Interview with Isabella Ronchetti, 2017 Fall Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Isabella Ronchetti is a writer originally from San Francisco, California. She spent a few years studying in Florence Italy, and currently is living in Virginia. She enjoys spending her free time reading psychology books, swimming, and people-watching. Her writing and artwork have won awards and appeared in magazines such as FishFood Magazine, Glass Kite Anthology, The Sigh Press, and Canvas Literary Journal.

Read Isabella's story "The Beekeeper" here and then return to learn more about the inspiration behind it.

Interview by Renee Roberson

WOW: "The Beekeeper" is a very haunting tale. How did you get the idea for this story?

Isabella: The inspiration from a dream I had a long time ago—I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I decided to turn it into a short story.

WOW: You are both an award-winning writer and artist. How do you balance your creative pursuits between the two mediums?

Isabella: I find that the best way to balance the two is by going through periods of time in which I focus on developing one medium.

WOW: You spent a few years studying in Florence, Italy. What was that experience like and what were some of the subjects you focused on?

Isabella: I am half Italian and grew up visiting family in Florence, so in many ways it was familiar to me. I focused mainly on art while I was there.

WOW: When did you first realize you were a writer?

Isabella: Before I could even write, I would come up with little stories and make my mother type them up for me.

WOW: Your artwork and writing have appeared in several literary journals and anthologies. What tips would you give writers who are looking to submit their own work in these types of publications?

Isabella: I would encourage writers to read previously published works from different journals and find a publication that fits their writing style and will compliment their individual voice.

WOW: Great advice for us all--it's easy to get stuck in a rut when both writing and submitting. Thank you for chatting with us today and we can't wait to read more of your work in the future!