Marissa Bell Toffoli

Archive for the ‘translation’ Category

Interview With Writer Sholeh Wolpé

In editors, poetry, translation, writing on October 31, 2011 at 11:34 am
Sholeh Wolpe

Sholeh Wolpé. Photo by Ken Pivak.

An introduction to Sholeh Wolpé, an award-winning poet, literary translator, and writer. Born in Iran, she has lived in England, Trinidad, and the United States. She is the author of Rooftops of Tehran, The Scar Saloon, and Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad—for which she was awarded the Lois Roth Translation Prize in 2010. Wolpé is a regional editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East edited by Reza Aslan (WW Norton, 2010), and the editor of an upcoming anthology of poems from Iran, The Forbidden: Poems From Iran and Its Exiles (Michigan State University Press, 2012). Wolpé is also the contributing editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books, and poetry editor of the Levantine Review. Read the rest of this entry »

Interview With Writer Sheida Mohamadi

In books, censorship, journalism, poetry, translation, writing on August 24, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Sheida Mohamadi

Sheida Mohamadi. Photo by Marissa Bell Toffoli (2011).

Editor’s Note
I publish these interviews to explore the different ways writing sculpts the lives of writers—young and old, emerging and established, writers in all genres and from around the world. Iranian journalist, poet, and novelist Sheida Mohamadi’s story is especially interesting to me as a case for how critical it is to find a way to fight for what matters to you. I admire what she has given in pursuit of her beliefs, and in hope of creating change in the world. Talking with Sheida reminded me how undeniably lucky I am to have been born in a place where freedom of expression is a mainstay of society, in an era when striving for equal rights does not necessitate risking the loss of my life, and I am not in danger of being exiled for my art. This interview is substantially longer than others because of my deep interest in understanding more about what it means to live as an artist under censorship. Read the rest of this entry »

Interview With Writer Shahriar Mandanipour

In books, fiction, translation, writing on September 20, 2010 at 10:00 am
Shahriar Mandanipour

Shahriar Mandanipour. Photo courtesy of Mandanipour (2010).

An introduction to Shahriar Mandanipour, author of Censoring an Iranian Love Story (Vintage, 2010). Mandanipour is the author of eleven books; this most recent one is the first to be translated into English. He expressed “deep gratitude to [his] translator, Sara Khalili.” Read the rest of this entry »

Interview With Cerise Press Editors

In editors, fiction, literary journals, poetry, translation, writing on August 23, 2010 at 9:28 pm

Cerise Press Summer 2010

Cerise Press Summer 2010 Issue. Cover Art by Mikhail Gubin.

An introduction to Cerise Press and the literary ladies who founded it: Sally Molini, Karen Rigby, and Fiona Sze-Lorrain. Cerise Press is an international online journal that publishes three issues annually. They accept submissions year round.

Read the rest of this entry »

Interview With Writer, Translator, & Editor Zack Rogow

In books, editors, poetry, translation on May 11, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Zack Rogow

Zack Rogow. Photo by Marissa Bell Toffoli (2010).

An introduction to the author of the poetry book The Number Before Infinity, translator of Colette and George Sand, and editor of The Face of Poetry anthology. Rogow is the author, editor, or translator of eighteen books and plays, including six collections of poetry, a novel, three anthologies, four volumes of translation, and a children’s book. The Number Before Infinity (Scarlet Tanager Books, 2008) is his most recent poetry book.
Read the rest of this entry »

Interview With Writer & Translator Denise Newman

In books, poetry, translation, writing on April 27, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Denise Newman

Denise Newman. Photo by Eva Whitney.

An introduction to the author of the poetry books The New Make Believe, Wild Goods, and Human Forest, and translator of Danish writer Inger Christensen’s novels. Newman’s third book of poems, The New Make Believe, is forthcoming from The Post-Apollo Press.

Read the rest of this entry »