In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Marina Rubin, author of Knockout Beauty and Other Afflictions. Born in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Marina immigrated to the United States in 1989 and has since published work in more than eighty magazines and anthologies. She serves as an associate editor of Mudfish, and her acclaimed short story collection earned an Honorable Mention for the 2020 Miami Book Fair Emerging Writer Fellowship. One of its centerpiece stories, Man in a Fedora, was even adapted for the Nightshift Radio Storyteller Series - bringing Marina’s words to life through the voices of eleven actors. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Key Highlights:
- The themes behind Knockout Beauty and Other Afflictions - lust, longing, family, and unexpected friendships.
- How Marina balances inspiration with discipline in her creative process.
- Growing up in the former Soviet Union and the cultural importance of being well-read.
- Finding time to read and write amidst daily life, including sneaking in reading during her commute.
- What she’s learned about writing, publishing, and persistence along the way.
- Her book flight features short story collections.
Marina reminds us that if you want to write great literature, you must first read great literature, a lesson that resonates with readers and writers alike.
Connect with Marina Rubin:
Books and authors mentioned:
Book Flight
- This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
- No One Belongs Here More than You by Miranda July
- Selected Stories by Guy de Maupassant
✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.
Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap
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