Meet the Intern: Henna Schecter

Written By Colin Mustful

Henna Schecter, a.k.a Henna Oak

Hello! My name is Henna Schecter and I am this summer’s intern. I am a senior at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I am majoring in English and geology. I am thrilled to be interning with History Through Fiction and to experience the behind-the-scenes of book publishing. I have always been interested in the publishing industry, and I am grateful that it continues to thrive in a present filled with technological hurdles and governmental prejudices. Publishing houses and presses such as History Through Fiction do society such a great service, and I am honored to be a part of it, even for a short time. 

I publish under the pen name Henna Oak, and my work can be found in the journals Cosmic Daffodil and San Antonio Literary Review, as well as in the upcoming anthology, Gathered Here Today: An Open Casket of Art and Poetry (Graveside Press). 

I find historical fiction, and history in general, fascinating. One of my favorite time periods to read about is the golden age of the American Labor Movement, roughly from 1920-1970. I grew up in Chicago, as part of a long line of union members, and I spent most of my childhood on picket lines with my father, a proud member of the Chicago Teachers Union. I am currently a member of UNITE HERE Local 17, and an organizer with the Macalester Undergraduate Workers’ Union. I think Solidarity is a crucial community value, and it is important to continue to cultivate it in the modern era, and to remember how it was upheld throughout history. 

Though a fan of historical fiction, my favorite genres to read and write are those under the speculative umbrella, particularly science fiction. I love science, particularly geology, since it allows me to spend time in nature. I enjoy hiking; using the time to collect rocks, look for insects, and daydream about stories. I plan on pursuing a volcanology degree in graduate school, and eventually working to monitor volcanic eruptions and prevent the damage that can be caused by them. My hobbies include; learning Icelandic and American Sign Language, saving spiders from hostile forces, and watching horror movies with my mother. 

Favorite Book: Dear Cyborgs by Eugene Lim 

Favorite Author: Kurt Vonnegut 

Favorite Imprint: PRH’s Ace 

Favorite Literary Journal: Strange Horizons 

Favorite Band: The Mountain Goats 

Favorite Insect: Caddisfly (order Trichoptera) 

Favorite Rock: Anorthosite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈)

Colin Mustful

Colin Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, an independent press dedicated to publishing historical narratives rooted in factual events and compelling characters. A celebrated author and historian whose novel “Reclaiming Mni Sota” recently won the Midwest Book Award for Literary/Contemporary/Historical Fiction, Mustful has penned five historical novels that delve into the complex eras of settler-colonialism and Native American displacement. Combining his interests in history and writing, Mustful holds a Master of Arts in history and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he enjoys running, playing soccer, and believes deeply in the power of understanding history to shape a just and sustainable future.

Next

Cover Reveal: The Porcelain Menagerie by Jillian Forsberg