FROM: Pen.org

The PEN Ten is PEN America’s weekly interview series. This week, PEN America Los Ángeles speaks with Steven Reigns, author of A Quilt for David (City Lights Publishers, 2021).

1. What was the first book or piece of writing that had a profound impact on you?
At 16, my friend slipped me Anaïs Nin’s Delta of Venus. She said, “It’s the best smut you’ll ever read.” She was right! But what moved me more than those sexy stories was the preface. It was an excerpt from the diary of this—to me at the time—unpronounceably-named writer. She wrote about the importance of nuance and poetry.

I wanted to know more about her and soon picked up her published diaries. I found Nin’s writings at an ideal time in my life, as she wrote about relationships, living as a writer, and pushing through insecurities.

2. How do you maintain momentum and remain inspired?
My momentum with A Quilt for David wasn’t hard to maintain. Research has a scavenger hunt feel to it that’s exciting. Personal interviews were incredibly interesting as I talked to people who were directly involved. What kept me inspired to research and write was the question that got me started in the first place: What really happened in that dental office? Read Rest of Interview Here