Anita Sethi, award-winning journalist, writer and broadcaster, spoke about interviewing international literary figures and other artists at the American University of Sharjah yesterday, Monday, November 21.

"Interviewing is really about peeling away some of the layers of people's personalities. A good technique to practice is to interview yourself," said Sethi. "What inspires you? What are you hopes and dreams for the future?"

Sethi also talked about contemporary interview techniques, such as "Twinterviewing," in which a live interview is conducted on the social-networking and micro-blogging site Twitter, as well as audio slideshows.

The lecture concluded with a short interview of three poets: Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion, in association with Big Bridge, an online literary and arts magazine; and Nicholas Karavatos, Assistant Professor of Language and Literature at AUS.

Anita Sethi has interviewed writers, actors, musicians, film directors, politicians and adventurers. She has written for the Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Independent, Independent on Sunday, New Statesman, Times Literary Supplement, and the BBC, among others. She has appeared as a guest panelist and commentator on shows such as the BBC's "Richard Bacon Show," "Simon Mayo Show," "The World Today," and "Up All Night."

The event was held in cooperation with the AUS Department of English and the Sharjah International Book Fair.