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Elizabeth J. Kenny grew up in New York and currently lives with her family in Kentucky. While working in education, Elizabeth’s writing appeared in a variety of research journals and professional textbooks. She co-edited a book about teaching children with disabilities. Currently, Elizabeth is just beginning to share her fiction, which often explores rural settings, family dynamics, or characters struggling with mental health issues. One of her stories was long-listed in SmokeLong Quarterly’s March Micro Marathon competition. When she’s not learning about writing or writing, Elizabeth loves to read, spend time outside with her terrier and border collie, or play Euro-style board games. 
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Interview with Elizabeth J. Kenny
about her story "Mercurial"
Honorable Mention for The Scribes Prize
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What inspired this piece?
I have known several brilliant, beautiful people who have experienced severe, unrelenting depression or bipolar depression. They are the inspiration for “Mercurial.”
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
I am drawn to micro-fiction because it is more like a bicycle than a gas-guzzling SUV. Less is more. A bicycle has only a few parts, but it can propel me forward and let me experience every inch of the journey. I’ll feel the wind on my face on the downhills. My legs will burn on the steep climbs. When I ride in the country, I will see the bales of hay, inhale the aroma of fresh manure, and hear an eerie orchestra of wind chimes. This is much like how micro-fiction’s rich descriptions transport us with just a few well-chosen words. When I reach the end of my ride, even if it’s just a few miles, I am transformed. I have moved; my perspective has changed, and I find myself in a different place. This kind of movement and change is micro-fiction’s superpower. I love my bicycle, so I’m inevitably drawn to micro-fiction.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
To name a few, Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, Joy Williams, and Lorrie Moore are among those who inspire me.
What's next on the horizon for you?
While I have been a closet fiction writer for years, I am just starting to share my work. Next for me is a lot of writing and a lot of biking.
What experience prepared you to write micro-fiction?
Some years ago, I had outstanding English professors in school, and I am currently part of a wonderful writing group with supportive, talented writers. Mentors and peers are invaluable; however, when it comes to writing micro-fiction, it was my brief career as a sportswriter for my hometown paper while in high school that taught me that every word counts, even in the headline. This was an excellent lesson for an aspiring writer to learn.
I have known several brilliant, beautiful people who have experienced severe, unrelenting depression or bipolar depression. They are the inspiration for “Mercurial.”
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
I am drawn to micro-fiction because it is more like a bicycle than a gas-guzzling SUV. Less is more. A bicycle has only a few parts, but it can propel me forward and let me experience every inch of the journey. I’ll feel the wind on my face on the downhills. My legs will burn on the steep climbs. When I ride in the country, I will see the bales of hay, inhale the aroma of fresh manure, and hear an eerie orchestra of wind chimes. This is much like how micro-fiction’s rich descriptions transport us with just a few well-chosen words. When I reach the end of my ride, even if it’s just a few miles, I am transformed. I have moved; my perspective has changed, and I find myself in a different place. This kind of movement and change is micro-fiction’s superpower. I love my bicycle, so I’m inevitably drawn to micro-fiction.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
To name a few, Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, Joy Williams, and Lorrie Moore are among those who inspire me.
What's next on the horizon for you?
While I have been a closet fiction writer for years, I am just starting to share my work. Next for me is a lot of writing and a lot of biking.
What experience prepared you to write micro-fiction?
Some years ago, I had outstanding English professors in school, and I am currently part of a wonderful writing group with supportive, talented writers. Mentors and peers are invaluable; however, when it comes to writing micro-fiction, it was my brief career as a sportswriter for my hometown paper while in high school that taught me that every word counts, even in the headline. This was an excellent lesson for an aspiring writer to learn.