Ask The Author: Marcelle Heath
[J. Bradley / September 27th, 2011 / Interviews ]Marcelle Heath’s short fiction, “Christina Heppel”, is a great addition to the August issue. Here she answers questions about riots, stick wielding, and where characters come from.
1. What have you wielded a stick like?
I’ve wielded a stick like a boomerang, like cotton candy, like a magic wand. Mostly, I’ve wielded a stick like a golf club for my dog.
2. How would you start a riot?
I’m not sure but I do know it would involve three critical components: Google Earth, Lars von Trier, and the Taos Hum.
3. What do you prefer your knickers to be affixed with?
I prefer my knickers to be affixed with gold stars.
4. Is your dog being haunted by ghosts?
No, but I used to think my cat was haunted by the ghost of her dead brother. She would cry all night long. She still cries sometimes, but I think she’s looking for her BFF, our dog who sleeps in his kennel.
5. How was “Christina Heppel” born?
Christina Heppel was born out of a story I wrote for Necessary Fiction called “Goodnight Dogs.” Christina is the mother of the protagonist in this story. She’s an accomplished cello player and a thief who has the same bewitching effect on her daughter’s piano teacher as she does on her classmates in “Christina Heppel.” I’m grateful to Marcus Speh, who provided such a wonderful reading of the story.
6. How would you punish someone for doing something wrong?
I’d come at them like a spider monkey.