Kate Folk, "Pups"
It’s December 10. Kate Folk, author of Out There, knows not to tap on the glass.
How would you describe your story?
KATE FOLK: "Pups" intertwines several threats, strands of pressure on the main character, Roe, which eventually converge and push her to a point of no return. Roe works at an aquarium that's been receiving bomb threats, and she's also pregnant as the result of a drunken hookup with a coworker. It's a story about indecision, and how refusing to make a decision is a decision of its own. It's also a story, I think, about the relentlessness of nature, which includes human nature.
When did you write it, and how did the writing process compare to your other work?
KF: I began writing the story in 2014, and it went through many drafts—first as a piece of flash fiction, which I later expanded into a full-length story. I had to do a lot of experimenting to figure out what the story was about. It’s similar to many stories I’ve written, in that I set it aside for long periods and came back to it later, with a new perspective. Those were years in which I was growing rapidly as a fiction writer. Now that I’ve been at it longer, the process is typically a little more streamlined, though each piece has its own unique demands.
What kind of research went into this story?
KF: The story was originally inspired by my visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where I watched a short documentary about how the aquarium rehabilitates orphaned otter pups. I was struck by the image of workers caring for the pups while wearing hazmat suits with mirrored visors. This was done, as explained in the story, to prevent the pups from forming a bond with the humans, which would render them unsuitable for release back into the ocean. I was interested in the idea of nurturance and love as a contagion, something that must be meted out in small amounts and only after taking proper precautions. From there, I did a little research, but not much. At one point, I emailed a marine biologist, asking how big an average sea otter would be at two months old, but I don't think they got back to me, which was fine.
What, to you, makes the short story a special form? What can it do that other kinds of writing can’t?
KF: Short stories are special because they can be read in a single sitting. It's a unique form that can create an entire world and lead the reader through an intense emotional experience within a short span of pages. Short stories often prioritize compression, making them more similar to poetry than to novels.
Where should people go to learn more about you and your work?
KF: I have a website, www.katefolk.com. I recently published a story collection, Out There, and I have a novel forthcoming from Random House in 2025.
What's the best gift you've ever been given?
KF: A Talkboy. I loved that thing.
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