389: A Master Class on Short Fiction, Voice, and Opening Lines - Interview with J.L. Torres

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing J.L. Torres.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">J.L. is the author of a novel,</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Accidental Native</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as well as the short collection</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Family Terrorist and Other Stories</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, a collection of poetry,</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boricua Passport</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Migrations</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, a short story collection that won the inaugural Tomás Rivera Book Prize. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has published stories and poems in numerous journals and magazines including The North American Review, Denver Quarterly, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Eckleburg Review, Puerto del Sol, Las Americas Review, and the anthology Growing Up Latino. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Born in Puerto Rico, raised in the South Bronx, he currently lives in Plattsburgh, New York. In addition to the Ph.D., he also holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He co-founded the Saranac Review and served as its Editor for many years. On a more personal note has no known hobbies, has never been in prison or any gangs, has never had quirky and funky jobs and is notoriously inept with tools.</span></p> <p> </p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this epis</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">ode J.L. Torres</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">and I discuss:</span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Writing for two audiences and how world building plays a major role in that process.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">What factors he considers when selecting the order o