Interview with Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
’Tis the season for end of the year lists that omit many incredible books! Lists can be a fun roundup, but are misleading when they’re touted as “best of,” rather than “favorites.” Off my soapbox, and here to say one of my favorite books this year is Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s debut novel, Catalina, which follows a delightfully cynical undocumented Harvard student over the course of a year. (I reviewed the novel, which you can read here.)
As I mentioned in my review, I love the way Karla Cornejo Villavicencio writes—her prose is smart and sharp, though that description feels inadequate to describe how she wields words. Prime example: her nonfiction debut, The Undocumented Americans, was a finalist for The National Book Award. I have no idea how many end of the year lists Catalina made it onto, but surely not enough.
I’m so happy Karla agreed to this interview!
Can you tell me about this book's path to publication?
I wrote many, many, many terrible drafts. My editor trusted me to figure it out, and that trust made me work real hard. It also made me feel more comfortable taking risks. I wrote it at night, I slept during the day, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I built Catalina's voice from that silence. A vampiric moment.
As someone who also writes both fiction and nonfiction, I've been thinking a lot about what each genre can and can't do—and which is the best vehicle for changing hearts and minds about urgent social justice issues. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.
Changing hearts and minds isn't necessarily a goal I have for myself. I am interested in punching up and I am interested in having fun with power—I want readers to feel seduced, entranced, slapped around a little, chosen, held, pushed away, embraced, left wanting more, etc. I think if your existence is already a crime and an eyesore, keeping yourself alive is a very good social justice victory.
Can you share some reading recommendations?
The K-drama Miss Night and Day is so cute. Maya Binyam's novel Hangman. Selena Quintanilla's ballads. Roberto Bolaño's By Night in Chile!!!!
Is there a song that ties into your book in some way?
The Lorde album Melodrama because I wanted my book to feel like that album makes me feel, which is nineteen and in a swoon of some kind!!
Thank you, Karla!