the next generation of writers in Haiti, and his new Book. More