Thanks, Cliff. It´s a really great read!

Jennifer,
I enjoyed the interview, and already have Andrew's book!

For full interview, please go to http://www.jenniferprado.blogspot.com

Author of the Short Story Collection
The Theory of Light and Matter
Winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award in Short Fiction
Published by The University of Georgia Press

Author´s Website: http://www.andrewporterwriter.com/

Buy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Theory-Light-Matte...

Q: Thanks for making the time for this interview, Andrew. This must be a busy and exciting week for you with your official publication date on October 15th. Do you have any events or readings planned?

A: Yes, I'll be doing my first reading in Milledgeville, Georgia (Flannery O'Connor's hometown) the day after the book is released and then another in Decatur the following day. After that, I'll be returning to Texas to read in San Antonio and Houston, and then reading in various parts of the country throughout the rest of theyear. It's going to be a lot of traveling, a very busy year, but I'm looking forward to it.

Q: Andrew, can you tell me more about your background as a writer? When did you begin writing? What series of events prompted you to pursue an MFA? How did the program at the University of Iowa help to develop you as a writer?

A: Well, I wasn't one of those writers who knew at age ten that this is what he wanted to do with his life. I didn't even consider the possibility of pursuing a career in writing until my last few years of college, when I started taking some creative writing classes, and Idon't think I really began to think about myself as writer until I entered Iowa a couple of years later. It's hard for me to say what prompted this decision—the decision to pursue an MFA. Probably the usual reasons: I didn't have the self-confidence at that age to just write on my own without a structured environment, and also I think I noticed that a lot of the writers I admired at the time had gone through an MFA program at some point, and so it seemed like a logical path. And of course, I also wanted to get to know other writers, and that was probably one of the best things about Iowa. I mean, I certainly had some amazing teachers there, but I think it was the environment itself that changed me the most—going to readings every week, hanging out in bars after workshop and talking about books, living in a house (as I did) with three other writers. For two yearsof my life, everything in my life seemed to revolve around writing, and so it's hard for to imagine what my life would have been like had I not gone through this experience. I know the MFA route isn't for everyone, but for me, it was a necessary step, especially at such a young age.

For more, go to Emerge - New Authors
http://jenniferprado.blogspot.com

Current Project: Becoming Brazilian
http://www.jenniferprado.com