Every now and then, I like to ask writers, “Is there a question you’d like me to ask?” I’m always surprised by the types of questions they’d want to ask themselves, so I decided to take the idea of the self-interview and give writers some restraints.
One. Use Who/What/When/Where/Why-ish questions.
Two. Have fun.
Our next Debuti-Self Interview features Alejandro Puyana, author of the debut novel Freedom Is a Feast, a sweeping multigenerational saga set against the backdrop of revolution, regret, and redemption. From the jungles of 1960s Venezuela to the barrios of early-2000s Caracas, Puyana’s novel traces the emotional and political reverberations of one man’s youthful betrayal across decades—and generations.
Originally from Venezuela, Puyana moved to the United States at twenty-six and received his MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. His work has appeared in Tin House, American Short Fiction, and The American Scholar, and has been selected for The Best American Short Stories. Freedom Is a Feast is out August 5, 2025 in paperback.
But enough from me. Let’s turn it over to Alejandro Puyana.
Continue reading “Alejandro Puyana interviews Alejandro Puyana”