An Interview With Sam Hendrian

Magical, wistful words - what do they mean? Are we even utilising their full potential? Far away in the strange, shimmering lands that are Los Angeles, an indie filmmaker and poet decides to learn how to fly. He is our second chosen Lark. He is Sam Hendrian.

Earlier this April, the Serein Lark Review shared its first chosen contributing writer, Lewis Leverett. It is my pleasure today to present you, dear reader, with the second! What a joyous day indeed!

Sam Hendrian has given us the honour of featuring his short story, 'Hangin' In', in our upcoming online issue. It is no small feat to be among the first building blocks of an emerging literary magazine, and we hope you will read his story in August. If you have yet to be fully convinced, this interview should be just the trick!

Can you introduce yourself? Who are you, Sam?

I am an independent filmmaker and poet striving to foster empathy through art. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, I have resided in Los Angeles for the past six years, where I have directed 50+ silent short films shot on iPhone, facilitated creative writing workshops at rehabs and shelters, and written personalized poems for strangers every Sunday outside a bookstore.

How would you describe your short story 'Hangin' In'? What can you tell us about it?

"Hangin' In" revisits a favorite theme of mine, which is people's frequent inability to communicate sincerely with each other, relying on platitudes and overused phrases rather than taking the time to genuinely listen. The protagonist of the story, Raquel, grows sick of friends and strangers assuming she's feeling great when she actually replies "I'm hangin' in" to their how-are-you questions, and she goes on a little mission to find someone who hears "I'm hangin' in" as "I need a little love and kindness today."

Talk us through what inspired your piece and the process of writing it. Was it a particularly difficult story to get down, or did the words flow like a river?

Like many of my short stories, this piece was inspired by my own struggles as a hypersensitive person who struggles to open up to anybody because he's certain they'll reply with the usual script. When people ask me how I'm doing, I often reply "Oh, hangin' in," to which they just nod their heads and say "That's good." It can feel isolating, and I realized I might not be alone in this frustration, so I wanted to create a character who also faced this predicament and found a hopeful path forward. 

The ideas were easy to convey, but I'm not much of a plot-focused writer, and I did struggle to find some sort of vague thruline for the story. How was the protagonist going to address her struggle tangibly rather than just philosophically?

Here is an excerpt from Sam's short story, 'Hangin' In'.

Raquel had always refused to go to therapy. She considered it a form of emotional prostitution, and she didn't think it would be much of an uplift anyway.

Do you have any habits for when you write, such as always having a cup of tea by your side or a special place you must write for the sake of the creative juices (or something more peculiar, such as Victor Hugo's alleged need to write in the nude)?

I have many, some healthy and others unhealthy (yes, there's a reason several famous writers struggle with the bottle), but one I'd recommend is writing on a light stomach, a few hours before a meal. The creative juices flow more quickly in my experience, and since artists are often subject to loneliness and melancholy, it helps having some delicious food to look forward to.

What do you enjoy reading? What are you reading right now?

I enjoy reading relatively short, almost cinematic novels that explore a character's duality and moral dilemmas in a relatable, empathetic way. I'm a lapsed Catholic who struggles with faith and doubt and the good/evil that lives within each person, so I'm drawn to a solid morality tale. My favorite author is Graham Greene, whose novel The Power and the Glory about an alcoholic, agnostic priest in 1930s Mexico had a profound impact on me, particularly the line, "Hate [is] just a failure of imagination."

I'm currently reading Catch-22, which has been on my list for a while. It definitely lives up to the hype, quite funny while simultaneously tragic.

Do you have any other publications you'd like to point our readers to? Or is there someplace readers can follow you for updates on future work?

Definitely! If you just Google "Sam Hendrian," you'll find poems and stories I've had published in various literary magazines. I have also self-published several poetry anthologies and one novella on Amazon, and you can find my experimental films on YouTube.

Thank you for your time, Sam, and for reminding us of empathy and genuineness. We all long to be seen, recognised and loved, while society feels as though it's spinning out of control. Perhaps it's in these difficult times that we ought to care for one another the most. So, hey, reader! If you made it this far, I suggest you take on the challenge to ask your friend today... how they truly are.