Clara Taylor asked Rene Denfeld:

I was amazed by The Enchanted and moved by The Child Finder. You write about deeply disturbing subjects but never trivialize, moralize, or use gratuitous drama, yet tell difficult stories that reach our heart and soul. How do you form books that show ordinary people, heroic in their way, without preaching and judging? Perhaps there is no answer, other than you are extremely talented. Thank you.

Rene Denfeld Aw, thank you!! I think it's because I write about the kind of people I know, in real life. Katherine Dunn once told me the job o the writer is to tell the truth, not what they think others want to hear. That helps me get away from stereotypes and into the beautiful, complex, haunting realities of humanity. I also believe in honoring victims, even fictional victims, and would never exploit their trauma or violate their dignity. Thank you for writing me!!!

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