Jesse Durovey

Oyster River Pages: Who are the writers who have made you who you are?

Jesse Durovey: There are so many writers that have touched my life and reminded me that I’m not alone. I grew up in rural Montana, and the local library was my refuge every summer. I read Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and James Lee Burke—each of whom taught me about the power of language and the pervasiveness of horror. Over the years I’ve discovered Jesmyn Ward, who let me see myths in new ways; Max Porter, who taught me it’s okay to grieve; Joy Williams and Mark Richard, who write powerful stories and some of the most charming young characters I’ve ever read. As a veteran, I’ve also been shaped by some of the best writers of military fiction: Tim O’Brien, Ben Fountain, Phil Klay, and Michael Herr, to name a few.

ORP: What’s your favorite thing that you’ve created?

JD: “Marsh Lights,” in Oyster River Pages’ current issue, is definitely up there for me. So often, when I write a story, I spill a rough draft out onto the page and spend months gradually turning it into something resembling a story. “Marsh Lights” just poured out of me almost fully formed. Tad and Cleo emerged from the page, familiar and alive. They’re two of my favorite characters and they made this story easy to write.

ORP: How do you pay it forward?

JD: I’m a high school English teacher and I believe the best way I can pay it forward is by letting the young men and women in my classes know that they are cared for, and their words and thoughts are valued. 

ORP: What are your food issues?

JD: Have you tried tacos? I can’t get enough of them. The problem is that it’s hard to find good tacos in Montana.

ORP: What role does the writer play in society?

JD: There’s no simple answer to this question. Writers can entertain us and let us forget about the darkness in our world. Other writers stand guard and warn us of the danger at our gates (or in our midst). But I don’t believe that good fiction must be inherently moral. Some of my favorite writers illuminate the darkest corners of our society, and our psyche, without judgment. Writers should make us question everything and empathize with anyone. 

Jesse Durovey is a writer, a former soldier, and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Montana, and his work has appeared in riverSedge, Brilliant Flash Fiction, and Pecan Grove Review. Jesse lives in western Montana with his wife, Tamara, and their three sons. Read his short story “Marsh Lights” here.