Rilla askew biography of michael w

Rilla Askew is the author of five novels, a book of short stories, and a collection of linked essays.

ASKEW, RILLA (–).

Here, we discuss her latest novel, Prize for the Fire. Can you talk about the weight of every decision — marriage, worship, friendship — and its consequences? To navigate the complex worlds of Tudor England, one had to strategize relentlessly, and the ramifications for miscalculation could be devastating — especially for women. This is what Anne was known for — her defiance of the forces that tried to control her.

When she stood trial, she snapped back at her accusers with intelligence, scriptural knowledge, and sass — totally unacceptable behavior.

Rilla Askew (born ) is an American novelist and short story writer who was born in Poteau, in the Sans Bois Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, and grew up in the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Her writings are in Henrician language, so it took many tries to keep the flavor and still make her voice accessible. I was awed, visiting the places of her life and death. Tyndale was killed for translating the Bible! How much did you identify with her as a writer, delivering truths that might be taken to task by so-called authorities?

My biggest writing challenge has been evoking the absolute religious saturation of hers. In this sense, I do identify with her decision to speak truth to power as she understood it. You tackled the terror of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Fire in Beulah, and in Kind of Kin , you took on Christians who are dead set against immigrants in their community.

How does this book fit in with your body of work? I wrote honestly — some say brutally — about white anti-Black racism in Fire in Beulah , knowing that if I wrote the main character as a white savior instead, the book would be more widely popular.