The Peak: Conversations

The short story “Camp” by Shah Tazrian Ashrafi, appears in volume 74.1-2, our 75th anniversary issue, and explores the dystopian world of a mother who has lost her daughter in an accident. “Camp” is a place where parents who have lost their children can go and find a child to replace the one who has died. The story explores many facets of grief, and we talked to Shah about where the idea for the story came from, the power of a good dystopia, and his literary mentors.

Nonfiction editor DW McKinney and former associate editor Moriah Katz have essays in the anthology Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels: Myths, Legends, and Other Lies You’ve Been Told About Black Women (Black Lawrence Press, 2024). Corresponding through a living document, they discussed their individual essays, their dream anthologies, and taking up space as Black women writers.

Shenandoah contributor Desiree Santana discusses what shaped her poem “The Starving Time,” which was a runner-up for the Graybeal-Gowen Prize and appears in issue 73.2.

Associate editor Moriah Katz and author Dorsía Smith Silva discuss motherhood, healing within the family unit, and the creative process behind the author’s debut poetry collection, In Inheritance of Drowning. Smith Silva’s poem, “I Asked About Desire” is featured in volume 73.1

Shenandoah contributor Luisa A. Igloria talks about the themes and origins of her new poetry collection, as well as her time as Virginia’s Poet Laureate.

David Siew Hii, Shenandoah’s associate poetry editor, interviews poets! To showcase their voices, the questions in the interview were removed, leaving behind only the voice of the writer. In this interview, Majda Gama talks about being an accidental Virginian, what makes a lifestyle, cats from the Middle East, and how poetry and prose party differently. Read her poem Graybeal-Gowen Prize-winning poem, “In Great Aunt Noor’s Salon,” here.

David Siew Hii, Shenandoah’s associate poetry editor, interviews poets! To showcase their voices, the questions in the interview were removed, leaving behind only the voice of the writer. In this interview, Robin Gow talks about the ways poetry differs from other art forms and allows more space for contradiction.

David Siew Hii, Shenandoah’s associate poetry editor, interviews poets! To showcase their voices, the questions in the interview were removed, leaving behind only the voice of the writer. In this interview, D.M. Aderibigbe talks about his favorite parts of poetry, from form to creation process.

David Siew Hii, Shenandoah’s editorial fellow in poetry for issue 72.2, interviewed every poet in the issue. To showcase their voices, the questions in the interview were removed, leaving behind only the voice of the writer. In this interview, Luisa Caycedo-Kimura talks about the places she’s lived throughout her life and her passion for words. […]

Sylvia Gallagher, translator of Hiroko Oyamada’s “Cat-a-Cat” from Volume 73.1, talks about literary translation, her relationship to Oyamada’s work, and the tactical importance of spare trousers. This interview has been edited for clarity. The interviewer is William Shaw. Read “Cat-a-Cat” here. I enjoyed your translation of “Cat-a-Cat” when I read it for […]

David Siew Hii, Shenandoah’s editorial fellow in poetry for issue 72.2, interviewed every poet in the issue. To showcase their voices, the questions in the interview were removed, leaving behind only the voice of the writer. In this interview, Lauren Camp talks about her journey to poetry and how she passes her passion onto […]

In the following interview, author Chris Vanjonack discusses his writing process for “Open Spaces,” featured in Volume 73.1 of Shenandoah, as it relates to loneliness and isolation felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read “Open Spaces” here. What inspired you to write this piece? What specifically inspired the pandemic setting of this story? […]

Poet Andrew Navarro sits down with Shenandoah intern Derek Qu, to discuss the creation of his piece, “Heroes, Villains, Clouds,” featured in Volume 73.1 of Shenandoah. Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. D: All right. I guess we can start with you reading Heroes, Villains, Clouds, if you’re […]

Associate editor Moriah Katz and author Remica Bingham-Risher discuss family, history, and the creative process behind Risher’s most recent poetry collection, Room Swept Home. Bingham-Risher’s poem, “Mary Taken to the Central Lunatic Asylum” is featured in volume 73.1. Read it here. M: Who are you? Why do you write? R: I […]

In an interview with student interns Jed Heald and Eli Hirshberg, Andy Gottschalk offers an inside look into his creative practice and shares more about “The Inheritance,” his piece in the current issue of Shenandoah. We explore different themes in his writing, his influential studio art practice and recent essays he’s been working on. […]

Associate editor Moriah Katz and author Theresa Sylvester discuss the creative process behind Sylvester’s short story, “Atonement,” featured in volume 73.1. of Shenandoah. Read “Atonement” here. Who are you and how did you find your way to writing? I’m a Lusaka girl. I was raised in a suburb called Olympia Park and […]

Morgan Hamill, author of After and somewhere to rest, featured in Volume 73.1 of Shenandoah, discusses her writing process, inspirations, and upcoming work in a conversation with Shenandoah intern Ryan Doty. Ryan: I appreciate you taking the time to write back and forth with me! The first few questions I had concerned your […]

In an interview with student interns Jed Heald and Eli Hirshberg, Allison Lee candidly explores her upbringing’s literary influence, the art of revision as an extension of creativity, and the profound personal story behind her flash non-fiction piece Song of the Sandia Mountains. E: To start, we wanted to ask about your upbringing […]

Tracy Sierra, author of “The Burr” from Volume 73.1, talks about new motherhood, scary stories, and her debut novel, Nightwatching.

Angie Kang, author of the comic “Birthmark” from volume 73.1, speaks with editor DW McKinney about having agency over her body in healthcare settings and writing herself into her stories.

Arianne Elena Payne, the poet behind “The Contours of Marriage” and Clarie Gor, the author of Mother Hen, chat about their inspirations and creative processes for their works, both featured in the Spring 2023 issue of Shenandoah. Arianne: What is the title and story of your piece that is featured in Volume 72.2 of […]

Jennifer Schomburg Kanke, author of A Pleasant Loitering Journey, speaks about her writing process and inspirations for her novel in a conversation with Shenandoah intern Sam Masser. Read Chapter 14 of A Pleasant Loitering Journey, featured in Volume 72.1 of Shenandoah here. Sam: Thanks for talking with me today, and congratulations on making it into the […]

David Siew Hii, our editorial fellow in poetry for issue 72.2, interviewed every poet in the issue. To better center their voices, they removed their questions, giving them more space to talk about poetry and life. The document that follows is a curated, compressed version of that conversation. Read Megan’s poem “V.” In […]

David Siew Hii, our editorial fellow in poetry for issue 72.2, interviewed every poet in the issue. To better center their voices,they removed their questions, giving them more space to talk about poetry and life. The document that follows is a curated, compressed version of that conversation. Read Yuan’s poem “Lesson One in Chinese Character/s: […]

David Siew Hii, our editorial fellow in poetry for issue 72.2, interviews Patrycja Humienik

The author of “Anyone Can Have a Good Time” reflects on gardens, legacy, memory, and returning home in a conversation with August Donovan.

From Issue 70.2, poetry contributor Yun Wei and cover artist Leigh Ann Beavers talk nature, naming, discipline, and much more.

Our first editorial fellow discusses what home means to her, her love of graphic novels, and the favorite question she’s ever been asked, ever.

A conversation between contributor Jason Ockert and Derek Bracy on Ockert’s fiction piece “Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind You”