Meet Our Spring 2023 Interns!
Words By Simon Kerr, Haley Lawson, Marizel Malan, and Alex Schotzko
If you’ve ever met one of our wonderful F(r)iction staffers, you’ll quickly learn that almost every one of them was once an intern in our Publishing Internship Program.
This program is run by our parent nonprofit organization, Brink Literacy Project. While our publishing internships are a great way to get a crash course in the literary industry, they can often provide a path to what can become a long and rewarding professional relationship. For more information, please visit the internship page on the Brink website.
Simon Kerr
he/they
What is your favorite place to read?
More of a when/how: in the morning, with a pot of tea at the ready.
You’re walking up the side of a mountain along a winding, wooded path. You look to your left and discover, by chance, a door in the side of the mountain. Do you open it, and if so, where does it lead?
Absolutely, I do. It leads to a small, abandoned home, just one room with a nest of quilts on the bed, a cold kitchen, walls lined with dusty books. I leave it undisturbed. (Okay, maybe I take a little cup as a memento.)
How do you take your coffee? If you don’t drink coffee, describe your favorite beverage ritual.
I advocate for peace between coffee and tea drinkers. I love a slow morning ritual, whether grinding coffee beans for the percolator or choosing a tea to enjoy or stirring stovetop chai.
What is your favorite English word and why? Do you have a favorite word in another language?
“Tempest”! I love the play, and it corresponds with my favorite ASL sign, “hurricane.”
You’re on a deserted island. You have one album and one book. What are they and why?
A notebook, because I’ll keep myself more sane writing than rereading any book on loop. And a Hozier album, because if I’m going to go feral on an island I’m going to do it right.
If you could change one thing about the literary industry, what would it be?
Less “industry.” Something more in the spirit of small businesses and co-ops.
Haley Lawson
she/her
What is your favorite place to read?
My favorite place to read is in the comfort of my home. I’ll read just about anywhere though and usually have a book in my bag.
You’re walking up the side of a mountain along a winding, wooded path. You look to your left and discover, by chance, a door in the side of the mountain. Do you open it, and if so, where does it lead?
I absolutely open the door! It transports me inside the library from The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. Carolyn and I chat over guacamole while she teaches me how to speak to lions.
How do you take your coffee? If you don’t drink coffee, describe your favorite beverage ritual.
Black, preferably with a pastry on the side.
What is your favorite English word and why? Do you have a favorite word in another language?
My favorite English word is “hinterland.” I love the idea of an untouched land that can only be found beyond the bounds of where we live. There is a mystery to it that makes me feel like a Hobbit in Middle-earth. My favorite Mongolian word is “манайхан” (pronounced “mah-neh-han”). It roughly translates to “my people” and when used colloquially, it is endearing and kind.
You’re on a deserted island. You have one album and one book. What are they and why?
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut because I feel like I could read it over and over and still find something new.
Frank by Amy Winehouse because her voice is incredible.
If you could change one thing about the literary industry, what would it be?
Accessibility and equity for all—including a genuine celebration and inclusion of all races, genders, orientations, nationalities, abilities, and more.
Marizel Malan
she/her
What is your favorite place to read?
My favorite place to read is just about anywhere I can light a candle, have some fresh air and put on music—this means I typically read in my living room. But as long as I can throw some music on, I will happily read anywhere and everywhere.
You’re walking up the side of a mountain along a winding, wooded path. You look to your left and discover, by chance, a door in the side of the mountain. Do you open it, and if so, where does it lead?
I open the door and it leads to a large, lush cave with a staircase along the left wall of the cave going all the way down. On the sides of the wall are torches and framed works of art. At the bottom of the cave is a small, comfortable camping area next to a lake, surrounded by moss on all sides.
How do you take your coffee? If you don’t drink coffee, describe your favorite beverage ritual.
During the summer I veer towards iced coffee with blueberry or caramel syrup and oat milk, but in the winter, I definitely prefer a chai latte.
What is your favorite English word and why? Do you have a favorite word in another language?
My favorite English word is melancholy and for two main reasons: it sounds magical which I think suits the magical sadness of melancholy wonderfully, and it reminds me of one of my favorite paintings, Melancholia by Penny Siopis.
You’re on a deserted island. You have one album and one book. What are they and why?
The one book I would have with me is Useless Magic by Florence Welch. It is a collection of lyrics and poetry written by the lead singer of Florence + The Machine. My reasoning behind choosing this book is purely sentimental: it is the most beautiful book I own and was gifted to me by my brother.
The album I would want with me would have to be Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter. Her amazing writing and the way she plays with imagery draws one into the story of the character which spans the length of the album and ends in her death. Truly the best company for my stay on a deserted island.
If you could change one thing about the literary industry, what would it be?
I would like to change the disregard so many older publishers and publishing houses have for minority writers. So many talented, awe-inspiring and insightful writers are turned away or overshadowed in favor of promoting the works of billionaire writers with out-of-date opinions. It is high time that a change is made when it comes to the voices we put out into the world.
Alex Schotzko
he/him
What is your favorite place to read?
I love to read in all sorts of places—the library, a park, the deep woods, next to a fireplace, in front of an enormous window—but I think my absolute favorite reading spot is my bed. It just feels so safe and warm and comfortable (though right now I have a dorm mattress so its not that comfortable). Plus, my bed is the spot where I have (most of my) dreams, so my imagination usually feels more excited and open when I read there.
You’re walking up the side of a mountain along a winding, wooded path. You look to your left and discover, by chance, a door in the side of the mountain. Do you open it, and if so, where does it lead?
Oh yeah, I absolutely open it. I’ve been waiting way too long for some weird magical stuff to happen in my life, so I would simply have to take that chance. Ideally, it would lead to some kind of fantastical magical place (while hopefully imparting some magical skills to me so I wouldn’t be completely useless there). Maybe it could lead to some place like Skyrim, or a (less problematic) Harry Potter universe, or straight into a Studio Ghibli movie? I mean, I’d even take Pokémon. Actually, Pokémon would be awesome.
How do you take your coffee? If you don’t drink coffee, describe your favorite beverage ritual.
I’m really inconsistent with my coffee. Sometimes I don’t drink it for weeks, sometimes I drink it every day. I like cappuccinos, americanos, lattes, black coffee, any of it, really. Depends on the mood!
What is your favorite English word and why? Do you have a favorite word in another language?
I think my favorite English word at the moment is finger. Kind of a weird one, but for whatever reason I’ve been using it a bunch in my writing lately. It’s just so specific, it has such a particular feel to it, especially when applied to things that don’t actually have or aren’t actually fingers.
My favorite word in Spanish is probably susurro, which means whisper. It has a really cool sound, and also sounds like a whisper itself, so that makes it extra cool. And my favorite word in German is definitely künstler, which means artist. I just love that because it feels like everytime you call someone an artist, you’re also insulting them.
You’re on a deserted island. You have one album and one book. What are they and why?
The album is most definitely and absolutely Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote. That album has already gotten me through plenty of metaphorical deserted islands, so I don’t see why it would fail me in the real thing.
Right now, the book would probably be The River Why by David James Duncan. It’s funny, it’s thoughtful, it’s clever, it’s sad, it’s inspiring, and it also occasionally has to do with fishing, which might help me on a deserted island.
If you could change one thing about the literary industry, what would it be?
More diversity. Flat out. Not only diversity of people who are published (that’s a given), but also a greater diversity of form, language use, and genre. I want to see novels that are also collections of poetry, fantasy that is also science fiction that is also a dictionary (not sure how that would work, but it could be interesting). I think “fiction” especially tends to be a limiting form in terms of style conventions, and I would love to see all of it get stranger.