I believe that the most inspiring works of art are the ones that do not hold back – passionate pieces that shout with symphonies or silence, stirring performances that speak confidently, poignant moments of unhinged emotion that make us feel proud or heartbroken or wonderful. My background is documentary but my imagination drags me toward fiction. My heroes all found voice in magical realism and I am learning that my roots are growing in that direction too.
I grew up in a small town in the central valley of California, but I have lived in Santiago, Chile; Skane, Sweden; and in a van in the Arctic Circle. I breathe easier in rough, remote environments – sometimes those are in the middle of nowhere, sometimes they are in the middle of cities. I am a student of history and I plan to continue my studies by talking to strangers.