Episode 207 with Ursula Villarreal-Moura, Master of Flash Fiction, Short, Powerful Stories, and Prose that Explores Intricate Emotions in Clever and Profound Ways

Notes and Links to Ursula Villarreal-Moura’s Work

 

 

   For Episode 207, Pete welcomes Ursula Villarreal-Moura, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early San Antonio Spurs’ education, her omnivorous reading habits, particularly in her childhood, a formative writing contest and reading event, her transitioning from poetry to short stories and flash fiction, and salient themes addressed in her collection, including mental health issues, trauma, delusion, ideas of identity and self-perception, and imagination and story.  

 

 

  Ursula Villarreal-Moura is the author of Math for the Self-Crippling (2022), selected by Zinzi Clemmons as the Gold Line Press fiction contest winner, and Like Happiness (Celadon Books, 2024). A graduate of Middlebury College, she received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and was a VONA/Voices fellow. Her stories, essays, and reviews have appeared in numerous magazines including Tin House, Catapult, Prairie Schooner, Midnight Breakfast, Washington Square, Story, Bennington Review, Wigleaf Top 50, and Gulf Coast. She contributed to Forward: 21st Century Flash Fiction, a flash anthology by writers of color, and in 2012, she won the CutBank Big Fish Flash Fiction/Prose Poetry Contest. Her writing has been nominated for Best of the Net, Best Small Fictions, a Pushcart Prize, and longlisted for Best American Short Stories 2015.

 

 

Ursula Villarreal-Moura's Website

 

Buy Math for the Self-Crippling

 

Interview in Tri-Quarterly

 

 

At about 2:20, Ursula shares her love of the Spurs and the ways in which the Spurs culture was infused in her schooling

 

At about 5:00, Ursula talks about the ways in which she became an omnivorous reader, and how a Judy Blume book really flipped the reading switch 

 

At about 7:10, Ursula describes her first writing as “exotic,” including stories set in boarding schools

 

At about 10:00, Ursula describes being “receptive” and maybe not as “expressive” in Spanish, and ideas of representations, including as an “Ursula” 

 

At about 13:30, Ursula talks about the “beautiful readings” she witnessed from Sandra Cisneros and the big impact 

 

At about 15:30, Ursula talks about the beginnings of her writing and writing career, including a memorable writing contest that she placed well in at a young age 

 

At about 20:55, Ursula responds to Pete’s questions about genre and how Ursula sees her work in terms of flash fiction, short stories, poetry, etc. 

 

At about 23:45, Ursula describes short stories, including from Denis Johnson, Roberto Bolaño, Jeffrey Eugenides, Sandra Cisneros, Donald Barthelme, Tobias Wolff, and Amy Bloom that inspired her

 

At about 26:00, Ursula

 

At about 27:00, Ursula speaks to the idea that her work, like that of many women, is more likely assumed to be autobiographical 

 

At about 27:50, Ursula answers Pete’s questions about the chronology of her book, and she describes how much of it was written in the library 

 

At about 29:35, Pete cites the collection’s first story in asking Ursula about ideas of truth in storytelling and imagination

 

At about 31:00, Ursula and Pete shout out past guest Oscar Hokeah’s Calling for a Blanket Dance and an example of things being “true but unreal”

 

At about 32:35, Pete cites an example of a story having to do with self-discovery and personas, and Ursula expands upon these ideas

 

At about 33:55, The two reflect on the power of a story about mental health and Sophia Loren

 

At about 36:20, Ursula reflects on meanings for the book’s title, and Pete cites a Cherry Valance example from The Outsiders in connection to ruminations on seemingly life-changing experiences

 

At about 39:30, Ursula reflects on the narrator’s disappointment and despair after a nonchalant comment from a possible boyfriend 

 

At about 41:50, Ursula describes the ways in which therapy is featured in the book and differing ways in which it can be delivered in the real world

 

At about 43:00, Ursula expands on items of “totems”

 

At about 45:00, Pete highlights an important quote about “the power of suggestion” and Ursula describes how real-life events and ideas of “delusion” inspired a story in her collection

 

At about 45:52-Ursula’s cat makes an appearance!

 

At about 47:10, Ideas of trauma affecting adult experiences and relationships is discussed 

 

At about 50:55, The two reflect on ideas of observers and how Ursula skillfully uses second and third-person

 

At about 52:25, Ursula shares exciting new projects

 

At about 54:50, Ursula gives out contact info and social media info and recommends Bookshop.org, Powell’s, and McNally-Jackson as places to buy her book

 

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

   Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

    Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

   NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   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 208 with Sowmya Krishnamurthy, a music journalist and pop culture expert whose work can be found in publications like Rolling Stone, Billboard, XXL, and Time.  Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion comes out on October 10, which is the date the book will be published! Also, look out for a late October/early November print conversation with me and Sowmya that will be in Chicago Review of Books. 

   Again, this episode will air on October 10.