Literary Fiction
Date Published: April 16th
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Interview with Nicholas Deitch
Death and Life in the City of Dreams
Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?
I have been researching for this novel across my career. As an architect and city planner, everywhere I go I see the fruits and mistakes of our efforts, of cities that are glorious and humane, and cities that are choking and bleak. The most inspiring cities I have visited include Los Angeles, where I was born, Boston, which is one of the oldest American cities, and Paris, which embodies a thousand years of urban evolution.
What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?
So many strange things . . . Derringer pistols, dime novels, airships, whale-bone corsets, Multiple Scleroses, Parkinson’s, healing qualities of herbal teas. Writing about things unknown is an invitation to its own kind of adventure. The key is to enjoy the ride, and then bring it back home.
What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?
I love world building. It’s a process of discovery and I often approach it as someone stepping off of the bus in a new place, simply seeing and discovering where I am. As the lens begins to focus, this is a good place to pause and dig a little deeper. What is this place, its era, it’s social construct. In a new story, I’m researching aspects of my own origins, of Jewish ancestry—which I have no present knowledge of. So, I find myself discovering the realm of Jewish mysticism. And it’s fascinating.
Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.
I attend the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference each year. It is a wonderful community of passionate writers from all walks, and at all levels. My first few years I worried that I want good enough. I was a novice and still discovering my voice. When I showed up one year, with a collection of short stories to share, I was stunned—and elated—by the response. These were deeply human stories, emerging from places of my own struggle and vulnerability. And I was deeply moved at the end of the conference, to find that one of those stories received the honor of Best Fiction for that year. For someone who came feeling unsure and unqualified, this was a transformational moment.
The lesson learned? Write from your heart, from your difficult places, and your truth will find resonance in others.
Do you write in the same genre all the time?
I write in a literary voice, whether it’s speculative, historical, mystery. I often mix them up to tell stories that are difficult to classify. Magic realism often finds its way into my narratives.
If so, have you ever consider writing in another one?
I don’t focus on genre. I’m not really writing for a ‘marketplace.’ I’m writing to discover who I am. The genre emerges through the story.
Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I often write about people who live on the fringes of society, who might not be noticed, or might even be shunned. I am drawn to the timelessness of our predicament, that across the ages we humans have grappled with the same challenges, of fear, love, jealousy, loneliness. My very human characters will sometimes take on ‘supernatural’ characteristics, of vision, insight, the capacity to heal. I enjoy writing about self discovery and transformation, which in themselves can be acts of the supernatural.
Thank you for letting me share of my writing journey.
Nicholas Deitch - nickadeitch@gmail.com
You are welcome. We appreciate your visit with us today!
Nicholas Deitch is a writer, architect, and advocate for social justice whose fiction explores the intersection of cities, history, and human resilience. His passion for storytelling began when a colleague recognized the emotional depth of his nonfiction work. Since then, he has honed his craft, publishing short stories in Litro Magazine, Club Plum, and Santa Barbara Literary Journal. His short story “Grace Eternal” won Best Fiction at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference (2019).
Death and Life in the City of Dreams, his debut novel, is deeply influenced by his experiences in nonprofit leadership and the design of inclusive communities and urban places.
Originally from Los Angeles, he now lives in Ventura, California, with his wife and creative partner Diana.
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