People Like You Countdown (4 Days to Publication!). Margaret Malone on KBOO Radio.

In advance of the official November 17th release of Margaret Malone's People Like You,we're featuring a series of posts about this phenomenal debut, of which Story Prize winner Jim Shepard says: 
"Margaret Malone's characters are like Miranda July's without the financial resources: fiercely funny and keenly unhappy, and wanly persistent in their belief in their capacity to change even as they remain expert at observing, as if from afar, their own genius for self-sabotage. People Like You is wonderful on how much we need each other and let each other down, and how despite that and against all odds we grow into loving one another." 
Photo courtesy of Leigh Anne Kranz

(By the way, People Like You is already in stock at Atelier26 HQ and can be ordered now. All orders ship within 24 hours!)
 
Yesterday Margaret Malone appeared live on KBOO Radio's "Between the Covers" in conversation with host Leigh Anne Kranz. It was a deeply thoughtful and inspiring conversation. Subjects covered included: Malone's interest in characters who deviate from the social script; the presence of hope and optimism amid the conflicts and confusion experienced by the characters in People Like You; what Malone learned from writer Steve Almond about humor in stories; how she achieves such funny/realistic dialogue; the use of sensory detail in fiction, and the balancing of craft, structure, and creativity in her stories, about which Malone says:
"The structure is essential ... I love the idea of being responsible for shaping the world in a way that is accessible -- and then maybe within that world pushing buttons occasionally." 
Have a listen to the full conversation HERE.

Our thanks to Leigh Anne Kranz and KBOO FM!