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Typewriter interview with Liana Finck

Typewriter interview with Liana Finck

10 questions for the cartoonist about drawing, kids, and collecting rocks

Jul 29, 2025
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Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon
Typewriter interview with Liana Finck
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Hey y’all,

Liana Finck is a cartoonist and regular contributor to The New Yorker. This year she published a children’s book called Mixed Feelings and illustrated a book of children’s questions collected by the writer Sarah Manguso called Questions Without Answers. This typewriter interview was conducted via the magic of the United States Postal Service. (For a plain-text version with links, see the P.S. below.)

Do you see yourself as part of an artistic lineage? Who would you place in your creative family tree?  PEOPLE MAKING THINGS IN GENERAL  MATISSE  WILLIAM STEIG  SAUL STEINBERG  MY MOM (HARRIET FINCK)  ROZ CHAST  MAIRA KALMAN
Describe your perfect day in Brooklyn.  EVERY DAY IS BROOKLYN, SO A PERFECT DAY MIGHT INVOLVE: TAKING A LOOOONG TRAIN RIDE TO LONG ISLAND + LEISURELY IDEA-RUN ON THE BEACH. O-: THE BEST I MISS IT SO (SINCE HAVING KIDS) MY FAVORITE THING IN BROOKLYN 1S TO RUN IN PROSPECT PARK - OR BIKE.
John Waters says he has "youth spies" that keep him up-to-date on culture. Do you have any youth spies?  MY KIDS RAYMIE & ELINOR  & SOMETIMES THEIR BABYSITTERS
What do you do for exercise? Do you detect any emotional, spiritual, or creative benefits?  I RUN. AND YES, ALL THOSE THINGS.  IT'S WORTH THE TOOTH + TOENAILS I LOST WHEN I WAS JUST STARTING OUT.  NOW I RUN SLOW, & NOT TOO FAR, BUT I DO IT EVERY DAY.
If you could chose another medium to work in, what would it be?  I FANTASIZE ABOUT PROSE. IF I WEREN'T AN ARTIST I'D IDEALLY BE A DOCTOR I THINK.  IF I COULD CHOOSE A TALENT I DON'T HAVE: DANCE.

These typewriter interviews are made possible thanks to the kind support of paid subscribers.

I "smoke" a cigarette pencil when I'm in the studio. Do you perform any silly rituals when you're at work?  DEEP DOWN I'M SILLY, BUT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR TOO MANY OTHER SILLY PEOPLE + ANIMALS RIGHT NOW TO REMEMBER HOW.
What's your relationship to music? Do you sing or play an instrument? Is there a song that always cheers you up?  NOT REALLY.  I'M ALL VISUAL ALL THE WAY. (WHICH YOU WOULDN'T KNOW FROM THESE CARDS. I'M ALSO VERY SELF-CONSCIOUS.) BUT I LOVE CADENCE IN WRITING.
What are your favorite picture books to read with your kids?  WHAT PETE ATE - MAIRA KALMAN  LITTLE BEAR -  ELSE HOLMELUND MINARIK  + MAURICE SENDAK  OWL AT HOME - ARNOLD LOBEL  TELL ME A MITZI -  LORE SEGAL  MARTHA SPEAKS - SUSAN MEDDAUGH  GEORGE & MARTHA - JAMES MARSHALL  I COULD GO ON.
Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists and other creative people?  GOD, I WISH I DID. THINGS SEEM TO CHANGE TOO FAST FOR ANY OF MY ADVICE TO BE RELEVANT. BUT THIS SEEMS EVERGREEN: FRIENDS + COMMUNITY = SUPER IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN YOUR CAREER.
Do you have any hobbies? Do you collect anything?  I USED TO COLLECT ROCKS + I STILL LOVE ТНЕМ.  NOW ALL I WANT IS TIME.

Big thanks to Liana for being the 9th participant in this series of typewriter interviews!

Do check out her books and her newsletter.

xoxo,

Austin

P.S. Here’s a full transcription of the interview with links:

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