Amy Bernstein Interview Published on: 29, Jun 2022
Where were you born?
Newark, New Jersey (USA)
What books do you remember reading during your childhood?A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Who was the first person you shared your first ever story with?My mother read the short story I wrote in the second grade about a grocery store.
Do you prefer writing on a notepad first or do you directly start writing on your computer?With the advent of the personal computer, my handwriting has really deteriorated. I can’t write by hand for more than a few minutes, now. I do my best thinking with a keyboard beneath my fingers.
How much did you research while writing your novel, The Nighthawkers?The Nighthawkers involved quite a bit of research, which I loved to do. I read many professional journals about archaeology and antiquities and looked at countless photographs of site digs and artifacts that have been recovered.
Who inspired the character of journalist Rags Goldner in "The Potrero Complex"?Nobody specifically inspired the character, but I did borrow the side of my personality that tends to get irritated and impatient.
Is reading historical fiction a good way to educate oneself about certain events in history, or is it better to just read straight history?Historical fiction that is well-researched and well written can be a marvelous way to bring past events and especially past figures to life, which may inspire readers to learn more about a specific period in time. Hilary Mantel’s books about Oliver Cromwell and his times are a great example of that.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?My work schedule as a writer is erratic. On any given day, I might be working on an essay or a poem or ideas for a novel, or a novel itself. I should try to be more disciplined, perhaps.
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