Discussing the boons and pitfalls of writing historical fiction, about living in history, Russia in the news and other timely topics with author and journalist Jennifer Haupt for Psychology Today's "One True Thing"  column:

" I had no idea that people would become as obsessed with Russia as I am. You can’t predict the future, which is another theme of the book. You live inside history. You don’t know what’s going to happen. They didn’t know during the Russian revolution and we don’t know now."

Published November 22, 2017

“To tell my story, I have to know how it felt to stand in lines at the district soviet trying to get papers one needed to work, and listening to rumors of what was said in those rooms. Hungry, ill-clothed, hopeful, stressed out. That’s the room I want to be in. Not how people shape history, but how history shapes us, how it distorts our stories, what it calls upon us to do. Who we become under its pressure.”

An essay for the LA Times' Jacket Copy, “Janet Fitch explains what it took to go back to Russia 100 years ago in 'The Revolution of Marina M.',” November 10, 2017.

“I had to go back to Russia, to the Revolution, to uncover what [Marina] had experienced in those turbulent years, and how they had marked her. ”

An essay for PowellsBooks.Blog, “Living in Interesting Times,” on a few of the obsessions that lead me to write Marina's story, November 9, 2017.

“I think you become a more effective reader by reading in big blocks instead of trying to catch a page here and there. I read in the morning instead of reading the newspaper.”

Q&A from Quora, “How to Become an Everyday Reader,” in response to the question, How can people go about becoming more effective readers in their everyday lives?, Huffington Post, November 7, 2017.

“‘I’ve known fiery people,’ Fitch says. ‘They’re glorious, they believe, they’re willing to stick their necks out, they’re willing to fall a long way, they make a mess—for themselves and others—but they live in a large way.’”

— Janet Fitch, Bookpage interview

Interview by Trisha Ping for BookPage, November 2017.

“Marina M. encourages us to reconcile with age-old questions, endure with dignity, and remember our history. Fitch says the novel is about a girl becoming a woman when she starts to see the consequences of her choices.”

— Joshua Balicki, The Daily Iowan

“Researcher and Writer Delves into the Russian Revolution”
Joshua Balicki, The Daily Iowan, November 7, 2017

“Creativity is a way of living in the world, open to new ideas, actively seeking out new experiences, of finding something that excites you….”

Q&A from Quora, “Tapping Into Your Childlike Creativity Is Easier Than You Think, in response to the question, How can people develop their creativity?,” INC.com, November 7, 2017.

“Writers always regret taking something out. The Revolution of Marina M started out as a novel in verse. Eventually I put it all into prose because I have a bigger tool kit as a prose writer. For narrative I need to live through scenes in real time, but I do have a fondness for those verse chapters...”

An wide ranging conversation about the creation of The Revolution of Marina M. Includes some excellent questions from Goodreads readers.

Interview by Tai Farnsworth. Russia, Los Angeles, writing the historical novel, films — a wide-ranging interview. December 3, 2014.

Haiku Interview, Advice to Writers with Jon Winokur, April 1, 2014.

Interview by Helen Gallico, "White Oleander 2013: Introduction/About the Author," Contemporary World Literature: White Oleander, University of Warwick English and Comparative Literary Studies, May 21, 2012.

An interview with the author and a comprehensive critical analysis of her novel, 'White Oleander'.

A rich and varied interview.

Los Angeles Times. "Write the sentence, not just the story...." July 3, 2010.

Interview by Mary Hackett. March 11, 2008.

 "Anytime you work with materials that are deep parts of yourself, you feel revulsion at showing things about yourself that you don’t want people to know..."

Drinks with Tony, with Tony Du Shane, Pirate Cat Radio, San Francisco 2008.

NOTE: Date is approximate.

"Book Notes - Janet Fitch ("Paint It Black")," Largeheartedboy.com, December 14, 2007.

Chapter by chapter playlist for Paint It Black.

"Janet Fitch - Paint It Black," Review and interview, Mind Your Mind, December 2007.

Suicide, teen mental health.
 

"janet fitch..between the buns," bookburger, September 26, 2006.

Loved doing this. Off-the-wall questions!

BookPage interview by Alden Mudge. September, 2006.

"There was a philosophy in punk - DIY, do it yourself - the idea that things don't have to be perfect, you just do them, you don't need anybody's seal of approval..."

Oprah interviews Janet on Paint it Black. September, 2006.

"Writing mirrors the interior self. You know, any book is like the perfect blueprint of the psyche of the author..." 

Interview by Adrienne Crew. Fun insider LA Stuff. January, 2006.

"As a young waitress working at the Café Four Oaks before it became chi chi, Warren Beatty sat in my area, and I poured coffee right into his lap..."