When I sit down to interview a writer, I’m not only listening for a soundbite or a publicity quote; I’m tracing a map. That map shows the routes between books, the hidden corners of a writer’s bookshelf, the older texts that taught them craft and the recent reads that keep them curious. Over the years—both in bookshops and at Storyscoutes Co—I’ve learned to treat author interviews as a way of building reading recommendations that feel alive: not merely a list of favourites, but a network of influence you can step into.

Why an interview can be a better guide than a “recommended reading” list

Lists can be generous, but they’re often flat: five to ten titles, equal weight, no context. An interview, by contrast, offers texture. When an author talks about a book that changed their sense of possibility, you learn how it shifted their attention—perhaps to voice, pace, or a mode of moral ambiguity. When they mention a minor poet the way someone mentions an old friend, you see emotional weight that a bare title can’t convey.

Here’s what I listen for and why it matters:

  • Specific scenes or lines: If a writer quotes a passage, it reveals what they’re trying to replicate or resist in their own work.
  • Form and technique: References to structure, point-of-view, or language point to craft-based influence that’s useful for other readers who want to study writing choices.
  • Emotional effect: When authors say a book made them feel a certain way—lessons about grief, humor, or bewilderment—you get entry points for readers seeking similar experiences.
  • Obscure versus canonical: The mix tells you whether to follow a grassroots trail (small presses, translations) or revisit the canonical conversation with fresh attention.

    • How I map influences during an interview

    I do some prep, but I also build in moments to be surprised. My method feels part researcher, part detective, part companion.

  • Start broad: I begin with wide questions—“Which book first made you want to write?”—then tighten into specifics when a title lands.
  • Follow the breadcrumbs: If they name an obscure novella, I ask who introduced them to it. A teacher? A translation? That question often opens up a network of lesser-known texts.
  • Ask for anchors: I encourage writers to name three anchor books—one that taught craft, one that shaped their sensibility, one they return to.
  • Probe for pairings: I like to ask which two books they’d put side by side on a reader’s table. That reveals curatorial instincts: Are they building contrast or reinforcement?

    • As answers come, I sketch a map on the page: nodes for each book, edges that say why the influence matters—technique, theme, tone. This exercise makes the interview itself a reading guide.

    Turning interview answers into reading routes

    Not every reader wants a dense annotated bibliography. So I translate the interview into routes—short guided paths tailored to different appetites.

  • The Close-Reader Route: Focuses on craft-based influences. You’ll pair a novel the author mentions with an essay by the same writer, followed by a short story that demonstrates the technique.
  • The Mood Route: Based on the emotional effects the author describes. If they speak of quiet dread, the route will include a novella and a poetry collection that evoke similar atmospheres.
  • The Discovery Route: Designed for readers who love being introduced to lesser-known writers. This path foregrounds translations, small-press titles and backlist gems the author calls essential.

    • These routes work because they hold the author’s voice as a curator’s voice: subjective, persuasive and generous.

    Practical questions that yield useful maps

    When you’re interviewing—or simply reading interviews to build your own list—there are questions that reliably open up useful material. Here’s a table I use as a cheat-sheet during interviews:

    Question What it reveals
    “Which three books taught you how to write?” Craft-focused texts and touchstones to study.
    “Name a book you keep returning to and why.” Emotional or ethical anchors that explain recurring themes.
    “Which out-of-print or lesser-known book do you wish more people read?” Discovery leads and translation/small-press recommendations.
    “Which book most surprised you—by style or content?” Paths into experimental or hybrid forms.
    “If I wanted to read for a particular effect (e.g., melancholy, wonder), what would you put on a two-book starter?” Curated pairings that are easy to follow.

    How to present the recommendations for readers

    A good interview becomes a living resource if you present recommendations in formats readers actually use. I often repackage interviews into:

  • Annotated lists: Short explanations (one line) for each title: what to notice, which scene to read first, an accessible edition to try.
  • Mini-routes: Two- or three-book itineraries with a theme—“Voice and Memory” or “Quiet Dissent.”
  • Companion playlists: Pairing a book with music or essays that reflect the interview’s mood. I’ve linked a track from Bandcamp or a playlist on Spotify in pieces when the author mentions music.
  • Reading packs: For subscription features, I collate an e-book excerpt, a short piece by the influence, and discussion questions for book clubs.

    • Examples from interviews I’ve done

    Once, a novelist told me that a neglected Caribbean poet “rewired how I think about rhythm.” From that single line I built a route: the poet’s slim collection, a contemporary short story that borrows similar cadences, and a craft essay by the novelist explaining how rhythm shapes suspense. Readers loved it because the route turned an abstract influence into tangible reading moves.

    Another time, an author cited a discarded 1970s feminist novel as the book that taught them how to put politics into form. I dug into the historical context, suggested a modern companion title, and offered a note on which editions are easiest to find secondhand—practical details that matter when you’re trying to follow an influence into the stacks.

    Tools and habits that help me map more accurately

    My tools are simple: a notebook, a voice recorder, and a spreadsheet. But it’s the habits that count.

  • Document verbatim: I record passages the author quotes. A single passage can be a bridge to a whole mood or technique.
  • Immediate follow-up: After the interview, I jot a quick reading plan while the conversation is fresh.
  • Fact-checking and cross-referencing: I check editions, translations, and availability—often linking to smaller presses or reliable secondhand sellers rather than defaulting to big retailers.
  • Share and invite additions: On Storyscoutes Co, I ask readers to add their pairings or memories of the same books. Collective reading enriches the map.

    • In the end, an interview is valuable not because it hands you a list but because it hands you a reason. When a writer explains why a book mattered—how it taught them to imagine, to fear, or to love—you get not only titles to read, but a reason to care. That reason is the map. My job, whether as an interviewer or a reader using interviews, is to trace the routes those reasons suggest and invite others to walk them.