Ladee Hubbard is the author of the novel The Talented Ribkins.From her Q&A with Deborah Kalb:
Q: The Talented Ribkins takes place over the course of a week. Why did you decide on that time frame?--Marshal Zeringue
A: Honestly it was largely a practical consideration. In that sense, giving the novel a limited time frame was a way to increase tension and create a sense of urgency. There is a lot of backstory to the novel and I wanted to make sure that this was balanced by a real sense of forward momentum.
Q: Your writing has been compared to that of Toni Morrison, Colson Whitehead, and Thomas Pynchon. What do you think of those comparisons?
A: They are flattering, to be sure. I am greatly inspired by many writers and especially Toni Morrison who was my thesis advisor in college.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I...[read on]