CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT:
Interview with Dariana Alvarez Herrera

Rappahannock Review Fiction Editors: In “Lazarus” the cycle of alcoholism is the central theme, affecting both the father and the daughter. Where did the idea for this theme come from?

Dariana Alvarez Herrera: A lot of my work is based on my personal life. I am the child of an alcoholic father and my relationship with him is full of both love and heartbreak. When I sat down to write the story, I wanted to write mostly from a recent memory of visiting my father when he was suffering from health issues with some events being fictionalized. I also wanted to create a story where I can show that there is more to a person than their addiction. It can really consume someone, but tenderness and deep love can coexist with this at the same time.

RR: In the first paragraph, the protagonist describes her father as Lazarus coming out from his tomb. Why did you choose to title the story after this name?

DAH: I grew up very religious and it often appears in my work. To be specific, I grew up Pentecostal which is a denomination that often believes in miracles. In the context of this story, I really wanted to play with the idea of having hope and how it can be misleading. The idea of Jesus bringing someone back from the dead is very extraordinary, but in life we never see it happen. I believe that both my protagonist and her father are trying to hold on to some kind of hope. The idea of a resurrection is truly symbolic for a longing for change that likely doesn’t happen.

RR: The focus of the story is between a father and his daughter, with the mother only being brought up but never actually there. Why is the mother almost absent from the story?

DAH: The more simple answer is that I really just wanted to tell a father-daughter story. I have definitely considered the role of the mother when revising my story, but I ultimately envisioned the mother being more of an echo. Her influence lingers in the religion and I thought that this influence was more meaningful to the story than to have her appear as another concrete character. I believe her being mostly absent also adds to the daughter’s distance from religion and how she is disillusioned with it.

RR: In your bio there is mention that you are a fiction editor at the Lunch Ticket. Has there been a piece you have edited that has inspired you?

DAH: Absolutely! In being an editor and overseeing a reading team, our taste is obviously very subjective, but I have read stories that were not only well-written but have impacted me emotionally. There is one piece I have read this semester that definitely comes to mind, and I greatly admired and felt inspired by the way that particular writer chose to tackle family and religion in their story.

RR: Are there any other projects you are working on?

DAH: I’m currently trying to draft and compile a collection of linked, semi-autobiographical short stories that deal with themes of family, love, and alcoholism. I definitely plan to include “Lazarus” because it is one of my favorite short stories I have ever written. I believe that these stories need to be told, not just for my own personal healing journey, but to also tell stories about how love grows, changes, and can sometimes hurt us.