47 min
Episode 186 with Stephanie Feldman, Author of Saturnalia, Master Worldbuilder, and Crafter of Intriguing and Engrossing Satire and Allegory The Chills at Will Podcast
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Episode 186 Notes and Links to Stephanie Feldman’s Work
*Content Warning-Please be aware of discussion of sexual assault*
On Episode 186 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Stephanie Feldman, and the two discuss, among other things, her early trajectory towards becoming a writer, formative and transformative writers and writing, genre and genre-less writing, the balance between allegory and plot in Saturnalia, the book’s focus on Philadelphia and on the world at large, hedonism/inaction in the wake of climate disasters, the long echoes of sexual assault, class and power in her book, and whether the book has a sense of optimism.
Stephanie Feldman is the author of the novels Saturnalia and The Angel of Losses, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Crawford Fantasy Award, and finalist for the Mythopoeic Award. She is co-editor of the multi-genre anthology Who Will Speak for America? and her stories and essays have appeared in or are forthcoming from Asimov’s Science Fiction, Catapult Magazine, Electric Literature, Flash Fiction Online, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Rumpus, Uncharted Magazine, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Weird Horror, and more. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family.
Buy Saturnalia
Stephanie Feldman's Website
Review of Saturnalia from John Mauro at Grimdark Magazine
At about 1:55, Stephanie describes her early reading and writing, and being “fated” to be a writer
At about 4:00, Stephanie shouts out Anne Rice, Jeanette Winterson, and others as formational and transformational writers
At about 6:00, Stephanie cites the “world building and atmosphere” of Rice’s work that inspired Saturnalia and the Philadelphia of the book
At about 7:20, Stephanie highlights Sofia Samatar, her work regarding Uzbekistan especially, and Jeffrey Ford as beloved contemporary writers
At about 9:00, Stephanie responds to Pete’s questions about the importance (or lack thereof) of genre
At about 11:55, Stephanie gives background on/seeds for Saturnalia, including The Masque of Red Death and the Covid pandemic
At about 15:00, Pete asks about the balance/timing involving the book’s allegory/symbolism and its plot/premise
At about 16:30, The two discuss the epigraph from Umberto Eco and its connection to hedonism and climate change
At about 18:40, The exposition is laid out, and Stephanie discusses connections to Saturn and fortune telling’s importance in the book
At about 22:45, Pete summarizes the night of the winter solstice, including The Lord of Misrule, and Nina’s tough times that lead her to do a job for Max
At about 24:30, Pete connects a telling quote from Faulkner to the book’s pivotal violation and gender roles and power dynamics
At about 30:50, Stephanie responds to Pete’s musings about the book’s commentary on social class and power
At about 33:00, Stephanie and Pete speak about Philadelphia’s small-town feel and Niña’s feelings of being “trapped”
At about 36:55, Stephanie responds to Pete’s questions about any optimism/pessimism that comes from the book
At about 38:55, Alchemy and myth and the stories are discussed
At about 40:00, Stephanie talks about the ways she and readers continue to experience the book some seven months after publication
At about 41:40, Pete shares the book’s blurb from Carmen Maria Machado
At about 42:00, Stephanie shares an exciting future project
At about 43:00, Stephanie gives the history of the “blue laws” in PA
At about 44:00, Stephanie shares social media/contact info and places to buy her work, including Main Point Books, A Novel Idea, Weird Horror “The Getaway”
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on I
Episode 186 Notes and Links to Stephanie Feldman’s Work
*Content Warning-Please be aware of discussion of sexual assault*
On Episode 186 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Stephanie Feldman, and the two discuss, among other things, her early trajectory towards becoming a writer, formative and transformative writers and writing, genre and genre-less writing, the balance between allegory and plot in Saturnalia, the book’s focus on Philadelphia and on the world at large, hedonism/inaction in the wake of climate disasters, the long echoes of sexual assault, class and power in her book, and whether the book has a sense of optimism.
Stephanie Feldman is the author of the novels Saturnalia and The Angel of Losses, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Crawford Fantasy Award, and finalist for the Mythopoeic Award. She is co-editor of the multi-genre anthology Who Will Speak for America? and her stories and essays have appeared in or are forthcoming from Asimov’s Science Fiction, Catapult Magazine, Electric Literature, Flash Fiction Online, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Rumpus, Uncharted Magazine, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Weird Horror, and more. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family.
Buy Saturnalia
Stephanie Feldman's Website
Review of Saturnalia from John Mauro at Grimdark Magazine
At about 1:55, Stephanie describes her early reading and writing, and being “fated” to be a writer
At about 4:00, Stephanie shouts out Anne Rice, Jeanette Winterson, and others as formational and transformational writers
At about 6:00, Stephanie cites the “world building and atmosphere” of Rice’s work that inspired Saturnalia and the Philadelphia of the book
At about 7:20, Stephanie highlights Sofia Samatar, her work regarding Uzbekistan especially, and Jeffrey Ford as beloved contemporary writers
At about 9:00, Stephanie responds to Pete’s questions about the importance (or lack thereof) of genre
At about 11:55, Stephanie gives background on/seeds for Saturnalia, including The Masque of Red Death and the Covid pandemic
At about 15:00, Pete asks about the balance/timing involving the book’s allegory/symbolism and its plot/premise
At about 16:30, The two discuss the epigraph from Umberto Eco and its connection to hedonism and climate change
At about 18:40, The exposition is laid out, and Stephanie discusses connections to Saturn and fortune telling’s importance in the book
At about 22:45, Pete summarizes the night of the winter solstice, including The Lord of Misrule, and Nina’s tough times that lead her to do a job for Max
At about 24:30, Pete connects a telling quote from Faulkner to the book’s pivotal violation and gender roles and power dynamics
At about 30:50, Stephanie responds to Pete’s musings about the book’s commentary on social class and power
At about 33:00, Stephanie and Pete speak about Philadelphia’s small-town feel and Niña’s feelings of being “trapped”
At about 36:55, Stephanie responds to Pete’s questions about any optimism/pessimism that comes from the book
At about 38:55, Alchemy and myth and the stories are discussed
At about 40:00, Stephanie talks about the ways she and readers continue to experience the book some seven months after publication
At about 41:40, Pete shares the book’s blurb from Carmen Maria Machado
At about 42:00, Stephanie shares an exciting future project
At about 43:00, Stephanie gives the history of the “blue laws” in PA
At about 44:00, Stephanie shares social media/contact info and places to buy her work, including Main Point Books, A Novel Idea, Weird Horror “The Getaway”
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on I
47 min