Selected journalism-adjacent articles
I’ve covered books for Shondaland, innovative social programs for Food Bank News, more books for Electric Literature, three school districts for The Raleigh News & Observer, and more books for INDY Week.
Keen observers will notice that I love a good interview. Profiles, Q&As, features, I’m up for anything that lets me ask interesting people as many questions as they’ll allow.
Margaret Atwood Is No “Prophet of Dystopia.” She’s Just Studying History
The prolific, award-winning writer discusses her latest short story collection, “Old Babes in the Wood,” and its intimate look at a long-term relationship. Shelbi Polk interviews Margaret Atwood for Shondaland.
Inspired by ‘Macbeth,’ Climate Change, and the Perils of Social Media, Eleanor Catton Penned a Deeply Compelling Novel
Eleanor Catton has spent much of the last decade writing with the constraints of a television budget in mind, so she was excited to begin her latest novel with a bang. Or more precisely, a landslide. Shelbi Polk interviews Eleanor Catton for Shondaland.
‘The Late Americans’ Is Brandon Taylor’s Kaleidoscopic Look at Life in a Midwest City
Author Brandon Taylor discusses the democratization of art, writing a campus novel that looks beyond the students, and more with Shelbi Polk for Shondaland.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia on the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, Occultism, and the Pitfalls of Ethnocentrism
Prolific author Silvia Moreno-Garcia discusses her newest release, "Silver Nitrate." Shelbi Polk interviews her for Shondaland.
Jeannette Walls Clings to the Truth Even When It Comes to Fiction
The author of the “New York Times” bestseller “The Glass Castle” is back with her new novel, “Hang the Moon,” which focuses on Prohibition-era Virginia. Shelbi Polk interviews Jeannette Walls for Shondaland.
Ottessa Moshfegh’s ‘Lapvona’ Reflects the Darkest Ills of Human Nature
The critically acclaimed writer discusses the new, twisted, deeply unsettling world of Lapvona with Shelbi Polk for Shondaland.