Meet the Team: Will Evans
Next up in the Meet the Team series is Will Evans, Deep Vellum’s founder and publisher. Read along as he shares about translating Russian literature, why reading matters when the world is on fire, and his love-hate relationship with Ted Lasso.
Where are you based? Dallas, Texas! I'm originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, and also spent many years in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and living in a van on tour with my best friends' band across North America
What’s your role at Deep Vellum? I am the founder, CEO, executive director, editorial director of Deep Vellum. I oversee the administration and execution of all aspects of Deep Vellum's operations and programming, from mission and vision to branding and marketing to strategy and fundraising to editing and accounting, and a bit of everything in between.
What's the best or most interesting part of your job? I love the chance to put all the pieces together to build something unique and impactful in this world that needs it, all together with my colleagues who believe in this mission too, it's all so meaningful to me.
What is your favorite book we've published, and why? My favorite book is truly impossible to choose, because every book I've ever published is my favorite child. But if I had to choose one book, I go to Tram 83, by Fiston Mwanza Mujila, translated from the French by Roland Glasser, because one of the many throughlines of the story involves the question of "Why do reading and writing matter in a burning world that doesn't care?" and when I read that full translation for the first time I almost cried, because the way that Fiston answers that question throughout this wholly unique novel is a perfect encapsulation of the entire mission and point of Deep Vellum too.
What’s your background? I studied Russian literature in university and graduate school, and got obsessed with the way writers there ask the big questions and use storytelling to engage with the world, and in the belief that literature can, and should, change the world. That got me into translating a Russian novel in grad school, which is what got me into publishing.
What’s a forthcoming book from any of our imprints that you're looking forward to? I can't wait to watch the world read and have their minds blown by Schattenfroh, which we're publishing this summer, by Michael Lentz, translated from the German by Max Lawton. It's the type of ambitious, bold, strange storytelling that's lacking in the book marketplace today, and it will literally melt your mind into the brainfluid it is.
Do you have any pets? I have a black lab-collie mix — Ollie — and two young brother-cats — Marshmallow and Cub!
What's your favorite bad television show? Ted Lasso is the first tv character I've ever seen myself reflected in (and I mean beyond his mustache too), and I hate that about him, but love the show as a result.
What’s your favorite planet? EARTH IS SO UNDERRATED!