In the following interview, which was conducted in cooperation with the American Prose Library on November 6, 1991, Sapp discusses Hempel's approach to writing fiction, especially the story "In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried," which was one of the first stories Hempel ever wrote.

[Interviewer]: Many of our readers know your work, but not much about your life. Can you fill us in on your background?

[Hempel]: I was born in Chicago in 1951, and lived in and around the city till third grade, I think. After that I lived in Denver for eight years, then moved to San Francisco for about twelve years, then to New York where I live now. I was happy to leave California because I was traumatized by the earthquakes. On the positive side, I moved to work in publishing

Where did you go to college?

I had a nonlinear college education. I...