Jennifer Egan : Thank you for having me.
Jennifer Egan : I think, I mean, I still am not used to the idea that I won it maybe I will finally really grab hold of that idea when someone else wins it.
Jennifer Egan : I mean, in terms of how it’s changing us in a big way it’s such a big question I don't know if I can answer that head on.
Jennifer Egan : I’m not well read in that genre at all so I would be very nervous about, striding in there and thinking I could make any kind of contribution that wouldn't be
Jennifer Egan : once I had resigned myself to it.
Jennifer Egan : Yes, I mean, there were, it , as I wrote it, it had very I wrote very inductively without a clear, it wasn’t that I had a big clear plan and then I filled in
Jennifer Egan : But I really cannot write poetry so, that was a problem.
Jennifer Egan : than epic poetry, so.
Jennifer Egan : I mean, there is just such a great adventure story and but it’s also very modern.
Jennifer Egan : Thank you Interviewer: One of the things actually at the very end of the book there is a sentence in that futuristic, near future chapter where Scotty takes the stage, and I think it’s
Jennifer Egan : That’s an interesting question.
Jennifer Egan : Not really, actually.
Jennifer Egan : and I feel like they kind of bear the scars, at least for me, their very difficult genesis and I’ve sort of afraid about them.
Jennifer Egan : It’s interesting.
Jennifer Egan : You know one thing Interviewer : But you can go back and that’s the thing it’s like you can go back and
Jennifer Egan : I’m glad to hear that.
Jennifer Egan : Well, I think it began a little less loftily than that.
Jennifer Egan : Anyways, I thought so on the grinning face and personal information was just not a place where this PowerPoint could appear.
Jennifer Egan : I mean, when I started the book, I didn't think I was writing a book.
Jennifer Egan : Oh no, I normally don't listen to music when I work.
Jennifer Egan : I’m not sure I understand your question Interviewer: Like what if the, I’m thinking about, if we use language and style to push
Jennifer Egan : I look forward to really knowing the answer to that question Interviewer: Jennifer Egan : I have found the sort of strange novella story that I’ve written
Jennifer Egan : deeply.
Jennifer Egan : My personal favorite is Look at Me so one before The Keep.
Jennifer Egan : Thank you.
Jennifer Egan : Actually, I've gotten slightly better at it because of that.
Jennifer Egan : its yes and no.
Jennifer Egan : not smart enough to do.
Jennifer Egan : So, I basically, I follow the story and wait for it to unfold in this handwritten way.
Jennifer Egan : It's a counterpoint because then, when I execute those changes, I'm again doing it by hand on hard copies.
Jennifer Egan : I don't see it as a battle.
Jennifer Egan : Like, why can't you get that done?
Jennifer Egan : Well, it definitely slows me down.
Jennifer Egan : It's interesting, though.
Jennifer Egan : The answer is I truly don't know.
Jennifer Egan : But I've never used an e-reader.
Jennifer Egan : Don't ask how well I'm texting on it.
Jennifer Egan : I find myself commiserating with 21-year olds about how 14-year olds were way ahead of all of us.
Jennifer Egan : Right.
Jennifer Egan : But I'm fascinated.
Jennifer Egan : Right.
Jennifer Egan : Called a Starfish.
Jennifer Egan : Something bright and candy-like that would be really easy.
Jennifer Egan : Tristram Shandy has crazy graphics in there.
Jennifer Egan : Sure.
Jennifer Egan : Yeah, I did it with PowerPoint.
Jennifer Egan : A twelve-year old.
Jennifer Egan : He's an Asperger.
Jennifer Egan : Yeah, the book was sold and this chapter wasn't in it.
Jennifer Egan : that seemed really unappealing and antithetical to the feeling I look for in fiction.