'Extinction Capital of the World': Guest author discusses new book

The English Department hosted guest author Mariah Rigg this October for a discussion with students about her new collection of short stories, “Extinction Capital of the World.”

Set in Hawaii, where Rigg grew up, the collection takes readers through tales of love, longing, and loss. Through this lens, readers get a glimpse of the archipelago that has been shaped by colonization and a breathtaking ecosystem that is perpetually at risk.  

“I titled the collection ‘Extinction Capital of the World’ because that’s what ornithologists call Hawaii. It had the most biodiversity, and over time, it’s lost it,” said Rigg, who was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, and is of Samoan-Haole descent. “I was also thinking about the many small extinctions we experience as humans, the little losses: emotions that fade, people we’ve loved and lost.”  

Rigg read a section from her first short story, “Target Island,” based on the island of Kaho’olawe. The story follows one man’s life and his relationship to the island, which was used by the United States military for bombing practice throughout the 20th century.  

As a child, Rigg volunteered on the island and helped clean up bombs with her neighbor, an experience that inspired the story.  

Q&A session 

After the reading, Rigg participated in a Q&A session, offering students advice about the creative writing process. She discussed character development, creative inspiration, and the importance of sound in storytelling. 

“When I’m writing, I think more about image, scene, and setting than character,” Rigg said. “So, when people say, ‘Your characters are so vivid,’ I’m always shocked. I’m obsessed with how it feels to be inside a character’s body.” 

Rigg also spoke about the role of rhythm and sound in her work. “A relationship with the ocean is a relationship with sound,” she said.  

She continued: “I grew up so close to the water; my mom took me to the beach right after leaving the hospital. That connection to the ocean really shapes how I think about language.” 

To stay grounded in the tone of each project, Rigg keeps what she calls “touchstones,” which are creative references that help her reconnect with a story’s voice.  

“For every project I’m working on, I’ll have a touchstone. It is usually a book, a song, or even a weird online article that I read before I start writing,” she said.  

“It helps me get back into the cadence or tone of that project.” 

Rigg is the recipient of fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Mount, Oregon Literary Arts, Carolyn Moore Writers House, and Lambda Literary. 

Rigg holds a master’s degree from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Currently, she teaches creative writing at Mount Holyoke College in Northampton, MA.