Sabrina Orah Mark, "The Professor"

It’s December 14. Sabrina Orah Mark, author of Wild Milk, regrets that she will be unable to attend office hours this week.

How would you describe your story?

SABRINA ORAH MARK: “The Professor” is about answered prayers and a woman named Penny who falls in love with her professor.

When did you write it, and how did the writing process compare to your other work?

SOM: I wrote it about two years ago, after I robbed an old love affair for its most perilous parts.

What kind of research went into this story?

SOM: I crawled into the oldest chamber of my heart and took notes.

What, to you, makes the short story a special form? What can it do that other kinds of writing can’t?

SOM: Many years ago (this is a true story) I watched a small boy grow wings and fly. The wings weren’t exactly bird wings, but they weren’t exactly angel wings, either. It’s hard to describe. The wings weren’t gigantic, but they also weren’t not gigantic. I know this sounds impossible, but they were brown like the earth, and they glowed like the moon. What I’m trying to say is that the boy with the wings reminded me of the short story in that I have no idea how either happened, but when it’s happening you know you’re in the realm of something terrifying and  beautiful.

Where should people go to learn more about you and your work?

SOM: www.sabrinaorahmark.com.

What's the best gift you've ever been given?

SOM: My husband bought me a small porcelain plague doctor in Barcelona on our honeymoon.  For over 9 years I kept it on a bookshelf in my office. In August it vanished.

* * * * *

What did you think of today's story? Use the hashtag #ssac2020 on Twitter and Instagram to check in with your fellow advent calendarians.