🎙️ Lisa Taylor

Read Lisa's story, The Retro Diner, now!

What makes you hopeful these days?

The collective action of concerned citizens to address current issues is the only thing outside of my own circle of family and friends that is currently giving me hope.

Do you view this story as a one in the Groundhog Day family of stories?

No, I don’t think of it in that vein, but rather, in more of a dystopian fiction a la The Twilight Zone. I wrote it after I’d been reading Ray Bradbury’s, The Illustrated Man, and was in a bit of a funk. When I settled on the premise of the story, I remembered being profoundly struck by “The Monkey’s Paw,” and felt that Harriet would have to take that into consideration. I re-read it myself, and was horrified anew.

Does Harriet realize she’s looping back or is it more of a fresh slate?

Harriet is a good person and is seriously trying to do the right thing, so I couldn’t be so cruel as to make her cognizant of the perpetual loop, however, she does have an unsettling feeling of deja vu.

Do you know what you’d wish for if given the opportunity to visit the seventh floor?

Nothing! The Monkey’s Paw still resonates, as does an excellent graphic novel called Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed set in a fictional Cairo, Egypt where wishes can be bought and sold. 

Do you think having a single free wish like that would feel like a gift or a burden? 

A burden, 100%!

Was there a particular reason you chose this particular setting and timeframe to set the story?

I wanted to place the story in a future that felt relatable—a world in which we’ve yet to conquer or even collectively grapple with the most basic questions of society — war, class, environment. I decided that if the women met at the Retro Diner, I would have a vehicle for making the world feel familiar. I wanted to impart a reminder that we continue to repeat past mistakes while learning little or nothing in the process.

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

I can honestly tell you that it was rejected only once. I try very hard to find a perfect home for each of my poems or stories. Sometimes, I will hold on to one for years until I find a likely place for it. I’m so glad that this one found a home with Foofaraw. 

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

I enjoyed Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende, but I hesitate to recommend it because it’s an Amazon exclusive. I reviewed it for a magazine, but otherwise would have passed it up because of its Amazon affiliation. Pity. I read many online, too, but don’t have a particular one in mind. 

What book are you reading right now?

I am currently reading Evelyn in Transit by David Guterson. I review at least two books per month for Kirkus, so some are not of my choosing, but this one I am reading for pleasure and enjoying it. My favorite recent book read for pleasure is I Cheerfully Refuse. Seldom does one find a hopeful dystopian future. I highly recommended it—the book, not the dystopian future.

Thanks to Lisa for chatting about hope and burdens with us on this lovely Friday evening!