Steve Berman interviews Ellen Kushner for Strange Horizons

Late in October 2002, Steve Berman spoke with Ellen Kushner by phone to conduct the following interview for Strange Horizons.

Steve Berman: In addition to being an acclaimed writer, you also host Sound & Spirit, a weekly program broadcast nationally on public radio that explores world music, myth, and spirituality. How has your love of music affected your writing?

Ellen Kushner: I care about rhythm and musicality. It is not so much a conscious decision, but I do look at how I compose a sentence or chapter in regards to rhythm. Other people have pointed out how vowel sounds of words I use are musical. I know when I read out loud -- I write for that purpose -- I consider the lines should sound good as well as look good. I don't think you always need to read out loud for musicality to appeal, though. With other people's work, if the language doesn't have a certain musicality then I am not comfortable reading, no matter what's in the book.

Read the rest of the interview in Strange Horizons at “Interview: Ellen Kushner.”