Hallie Bateman will be reading at The Difficult to Name Reading Series on a Boat on June 13.
Congrats on your recent zine with Jack Sjogren, SAME DAY DIFFERENT SHIT. What was it like bringing that to Austin last week?
It was fantastic! It was my first time in Austin, and also my first time tabling at a comics fest. It was New South Fest's inaugural year, which made it pretty exciting. I usually feel intimidated and outsidery at those comics festivals, but at New South I felt like I was part of it. Jack and I got lots of positive feedback on our zine, and just had a great time seeing Austin. Everyone in Texas is so nice. We met ZERO jerks during our whole trip!
Your pieces on the Awl have captured what it's like to live in New York in a really unique, exciting way. How did that series come about?
I moved to New York! And I quit my art directing job to focus on my personal work. I started submitting to The Awl and after a little while they asked me if I wanted to do a column. It's not explicitly about New York, but I do live here, and it's such an inspiring place, it's hard not to write about it sometimes. I get a real thrill out of trying to keep myself a very sensitive person in a place that is hell-bent on desensitizing you.
What can people expect from your reading?