Read “An Angel in the Bathtub” by clicking here.
JOSH: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview. My first question is: what first got you into writing?
RAY: I’ve always been drawn to reading and writing from a young age. I wrote my first “poem” at four years old, and from then on never stopped writing about the stories and characters living inside my head.
JOSH: What kind of things are important for you to present in your own writing?
RAY: Whether I’m writing poetry or prose, I always want a sense of connection to be present in my work. That way readers can connect to the characters or general story being told, even if they’ve never experienced personally what they’re reading about. Writing is how I attempt to connect to others for myself, so it’s something I always keep in mind when I’m working on a piece.
JOSH: That’s really interesting. I’ve never heard that before, but it makes a lot of sense.
JOSH: Ok, now for some questions about your story. Did you start off with the full thing planned out, or did it come to you as you wrote?
RAY: This particular story started with just an image in my head of an angel sitting in a bathtub (hence the title) and kinda spiraled into being. But I knew I wanted a story about a girl with a complex relationship with a parental figure, as I wanted to explore how mental health can affect generations within a family. So as I continued to write, I made the details more concrete and built up Claire’s backstory as the story progressed.
JOSH: “An Angel in the Bathtub” is on its surface, a simple story. However, beneath the surface it’s brimming with complex and dark themes. Did you worry about how some of these ideas would be percieved by readers?
RAY: I was worried initially because this short story does contain a variety of difficult and complex topics. Mental health, domestic abuse, and reference to suicide, are all sensitive and deeply personal subjects in life and I wanted to make sure I handled them with care. I never wanted it to come across as suicide being a “solution” but rather a deeply unfortunate state of mind that can take hold of people when lacking the support they need.
JOSH: I appreciate that. It definitely is a concern whenever delving into such topics, but we can hope that readers see the nuance.
JOSH: Back to writing questions, one thing I’ve noticed in much of your writing is that you have a real knack for vivid imagery. Does this come naturally, or is it something you focus on intentionally?
RAY: I think a bit of both, mostly because I am a person who relies a lot on visuals in everyday life. But when it comes to writing, I do my best to create imagery that draws attention to things that sometimes go unnoticed. When reading other people’s writings, I always love the moment when you get so drawn in by details that you can see what’s being described unfold in your mind with ease, so this is something I always try to achieve in my own work.
JOSH: I think you do a great job at this. It’s definitely something I’ll keep in mind for my own writing.
JOSH: Somewhat related to that, are there specific writers/authors/poets that have inspired you the most in your writing?
RAY: I think two writers that have influenced me the most are Ocean Vuong and James Baldwin. Ocean Vuong has such a gift for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, while being so precise and powerful with emotion in his choice of words. James Baldwin is of course a well known influence on the literary world, and what I love about his writing is how well he immerses readers into the world he is describing. Everything I’ve read from Baldwin has captured the beauty and tragedy of humanity in ways I can only attempt to create in my own writing.
JOSH: I think you’re on the right path, for sure!
JOSH: Ok, one last question about your writing. As a biracial and transgender writer, do you feel like having those kinds of “dualistic viewpoints” allows you to show unique perspectives or present things in ways that others can’t?
RAY: I think that every writer inserts a bit of themself in everything they write, whether intentionally or not. So I do think that as a writer who is biracial and transgender, my own experiences with the world do present in my writing—either in more subtle ways or sometimes more directly depending on the piece.
JOSH: That’s fair.
JOSH: Alright, just a few more questions. Are there any things you would like to see more of in the literary world?
RAY: Honestly, just more authentic writing from humans and not AI. More and more I see new ways of AI infiltrating the creative and/or literary world, so I just hope that more writers stay true to their own work even if it means that it’s not as “clean” or “perfect” as AI made work.
JOSH: I think many of us feel that way, I certainly can agree with that.
JOSH: Ok, almost done. As a developing writer, what are your biggest goals for the next five years?
RAY: I would love to get a poetry chapbook published, but that unfortunately means I have to actually get around to writing one (oops). I also want to challenge myself to work on longer pieces of writing, like a novel or a full collection of poetry.
JOSH: I believe in you!
JOSH: Alright, one last question. If you are able to eat it, what’s your favorite kind of ice cream/gelato?
RAY: Anything with caramel or raspberry flavored gelato!!
JOSH: I appreciate your time. If there’s anything else you’d like to share, feel free to share here.
RAY: If anyone wants to check out what I’m reading, and for updates on my writing, I’m on Instagram @reading_with_ray_ (there’s also occasional content featuring my cat if that peaks anyones interest).
JOSH: That’s awesome. Thank you for the interview!
RAY: Thank you Bill and Josh!
Ray Kruger is a biracial and transgender writer from St. Louis. He has recently obtained his BA in English from Lindenwood University. You can find more of his poetry and prose in The Raven Review, The Lindenwood Review, and Arrow Rock Literary Journal. You can keep up with what he’s reading and his current publications @reading_with_ray_ on Instagram.
Bill Geblato's Lotto Gelato Grotto 