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R.O. Kwon

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http://ro-kwon.com

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rokwon

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November 2017

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R.O. Kwon’s nationally bestselling first novel, The Incendiaries, is published by Riverhead (U.S.) and Virago/Little Brown (U.K.), and it is being translated into six languages. Named a best book of the year by over forty publications, The Incendiaries was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award for Best First Book, Los Angeles Times First Book Prize, and Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Fiction Prize.

Kwon’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Paris Review, Buzzfeed, NPR, and elsewhere. She has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Yaddo, MacDowell, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Born in S ...more

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Hi, We read "The Incendiaries" and really enjoyed it and look forward to your future work! When you have a piece of fiction published, such as your novel or your other short pieces, do you go back and read them? I could understand if you don't, given the amount of hard work required to publish something or could it be a case of "these characters have said all they want to say to me" (if that makes sense)?

R.O. Kwon I love this question—and thank you for the kind words! It varies, to be honest. I've reread some short pieces, but I haven't reread my novel in full s…moreI love this question—and thank you for the kind words! It varies, to be honest. I've reread some short pieces, but I haven't reread my novel in full since I last edited it. I think often of what the artist Louise Bourgeois said when someone asked how she knew a sculpture was finished: she said it was when the questions stopped. That was, in part, how I knew I'd finished this novel.(less)

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When you were writing The Incendiaries, what did you consider the most crucial part of the process?

R.O. Kwon The easiest answer would be all of it—I wanted to get all of it right! But I'll also say that I love, love sentences. I can think about a single sente…moreThe easiest answer would be all of it—I wanted to get all of it right! But I'll also say that I love, love sentences. I can think about a single sentence all day. I wanted to get this novel to a place where I could open it, pick out any line at random, and not want to revise it all over again.(less)

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Average rating: 3.22 · 26,648 ratings · 3,748 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Incendiaries 3.23 avg rating — 22,505 ratings — published 2018 — 24 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kink: Stories by R.O. Kwon (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Garth Greenwell (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Melissa Febos (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.14 avg rating — 3,962 ratings — published 2021 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I Know What's Best for You: Stories on Reproductive Freedom by Shelly Oria (Editor), Tommy Orange (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), R.O. Kwon (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.31 avg rating — 144 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What to Eat with What You Read: A Guide for Book Clubs and Other Literary Gatherings by Samantha Schoech (Editor), Vanessa Hua (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Sofija Stefanovic (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.52 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2019 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) (General Editor), Douglas Preston (Goodreads Author), Celeste Ng (Goodreads Author) 3.10 avg rating — 10 ratings — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	UNTITLED 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Want 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Legends of the Seoul Dogs 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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