Interview with me

[Ann Kammerer]

Last week, Cold Caller magazine ran my short story "Envelopes"--which consists of mini-chapters that were posted individually here a while back.

This week, the magazine ran a short interview with me about the origins of the story and my writing process. I'm not used to being interviewed, but I think I did OK for someone who's typically been the one asking questions.

Check it out if you're so inclined. A link to the story, too, is in the intro by the editor. Thanks!

Here's the link.

https://coldcallermag.substack.com/p/an-interview-with-ann-kammerer

 

[B.C. Ferriter]

This is gives great insight into you and your process. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ann Kammerer]

This is gives great insight into you and your process. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you B.C.!

 

[Tom Strong]

Really cool, congrats!

 

[Ann Kammerer]

Really cool, congrats!

Thank you Tom.

 

[Barry Burgess]

A thoughtful and inspirational conversation. Wonderful. Cheers

 

[Ann Kammerer]

A thoughtful and inspirational conversation. Wonderful. Cheers

Hey Barry. Thanks for the reassurance that I didn't embarrass myself too much!

 

[Rod Raglin]

Last week, Cold Caller magazine ran my short story "Envelopes"--which consists of mini-chapters that were posted individually here a while back.

This week, the magazine ran a short interview with me about the origins of the story and my writing process. I'm not used to being interviewed, but I think I did OK for someone who's typically been the one asking questions.

Check it out if you're so inclined. A link to the story, too, is in the intro by the editor. Thanks!

Here's the link.

https://coldcallermag.substack.com/p/an-interview-with-ann-kammerer

Most interviews with poets and authors make me cringe with their clichéd introspection, in part due to the ineptitude of the interviewer – they all seem to work from the same template of hackneyed questions. However, this was an interesting interview, Ann, since the interviewer sounded prepared (likely thanks to you) and you kept him focused for the most part.
As a journalist, I can relate to much of what you’ve experienced. Nothing hones your skills better than deadlines, limited news holes and “editors who weren’t afraid to tell me that something needed more work”. You also spoke succinctly about “Envelopes” and “the challenge of writing a relevant, coherent story in as few words as possible.”
Even when the interviewer asked the trite questions; “When did you start taking yourself and your work seriously?” and “Who are your inspirations and influences?,” you didn’t expound on these banal topics like most do (okay, you did say “I wrote as a kid then as a teen” and had to drop the name of a few ostentatious authors, but you're forgiven) and then quickly got back on track talking about how “writing is baked into my days" (love that phrase).
In the end, you didn’t come off like some new age creative flake, but rather you presented well, were a credit to yourself and your work.

 

[Ann Kammerer]

Most interviews with poets and authors make me cringe with their clichéd introspection, in part due to the ineptitude of the interviewer – they all seem to work from the same template of hackneyed questions. However, this was an interesting interview, Ann, since the interviewer sounded prepared (likely thanks to you) and you kept him focused for the most part.
As a journalist, I can relate to much of what you’ve experienced. Nothing hones your skills better than deadlines, limited news holes and “editors who weren’t afraid to tell me that something needed more work”. You also spoke succinctly about “Envelopes” and “the challenge of writing a relevant, coherent story in as few words as possible.”
Even when the interviewer asked the trite questions; “When did you start taking yourself and your work seriously?” and “Who are your inspirations and influences?,” you didn’t expound on these banal topics like most do (okay, you did say “I wrote as a kid then as a teen” and had to drop the name of a few ostentatious authors, but you're forgiven) and then quickly got back on track talking about how “writing is baked into my days" (love that phrase).
In the end, you didn’t come off like some new age creative flake, but rather you presented well, were a credit to yourself and your work.

Thank you Rod. I appreciate that. I tried not to go on and on in my responses. I'm sure you've had that happen with people you interview. I figured I'd return the favor and not have to make my interviewer work to rein me back in. That can be hard. And then--there were always the people who said one or two sentences! They were hard, too. Appreciate your comments.