Episode 193 with Ethan Chatagnier, Author of Singer Distance, and Standout Worldbuilder and Character Artist

Episode 193 Notes and Links to Ethan Chatagnier’s Work

 

    On Episode 193 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Ethan Chatagnier, and the two discuss, among other things, Ethan’s early reading and writing-John Saul!-his transformative and formative moments and educators at Fresno State, and salient issues in Singer Distance like emotional distance, entropy, father-child relationships, optimism and pessimism, and successful plot structures and schematics. 

 

   Ethan Chatagnier is the author of Singer Distance, a novel published by Tin House Books in October 2022, and of Warnings from the Future, a story collection from Acre Books in 2018. His short fiction has appeared in a variety of literary journals including the Kenyon Review Online, Georgia Review, New England Review, Story, Five Points, Michigan Quarterly Review, and the Cincinnati Review. His stories have won a Pushcart Prize and been listed as notable in the Best American Short Stories and the Million Writers Award.

   He is a graduate of Fresno State, where he won the Larry Levis Prize in Poetry, and of Emerson College, where he earned an MA in Publishing and Writing. He lives in Fresno, California with his family.

 

 

 

Buy Singer Distance

 

Ethan's Website

 

Review of Singer Distance from Kirkus Review

At about 3:00, Ethan discusses his early relationship with reading and writing-John Saul shout out!

 

At about 6:30, Ethan discusses his wrestling career and how writing and reading became more of interest 

 

At about 9:30, Ethan discusses mentors and great professors at Fresno State, including Juan Felipe Herrera and Steve Yarbrough

 

At about 11:40, Ethan responds to Pete’s questions about whether or not he wants to write widely or more focused on single subjects

 

At about 14:10, Ken Kalfus’ Equilateral is cited as inspiration for Singer Distance

 

At about 15:15, Erika Swyler,  Kazuo Ishiguro, and R.F. Kuang are shouted out as contemporary writers who thrill and challenge Ethan 

 

At about 17:20, Pete compliments Ethan for plot twists and asks him about how he balances science and plot

 

At about 18:15, Ethan summarizes the book and gives necessary background information and backstory

 

At about 23:15, Ethan responds to Pete’s wondering about the speculative nature of women, especially Crystal Singer, in a pre-ERA world

 

At about 24:40, Pete reads a profound line from the book and asks Ethan about young and fervent love’s role in the book

 

At about 26:50, Ethan connects an analogy about garbage in the book to Crystal and Rick’s relationship 

 

At about 28:30, Ethan and Pete share some of the early plot and discuss ideas of fame and ethereal happiness

 

At about 31:50, Ethan sums up Crystal’s actions after her great feat in the Arizona desert, and what motivations she might have had due to her family situation 

 

At about 34:30, Crystal and Rick are discussed in their shared love for Holliday, a famous scientist in the media

 

At about 36:35, Pete wonders about Rick’s fractured relationship with his dad, Ethan talks about it being “a rift that was waiting to happen”

 

At about 37:55, Ethan shares a telling anecdote about fathers and sons from Steve Yarbrough’s class at Fresno State

 

At about 39:30, Pete notes the ways in which “distance” is used in the book and spotlights a beautifully-drawn scene

 

At about 40:25, Pete lays out the book’s structure and its parts and charts the beginning of Part II

 

At about 42:00, Ethan follows up on Pete noting that Rick’s colleague Angie can’t quite break through his emotional armor and why Rick sort of “get[s] by” in life and in his career

 

At about 44:25, The two discuss entropy and its usage in the book

 

At about 45:00, “Loneliness on the top” and obsession with regards to Crystal is discussed; he also juxtaposes with an author’s situation in writing a second book after a successful first one

 

At about 48:55, Pete reads some heaping praise for the book, including from NPR, and Ethan talks about connections made and renewed after publicity for the book

 

At about 50:40, Pete asks Ethan about optimism and pessimism in the book, specifically in its ending; Ethan calls it “surprisingly hopeful” and gives an example of a vastly-depressing short story of his

 

At about 55:15, Ethan talks about his work and any interest in screenwriting

 

At about 57:45, Ethan talks about choosing upcoming projects, and gives out social media and contact information

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   Please tune in for Episode 194 with Ruth Madievsky, whose debut novel, All-Night Pharmacy, came out on July 11 with Catapult, and has been named a Best/Most Anticipated 2023 Book by The Los Angeles Times, Vogue, and Buzzfeed. Ruth’s debut poetry collection, Emergency Brake, was winner of the Wrolstad Contemporary Poetry Series. 

   The episode will air on July 25.