The writer Paola Ferrante discusses her debut short story collection Her Body Among Animals (Book*hug Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Her Body Among Animals by Paola Ferrante (Book*hug Press, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Her Body Among Animals

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Paola Ferrante’s debut collection of short stories is described as genre-bending, merging horror, fairy tales, pop culture, and sci-fi. It’s called Her Body Among Animals. Women are central characters, and the boundaries placed on their bodies is put into focus throughout the book, as she illustrates through her characters the complexity of living in a world “among animals.” I’ll ask Ms. Ferrante, who joined me last month, about the toxic masculinity she addresses and names in her stories. We’ll also talk about the setting of a couple of her stories, and the animals that mean a lot, that stand in for people at times. Paola Ferrante is a writer living with depression. Her debut poetry collection, What to Wear When Surviving a Lion Attack was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Prize. She’s appeared in several publications including North American Review, PRISM International, and Best Canadian Poetry 2021, among many others. Visit www.paolaferrante.com for more information. This new book is published by Book*hug Press. She joined me from Toronto. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Paola Ferrante; Ms. Ferrante, good morning.

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