Melville House Books

Identity Theory’s Robert Birnbaum‘s latest interview is with Sarah Vowell. They talk about the complicated process of writing her newest book, Assassination Vacation, about the craft . . . and what’s next: “RB: Do you entertain any thoughts about writing fiction? SV: [sharply] No. RB: Because? SV: . . . I came to writing by studying art history and writing essay exams. So I don’t know how to make stories up. . . . One reason I like writing nonfiction is [that] it’s all about the implausible. . . . All these weird coincidences. And bizarre occurrences. With nonfiction it’s like, ‘Holy cow, I can’t believe this thing happened!’ Whereas fiction seems to me, for it to work, it actually has to seem kind of plausible. Which I would find incredibly difficult.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.