The PEN Ten Interview Series

The PEN Ten is on the pulse of literary culture to help you discover your next great read. In this interview series, we ask authors 10 questions about their latest work and art.

The PEN Ten with E. Tammy Kim

"Writers are people, so we have political responsibilities that zigzag across the globe. If we are good at our craft, we have the additional burden of conveying information and… More

The PEN Ten with Ash Parsons

"As a writer for young adults it is my responsibility to tell the truth about the things I know and which I remember. Sometimes that means shining a light… More

The PEN Ten with Tina Chang

"We are each placed here to carry out something quite distinctive, quite separate. That individuality of purpose makes for friction that is very much alive." More

The PEN Ten with Trish Salah

"Censorship is inevitable, part of psychic life and engaging with other people. The censorship of political speech is deplorable and to be resisted, but also is often not recognized… More

The PEN Ten with Óscar Martínez

"I’ve written words that could murder people. I’ve written about people who, by giving their testimony, could have gotten murdered. I’ve written words about people who, because of what… More

The PEN Ten with Guillermo Gómez-Peña

"Artists and writers have envisioned parallel universes in which our contemporaries can engage in meaningful forms of freedom and creativity. In this sense, true democracy can only exist in… More