Deborah Noyes Reading
Deborah Noyes reads from her novel, Angel and Apostle, intended as a “revisionist’s look” at Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Noyes explains her decision to write a sequel to The Scarlet Letter, claiming that “writers are thieves at heart, like crows collecting shiny bits for our nests; we take inspiration wherever we can.” She explains that she always held a certain fascination with the character of Pearl, and wanted to explore Pearl’s story further.
During a question and answer session, Noyes discusses the difficulty of writing the novel from a first person point of view while referencing Hawthorne’s language and writing style. She goes on to discuss her exploration of Pearl’s character as an outcast, and her subsequent ability to exist outside of social constraints. Noyes also points out that, unlike in Hawthorne’s novel, the character of Hester Prynne is much more in charge of her life on an emotional level in Noyes’ interpretation of the story.
Noyes discusses her passion for Gothic storytelling, mentioning a compilation of Gothic Stories for young adult readers that she had previously edited. She points out that her role as a reader ultimately informs her role as a writer, claiming that “it’s the accumulation of your reading history that creates your voice.”
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Deborah Noyes
Date Recorded: November 30, 2005
Works Read: Angel and Apostle, by Deborah Noyes
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, historical fiction