14/11/2024
New interview today by Marissa van Uden: "Interview with Author Rachael Severino"
https://apex-magazine.com/interviews-2/interview-with-author-rachael-severino/
MVU: One thing that really struck me was how vivid and atmospheric this story is. Right from the very first page, I felt like I was literally in this place with the youngest brother, with every sense heightened. It just feels rich. Is the atmosphere and setting something you really focus on while writing? And when does that part happen—do you hit most of those notes in the first draft as the story plays out in your mind, or do you get the meat and bones of the story down first and then begin fine-tuning the scenes for atmosphere and mood and verisimilitude?
RS: That’s very sweet of you! For me, the atmosphere and general tone of the story are usually one of the only things I have when I sit down to write. Working in tandem with the image of the sister in the first scene, I really wanted to get across this feeling of being hunted and constantly on edge. There’s a vibe or feeling I’m trying to get out of my brain and onto the page, and the characters and their problems spring up accordingly. Unfortunately, this usually means my first drafts are rather gelatinous; no plot, all vibes.
