These are tales about what happens when the muse becomes the artist interview by thea lenarduzzi 1 the dollmaker by harriette arnow. Word bookstore hosted kayla rae whitaker for a discussion of her debut novel, the animators. The animators follows the friendship of a creative duo, mel and sharon who work as animators celebrating the release of their first fulllength feature. She is a graduate of the university of kentucky and new york university. Renee shaw speaks with author kayla rae whitaker, a kentucky native. Kayla rae whitaker is the author of the novel the animators random house 2017. Kayla rae whitaker s debut, the animators, is a comingofage, lgbtq novel about outsiders who become animators. He was a world war two vet and he liked them as much as i did.
Updating the theme of how artists turn personal pain into art, whitaker s outstanding debut novel portrays two women working together to create adult. Kayla rae whitaker on weird cartoons, pop culture before the internet, and women artists kayla rae whitaker s the animators is a debut with the ambition and polish of a fourth or fifth book. Kayla rae whitaker discusses the animators with maris. The animators random house, the compelling debut novel from kayla rae whitaker, has already drawn comparisons to feminist classics such. Kayla rae whitakers work has appeared in smokelong quarterly, split lip magazine, body, boega, joyland, the switchback, five quarterly, american microviews and interviews, and others. What its like to live in kentucky and sell your debut. Im reading poking a dead frog mike sacks book of interviews with.
Author interview kayla rae whitaker, author of the. Kayla rae whitaker interviews archive writers bone. That this powerful exploration of friendship, desire, ambition, and secrets manages to be ebullient, gripping, heartbreaking, and deeply deeply funny is a testament to kayla rae whitaker s formidable gifts. The fierce, creative women at the heart of kayla rae whitaker s debut, the animators, are impossible to forget. Stream a conversation with kayla rae whitaker by the readings podcast from desktop or your mobile device. Zoom to your nearest bookstore or library and get ahold of the animators, by kayla rae whitaker, as its by far the best debut novel of 2017. Whitaker s debut novel, the animators, explores the complexities of female friendships, selfidentity, and success in the maledominated field of animation. In the animators, a debut novel by kayla rae whitaker, two creative women are bound by a passion for art and a drive to master their pasts. She writes about the surreal experience of living in kentucky and having it. Sterling native and author kayla rae whitaker, one of the writers featured at the 2017 kentucky women writers conference at the university of kentucky. Both were stories of profound, lifealtering friendships that blossomed in college and carried on throughout life. The fierce, creative women at the heart of kayla rae whitakers debut, the animators, are impossible to forget. Set in the world of independent animation, the animators, the debut novel from kentucky author kayla rae whitaker, explores an art that whitaker says she first became fascinated with when. An interview with a cultural critic from npr is one of the funniest scenes in recent fiction, too.
Most recently, she appeared as a commentator alongside such luminaries as lynyrd skynyrd in the history channels southern culture documentary you dont know dixie. A debut follows two creative women bound by a passion for art. She has a ba from the university of kentucky and and mfa from new york university. Kentucky author kayla rae whitaker on her debut novel the. Kayla rae whitaker writes like her head is on fire. A conversation with kayla rae whitaker by the readings.
Mel and sharon meet in college, where they share an outsider status thanks to their shared southern roots. Kayla rae whitaker s novel the animators is out in paperback now. Kayla rae whitaker on weird cartoons, pop culture before the internet, and women artists kayla rae whitakers the animators is a debut with the ambition and polish of. Also kayla rae whitaker, whose debut, the animators, came out last year. Kayla rae whitaker on stories about women artists five books. Author interview kayla rae whitaker, author of the animators. The animators, kayla rae whitaker s stunning debut, is the best book ive read in a long time. Interview debut author kayla rae whitaker talks about the animators, artistic ambition, and why she is moving back to her native kentucky after seven years describe the animators to us.
Debut author kayla rae whitaker talks about the animators, artistic ambition, and why she is moving back to her native kentucky after seven years describe the animators to us. When i started kayla rae whitaker s debut novel, the animators, all i could remember from a monthsago npr story was the title. It reminded me a lot of a little life by hanya yanagihara. It was the first time id seen the american author in real life but, more importantly, it was the first time i had heard her. Kayla rae whitaker on the animators, sobriety, and her favorite. Kayla rae whitakers the animators june 10th, 2017 published in mayjune 2017. A wildly original novel that pulses with heart and truth.
Both are talented artists, and their combined genius brings them together in a. Connections kayla rae whitaker season 12 episode 41 pbs. Kayla rae whitaker composes an ode to women who make things, from wooden dolls to indie music, and postmodern triptychs to the best candy bar youll ever taste. Kayla rae whitaker wasnt initially gungho about life on the east coast. Her novel the animators was awarded the 2018 writers center first novel prize and the 2018 devils kitchen reading award in literary fiction, and was named one of the best debut novels of 2017 by entertainment weekly. Topics impostor syndrome kayla rae whitaker feminism, style, health, politics, friendship, and everything else unfiltered. To read our interview with kayla rae whitaker, click here. The morning news tournament of books presented by field. Writers from janet evanovich and gene hackman to rebecca cantrell and wally lamb have devoted some of their time to help us inspire upandcoming writers. Kayla rae whitaker season 12 episode 41 connections pbs.
W hen kayla rae whitaker was tiny, perhaps four or five, she would watch warner brothers cartoons with her grandfather. Interview whitakers vivid debut traces the lives of friends who bond over their rural southern upbringings, then become an avantgarde animation duo with a cult following and uncomfortable fame. Exclusive the debut novelist levels with us about alcoholism, how nickelodeon and the simpsons influenced her work, and comedy writing. Kate christensen, author of the great man the animators kayla rae whitaker 3.
Kayla rae whitaker interviewed by luke geddes nickelodeon is an excellent place to start. Its hard, going into the tournament, to not judge a book by its coverage. Presentation by prize founder neal gillen and judge barbara esstman. Funny and heartbreaking by turn, the animators is a dazzling story of female friendship, the cost of a creative life, and the secrets that can undo us. Originally from east kentucky, kayla rae whitaker has an mfa in fiction writing from new york university and has appeared in bodega magazine, burnt bridge, and still. An engrossing, exuberant ride through all the territories of love familial, romantic, sexual, love. Author of the animators random house 2017, scribe 2017. Kayla rae whitaker receives twcs first novel prize youtube. The writers center is proud to present the mclaughlinesstmanstearns first novel prize to kayla rae whitaker for the animators. The animators random house, the compelling debut novel from. Thanks for reading the dot and line, where we talk about animation of all kinds. Kayla rae whitaker for the animators 2018, sheila martin for the coney. The animators is a heartbreakingly beautiful, sharply funny, arrestingly unforgettable novel about love and genius, the powerful obsessiveness of artistic creation, and the equally powerful undertow of the past. Kayla rae whitaker on the animators, sobriety, and her.
At this years byron writers festival, i made a beeline to an inconversation event with kayla rae whitaker. Bookpage interview by abby plesser february 03, 2017 the fierce, creative women at the heart of kayla rae whitaker s debut, the animators, are impossible to forget. The animators is about sharon kisses and her business partner and friend, mel vaught, two brilliant cartoonists who meet in college and begin working together. Hear our marketing and events coordinator stella charls in conversation with author kayla rae whitaker about her brilliant debut. The animators grabs you by your intestines and doesnt let go. Kayla rae whitaker debut novel the animators coming from. Kayla rae whitaker on the animators, sobriety, and her favorite toons. Kayla rae whitaker interviewed by luke geddes miracle. She was joined by maris kreizman, author of slaughterhouse 90210. A conversation with kayla rae whitaker by the readings podcast published on 20171026t20.
Kayla rae whitaker is the author of the animators 3. Debut author kayla rae whitaker talks about the animators, artistic ambition, and why she is moving back to her native kentucky after seven years. When kayla rae whitaker was tiny, perhaps four or five, she would watch warner brothers cartoons with her. Dont forget to this article and follow us on twitter and facebook. Praise for kayla rae whitaker this bright debut from kayla rae whitaker reworks the familiar buddy novel into a story of two young women united by ambition, artistic talent, and enterprise.
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