Episode 131 with Alice Elliott Dark, Brilliant Chronicler of the Specific and Universal, Writer of ”In the Gloaming,” Best Short Stories of the Century, and the New Epic Novel, Fellowship Point

Episode 131 Notes and Links to Alice Elliott Dark’s Work 

 

   On Episode 131 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Alice Elliott Dark, and the two discuss, among other topics, Alice’s upbringing and schooling that provided much room for intellectual growth and inquiry, her poetry writing days and gradual transfer to writing prose, her electrifying short story that made all-century lists, the story’s presentation on the big screen, and the “saga” of her latest novel and its accompanying themes. 

   Alice Elliott Dark, author of the novels Fellowship Point and Think of England, and whose story "In the Gloaming” was chosen by John Updike for inclusion in The Best American Short Stories of The Century and made into films by HBO and Trinity Playhouse. Her non-fiction reviews and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many anthologies. She is a recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Associate Professor at Rutgers-Newark in the English department and the MFA program. 

Alice Elliott Dark's Website

 

Alice’s Wikipedia Page

 

Buy Alice’s Books

 

Publisher’s Weekly Review of Fellowship Point

 

Kirkus Reviews Review of Fellowship Point

At about 2:00, Alice details her childhood and adolescent relationship with language and reading

 

At about 4:40, Alice describes a formative experience where she realized that she, too, could become a professional writer

 

At about 5:20, Alice describes the books and writers who she loved as a kid, including A Stone for Danny Fisher and work by Irwin Shaw

 

At about 9:30, Alice responds to Pete’s questions about what it was like growing up in Philadelphia and its cultures and ethos, including the Quaker influences 

 

At about 13:35, Alice talks about her early days of writing poetry and how she read widely, particularly poetry

 

At about 14:30, Alice discusses how her college Asian Studies major happily upset her ideas of form

 

At about 17:00, Alice responds to Pete’s question about any “ ‘Eureka’ moments” that convinced her of her writing prowess, as well as how watching a lot of 1970s UK punk helped her shift to writing prose

 

At about 19:40, Alice gives background on the origins of her legendary short story “In the Gloaming”

 

At about 22:15, Alice explains the meanings of the iconic first line of the short story

 

At about 24:00, Alice defines “gloaming” and Pete and Alice discuss the story’s beginning as Laird perks up around twilight

 

At about 25:20, Alice describes how she “step[s] aside” to let her characters develop and communication between mother and son

 

At about 28:40, Alice talks about her writing process and the importance of “picturing” the storyline, characters, etc. 

 

At about 29:35, Pete and Alice discuss Martin, the father in the story, and his isolation, as well as intimacy between mother and son

 

At about 31:30, Pete and Alice talk about Laird’s illness in terms of an AIDS diagnosis 

 

At about 33:15, Alice and Pete compare ideas of anonymity/Everyman/Everywoman in Alice’s writing and Chekhov’s

 

At about 34:25, Laird’s friend’s letter is referenced as juxtaposition with Laird’s deteriorating physical condition, and comparisons between Covid and AIDS are mentioned

 

At about 36:20, Pete reads and compliments the second-to-last sentence of the story

 

At about 37:40, Alice details the processes in which her story became a film and her experiences in watching the process unfold and witnessing the final product

 

At about 39:20, Alice discusses Christopher Reeve’s role in making the movie

 

At about 40:35, Pete wonders about Alice’s experience in having the story as part of 

 

At about 41:50, Pete and Alice discuss the critical acclaim for Fellowship Point and the “saga” of the book’s long life before being finished and published

 

At about 45:45, Alice details themes and aims for the book, and how some subtleties of herself came through, though the book is truly fiction

 

At about 46:40, Alice replies to Pete’s questions about perspectives shifting as the book’s saga played out

 

At about 48:35, Alice responds to Pete’s question about if the characters are/were real to her

 

At about 50:45, Alice examines Covid’s impact on her and others’ writing

 

At about 52:25, Pete wonders how Alice saw and sees the finished product of Fellowship Point, and Alice highlights Mary Sue Rucci’s great help in editing and revising 

 

At about 54:45, Pete and Alice discuss the characteristics of the book’s main characters 

 

At about 58:10, The relationship between main character Agnes and an editor, Maud is discussed

 

At about 58:50, Ideas of land ownership and parallel themes are discussed in context of the book

 

At about 1:01:45, The theme of feminism is discussed, with regard to Agnes, and how the term is limiting for her 

 

At about 1:03:50, Alice discusses what she has to say in the book about themes of aging (particularly with older women being ignored/underestimated) and 

 

At about 1:05:50-friendship lasting and love as shown in different ways

 

At about 1:07:00-Alice gives her contact info, and highlights great work by Mary Sue Rucci Books, Scribner, and Cassandra Campbell for the reading of the audiobook

 

1:08:50-Alice provides her social media info

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The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

   Please tune in for Episode 132 with Morgan Talty, a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation where he grew up. Morgan teaches courses in both English and Native American Studies, and he is on the faculty at the Stonecoast MFA in creative writing. His highly-anticipated short story collection, Night of the Living Rez, is forthcoming from Tin House Books, on July 5.

The episode will air on July 11.