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Fave Reads of 2021 (#Bestof2021)
Last year I got up to 35 books, of an aim of 50. Not too shabby considering I read a lot of book submissions for the day job. So being able to carve this time out felt like a blessing especially since I did get in a chunk of poetry in 2021 as well. Here are some books that stood out for me in 2021. Hope you see some faves or some new ones to add to your own list.
Hot dang! I’m actually getting this list out top of the year! [high five]
So, same as in 2020, I had a hard time reading steadily and regularly in 2021. That’s because (a) pandemic, (b) new job as an acquisitions editor, (c) working from home still, (d) finishing my own book, and (e) I left my role as contributing editor at Electric Lit (see b as the reason) and so I wasn’t reading as many galleys for new reads as per usual. Was I reading? Absolutely! But was I reading for funsies? Not as much. No daily commute means once again irregular reading time. I gotta say, as much as I dislike the MTA (I stand by those words) I got a good 2 hours or more of reading in Monday through Friday when I worked as a production editor in uptown Manhattan. That commute shortened with my new job in early 2020 and then all together went away once working from home became a, lucky, reality for many of us. It is a bit harder for me to read at home though I tried to rectify this in part with a new velvet reading chair! Here’s a link to it. (Thanks to Ebony Elizabeth Thomas for the inspiration!). And end of year I did actively take the week + off to just read and veg and write all for fun! Imagine that?!
As I say, to myself, every year I have no idea what 2022 will bring! If all bodes well my own book will be coming out in fall as will one of my first acquisitions as a new editor. So I expect busy times and maybe even less time for pleasure reading, but when I do get to read for pleasure it is indeed gratifying. Of the books I did get to read, I’d like to share some of my faves with you. Without further ado…
Circe by Madeline Miller (2018): Friends had been raving about this book all year. When folx hype stuff up I get a bit nervous because you’re going in with a lot of anticipation rather than as a blank slate. But, Circe did not disappoint! In fact I started it during Thanksgiving break thinking I would get in a chapter every few days. But I was unable to put it down, spending full evenings reading through. The prose is impeccable, the details luscious, the story fantastic. This is the book you should use as a teaching model for details and also character growth. It is SO good. Y’all read it. Just read it and re-read it now, for your own good. I now have Song of Achilles and cannot wait to savor that.
I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat: Stories by Chris Gonzalez (2021): Gotta love friends debut years! This taut flash fiction collection from Gonzalez provides just the taste (pun intended) of stories to savor about so many facets of being. My favorite was “Here’s the Situation.” The stylings of this are absolutely something to learn from. Definitely get this collection and absorb these stories in one gulp or bit by bit—hey more food puns!
Born on the Water: The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson, & Nikkolas Smith (2021): The collaborative development of this picture book is gorgeous from the poetics and love within the text to the vibrant illustrations. The trio of Hannah-Jones, Watson, and Smith make sure to convey light and darkness in real ways both textually and visually. I hope ALL kids/families get this book on their shelves and read it over and over and over again.
Catrachos: Poems by Roy G. Guzmán (2020): The experimental stylings in format and style really do bring together so many elements and voices and perspectives throughout. These are poems to be savored and each piece builds so well into a satisfying whole of a collection.
Bastards of the Reagan Era: Poems by Reginald Dwayne Betts (2015): Y’all need to read this collection! I also requested folx in a criminal justice reading group read some of these poems because Betts really brings you into the heart and mind of a system and the people within it. From varying POVs the truth is never lost and what more can you ask for in great art but an inherent truth?
The Creature of Habit by Jennifer E. Smith & Leo Espinosa (2021): This was one of the last books I got to work on when I was part of the Random House Studio team and it’s adorable! Leo Espinosa’s artwork always makes me smile. It’s so bright and the fuzzy wuzzy Creature of Habit is adorable! Plus it has the sweetest lesson when he makes a new friend.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (2021) : The latest from McQuiston is so good! It’s funny, heartwarming, sensual, and all that good stuff! And McQuiston did their diligence when it came to NYC subway research, appreciate that. The building romance between Jane and August, plus the family dynamics of August’s roommates leaves you rooting for everyone.
Mean by Myriam Gurba (2017): One of my first reads of 2021, Gurba’s hybrid work of nonfiction captures her voice, her experiences, and the exhilaration as well as the (unwanted) expectations/affections when growing up femme. I love Gurba’s writing in general and Mean blew me away showing what’s possible. Let us all embrace short texts that pack a punch.
Books I also read and eagerly enjoyed in 2021 include Hoodwitch: Poems by Faylita Hicks (2019), Pedro’s Theory by Marcos Gonsalez (2021), Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (2020), What Will My Story Be? by Nidhi Chanani (2021), and Mutiny: Poems by Phillip B. Williams (2021), Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly (2022).
Happy Reading!
Favorite Books of 2016 (#FaveReads)
Welp, 2016 is over. Not to say that a specific space of time can be a crapshow but hell if 2016 wasn't. That said, I think it showed more than ever the importance of books. You can find solace in them as well as an inspiration. As per usual my initial blog posts for the new year are to celebrate what I enjoyed in the previous year: Books and Dessert. So here's the latest in terms of the best books I read in 2016 (not ones that necessarily released that year).
Welp, that year is over. Not to say that a specific space of time can be a crapshow but hell if 2016 wasn't. That said, I think it showed more than ever the importance of books. You can find solace in them as well as inspiration. As per usual, my initial blog posts for the new year are to celebrate what I enjoyed in the previous year: Books and Dessert. So here's the latest in terms of the best books I read in 2016 (not ones that necessarily released that year).
When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz (2012) - Lemme preface for you that this was the year of poetry for me and you'll be seeing a bunch of it on this year's list. I had heard of Natalie's work before and read a piece here and there to which I quickly understood her genius in painting a powerful image with her words. But dang if this collection as a whole didn't blow me away! The titular piece alone is enough to make you delve in but pieces like "The Last Mojave Indian Barbie" and "How to Go to Dinner with a Brother on Drugs" show a wonderful dexterity of prose, poetry, metaphor, and imagery. If you haven't read this collection I'll sit here and wait until you do.
Blue Hallelujahs by Cynthia Manick (2016) - Cynthia was a guest on my podcast in it's first year and it's amazing to me this is her debut though her work has been published widely. This book is an introduction into the familial life and also the struggles and mostly the joys of a Black family. I gobbled this book up after leaving her launch party and quickly recommending it to friends.
The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter by Kia Corthron (2016) - As I've said again and again, do not be scared off by the 796 page count of this tome. It's a sweeping story of brotherhood over several generations from the beginning of the second World War through the Civil Rights movement to a few years ago. It's at once heartbreaking, engaging, and holds a mirror up to ourselves in terms of the duplicity of being on a side of history that means you can do horrible things and still survive it but lose a lot in the process. The research and people Corthron presents on the page are fully fleshed out, and for me, if you can hook me into your characters I'll stay for the entire ride. I had no problem on this journey and eagerly suggest others join in on it. After this year it's a tome we need.
March (Books 1-3) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and illustrated by Nate Powell (2014-2016) - Book Three won this year's National Book Award for Young People's Literature, but in all honesty the content and presentation of March transcends all ages of readers. This book got me emotional, John Lewis is one of the last living of the Six Civil Rights Leaders at the height of the Movement. He's seen a lot and endured just as much and he's a man who loves books and people. His strength gives you strength with each panel and to see the dedication of him and so many others in history gives us a blueprint for the future and insight into our past. I'm thankful for John and for this series. Seriously, if you haven't read it and I do not know WHY you have not now is the time. RIGHT now.
Saga (Volumes 1-6) by Brian K. Vaughn and illustrated by Fiona Staples (2012-2016) - This was a comic book series that was hyped up to me soon after it's publication. And you know how I feel about things that are hyped up: Suspicious. Is it really that good? I went ahead and splurged on the first available six volumes of the series so I could binge on it up to mid-2016 to see how the forbidden Romeo/Juliet style romance between Marko and Alana is realistic, fantastical, and tugs at the heartstrings. You root for them as a struggling couple and new parents. How far will they go for their child and to save each other when at their worst and best? This series shows that you don't have to do a lot of bells and whistles for science fiction, you can give us the human element, diversity, and a great bit of action all in one that builds up to who-knows-what at the end of the day.
Poet: The Remarkable Life of George Moses Horton written and illustrated by Don Tate (2015) - In the debate on "smiling slaves" in other picture books I think Don's book was not given as much visibility as it deserved. What Don accomplishes in the telling and illustration of the life of George Moses Horton is that he does not dumb down anything at all. George is never truly "free" until very late in life. There is a reality behind the pain of slavery but also the personal satisfaction and vindication of knowing that you can succeed on your own and in certain ways despite your situation. In that sense, while a slave, George is always human and a man who is worthy of the voice he shares.
Booked by Kwame Alexander (2016) - Dare I say I loved this book more than The Crossover? Dare I say it??? This is a book I was so happy to get an early peek at and the life of Nick, the pending separation of his parents, his ever widening vocabulary while at the same time he has a lot of trouble communicating with the girl he likes, the soccer championship, his own insecurity and having to go against his best friend in said soccer championship is a welcome read with PoC kids at the center that is so relatable it makes me so very glad it exists.
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (2015) - The titular jumbies are no joke folks! Baptiste does not pull punches when it comes to writing this middle grade novel about demons that have different characteristics on an island in Trinidad. Corinne La Mer will learn her connection to these creatures as well as the history as well as how that also ties into Caribbean folklore and our own in the United States. Fast paced and creepy The Jumbies is a book I'd heartily tell you to read and share with your kids...with the lights on.
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (2016) - Heilig's debut spans time, history, and many continents. Time travelers with a lot to lose make this a unique story weaving real history with an imagined one, the rules are clear and possibly a big issue for the main characters in this text. I enjoyed this book from start to finish even with the possible intro of a love triangle, at no point does Heilig ever pacify the reader but her intent is clear and works very well throughout. I'm looking forward to the sequel due out later this year.
The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings by James Baldwin (2010) - When you have the opportunity to read a bunch of Baldwin be it speeches, essays, interviews, and so on you do it! There's so much to take from Baldwin's words and to have this overflow of interests as well as considerations from Baldwin on race, sexuality, writing, locale makes this a book a must have if you already (or don't) have Baldwin on your shelves.
The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward (2016) - After reading this collection I went back on a Baldwin blitz . I read the above as well as what this book responds to of Baldwin's The Fire Next Time. Every piece in this collection is strong as heck especially the poetry interludes from Jericho Brown, Natasha Tretheway, and Clint Smith. Mitch Jackson's "Composite Pops" and Carol Anderson's brief "White Rage" are just a few of the essays that talk to the wider scope of pain that Blacks feel but don't simply put it up for show but analyze and dissect it so that those of us who already understand find solace in this piece while, hopefully, others find understanding.
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxane Dunbar-Ortiz (2014) - This is one of those books that'll piss you off after reading it. But it's a necessary read to hear about the massacres of Native American people within the United States and Mexico at the hands of colonialists. This is the history lesson we don't hear about. It's the lesson that's swept under the table to protect feelings for some and keep many of us in the dark. It's a book you need to seek out and read to learn what forced assimilation and genocide really mean and how this nation was built on it. It's what will help you understand the audacity of the mindset of many that this is their land when really that narrative is fictional in so many ways.
Counting Descent by Clint Smith (2016) - I was introduced to Clint's work after reading his poetic contribution to The Fire This Time. It gutted me, so when I heard he had a new book coming out I needed to have it. Like Manick's debut Clint's also looks at the Black family dynamics as well as the personal, relationships are at the heart of this collection and he weaves these poems with a clarity that doesn't weigh you down.
Look by Solmaz Sharif (2016) - Told you there'd be a bunch of poetry on this list! A 2016 National Book Award finalist in poetry, Solmaz's debut has been lauded and for good reason. Look forces you to see the issues and doesn't hold back in terms of the political climate as well as how war, racism, and patriotism among other themes featured. This is a book you need to read more than once and it's also a book you need to sit with because there are a variety of poems you'll find yourself saying "umph" after finishing that last sentence.
Other very notable books I read this year include American Street by Ibi Ziboi, Delicious Foods by James Hannaham, Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis, Unidentified Suburban Object by Mike Jung, Blackass by A. Igoni Barrett, Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie & illustrated by Yuyi Morales, and The Last Interview Series from Melville Press.
Fave Reads of 2015
I'm going to preface this post with the fact that I had written this back in December to go live first week of January and it was gone. Thanks a lot WP. Anywho, I redid it and here goes. Gotta keep with tradition.
I think last year was stronger for books than previous years for me. I’ve been trying to spread out more in terms of reading more nonfiction and poetry, not just a handful but a significant amount to combat the amount of fiction I read. One can dare to dream for a job where this is your soul day-to-day. Alas, perhaps that is in my near future.
So here’s a breakdown of the books that totally tugged at my heart strings after I placed it back on my bookshelf.
I'm going to preface this post with the fact that I had written this back in December to go live first week of January and it was gone. Thanks a lot WP. Anywho, I redid it and here goes. Gotta keep with tradition.
I think last year was stronger for books than previous years for me. I’ve been trying to spread out more in terms of reading more nonfiction and poetry, not just a handful but a significant amount to combat the amount of fiction I read. One can dare to dream for a job where this is your soul day-to-day. Alas, perhaps that is in my near future.
So here’s a breakdown of the books that totally tugged at my heart strings after I placed it back on my bookshelf.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (2012): This was a “hype book.” You know what I mean. Every year there are books I’ve read because of the hype, mainly word of mouth. And this was one of them. No matter who I spoke to about this book they loved it. End of the year I was brought down by a cold and happened to get a copy while visiting one of my favorite indies before it closed. So, I guess I should say “Thanks germs for sidelining me for several days” because I got to read Aristotle & Dante in one swoop. It was glorious and as lyrical, beautiful, romantic as everyone told me. The strength and loyalty of Ari and Dante’s relationship was one I envied in a way. The hype is real with this book, people!
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy (2015): I had heard about this book and this author before the year began so it was on my radar. When I was part of a reading with Angela I made a point to get a copy signed. And when I did my makeshift residency in October this was the book I sat with that gave me inspiration as I re-engaged with my own collection about an African American family. The control and focus of this novel and the intricacy of how each character is painted is a great lesson in novel writing and debuts. Turner House received many accolades last year, deservedly so.
Digest by Greg Pardlo (2014): This was a Pulitzer winner for poetry in 2015. I heard Greg read a few of his poems at a bookend event for Brooklyn Book Festival then went on to buy it on the spot. It’s political, personal, dynamic. Definitely deserved the Pulitzer. If you have a chance to hear Greg read it in person do so.
Endangered by Lamar Giles (2015): I read both of Lamar’s books this year. What I enjoy most about Lamar’s work is the narrative voice. He knows his characters and they have some attitude, rightfully so. In Endangered Panda seeks to get revenge on those who’ve hurt the less fortunate in her high school, but does that make her a Robin Hood of sorts or just as much of a bully as those she goes after?
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander (2009): I wish I’d read this book when it first came out. I wish many people would read this book in general. It’s depressing as hell to know the statistics, yet it’s one of those truths you should know as an American citizen. Biases are real as is the fact that racism is alive and well in this country. When reading Jim Crow take a moment to breathe deep, sit with the facts and narratives that Alexander presents, and consider the deeper issues of society and how you can help make a change.
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu (2013): A longlist for the National Book Award in 2014, this was another book I’d heard raved about for the realistic depictions of an autistic protagonist, not as someone who needed to be fixed but who was a hero. It was refreshing and the slight twist and horrors kept me flipping each page. Anne Ursu was very careful and determined in the story she wanted to write. I and many others see she did so successfully.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina (2013): Another “hype book”! This one I connected with especially because it took place in Queens, NY. In parts of Jamaica I am quite familiar with thanks very much. What struck me about Piddy’s journey was it wasn’t about fighting a bully but finding yourself and how the changes going on around her would dictate the decisions she went on to make in a new school without the friends she’d grown up with. Piddy has to get comfortable with herself and sometimes the way you fight battles isn’t with your fists.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae (2015): I adored the Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl web series and truly wish it’d make a comeback. Alas, I must settle for a humorous memoir-type book. So be it. Issa’s voice translates to the written page, not just the TV script, and some of the best parts are her break down of the types of people one deals with, in particular the co-workers. I shared that with my own because it was too true to life.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (2012): This was one of my first reads of 2015 and didn’t disappoint! I’d had it on my shelf for a while and sped through it thanks to the structure of the story told through text messages, emails, faxes, flashbacks, and so on in the search for Bernadette’s corporeal form and also the artist she’d left behind.
Native Guard: Poems by Natasha Tretheway (2006): Powerful about sums it up. This is another Pulitzer winner from years back. Natasha touches upon history in this account of how American society was built on the backs of so many others. This is one to savor if you really want to take in the light and dark of our history, Black history, African history, slave history.
Ghost Summer: Stories by Tananarive Due (2015): I was honored to interview Tananarive as the anniversary guest on my podcast. I received a copy of her book to read beforehand much to my delight. Ghost Stories isn’t just speculative/fantasy. It’s a lot of amazing personal, literary, transition stories with speculative elements. I think that’s Tananarive’s power in her prose is always touching on the human spirit and mind when moments that seem unreal come to play.
Additional highlights were Reality Boy by A.S. King, Blue Talk & Love by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, The Art of the Memoir by Mary Karr, and The Martian by Andy Weir.
Napa Valley & Santa Fe: Two Conferences, Two Perspectives
This year I did not one but two writing conferences back-to-back on the west coast. This called for lots of heat and water and immersing myself in the arts. I was glad to do so, but after a couple weeks did miss home, sort of.
As noted and noted again I am officially back from my self-dubbed "writing conference tour"! (echo, echo, echo) I applied to, and was happy to get scholarships, two conferences to be in classes with two writers I have admired for years.
My first stop was the Napa Valley Writers' Conference (NVWC). I'll gloss over my frustrating travels in LGA, almost missing my connecting flight, and my new good buddy Barbara and I suffering in 100+ degree heat in California traffic as we crawled from Sacramento to St. Helena. Meeting my workshop mates and workshop leader, Tayari Jones, more than made up for it. As did the wine! (One of my faves of the week was Stein Family Wines Rosato.)
Workshop groups met for a bit to get a sense of what we wanted from the week and why we were there. Before the conference began Tayari was very hands-on in regards to getting a better sense of our work, requesting statements of intents on what we were hoping came through in our pieces and what the overall story was about. This proved to be incredibly helpful when discussing the work so that we could lead into whether or not the bigger picture was being captured.
From the start I felt a very positive vibe from the group and as the remaining members arrived over the next couple days our camaraderie was solidified.
Tayari is a great mentor. What stood out to all of us was her problem-solving skills. Sometimes you're in workshop and while what doesn't work is pointed out it's up to the writer to figure out how to fix it. Not a bad thing, however coming up with resolutions can be more time consuming for some than others. With Tayari, bam, you get insight and fixes.
Amongst ourselves we all agreed, "Damn, Tayari's good."
Tayari had outlined whose work we'd be discussing on what day and had a whole strategy on why certain pieces had been grouped. From the get-go we knew she cared. This was further solidified in the way she spoke at length about our pieces and in the time she took to make comments (via colored pen and sticky notes) and in the one-on-one sessions we had with her the day after being workshopped. Being complimented by an author you admire is one of the highest forms of praise and also one of the best motivators you can get and I think, no I know, we're all flying high after this.
Fast forward to the events. Poetry lectures every morning, a fiction lecture every afternoon post-lunch, and a wine tasting (hey, it is Napa Valley, well St. Helena, after all) followed by a reading.
I was very lucky to receive community housing and stayed in a lovely cottage not too far from the Upper Valley Napa Valley College campus. And it was even luckier that my ride to the conference happened to be staying half a mile away down the road to pick me up every morning. (Thanks again, Barbara!)
Food provided was breakfast (buffet style) and lunch (portion controlled) by the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena. Breakfast included hard-boiled eggs (from chickens on campus), steel cut oatmeal and fixings, fresh juice, poached fruit, fresh fruit with basil, and homemade pastries which included croissants (dense and buttery), bear claws (with almond paste inside), and savory bread pudding (with and without bacon). For the most part all meals were vegetarian fare, but at the picnic on the last night there was meat! Meat in various and glorious forms such as lamb meatballs, beef strips, roasted duck, and chicken cutlet portions all so delectable it melted into your mouth! And, of course, dessert was at every lunch and dinner. Limoncello pie! Freshly made ice cream with caramel sauce! Brownies! Caramel chocolate bars! Yes, yes, and yes!
I had a great time, a great class, and a great mentor. And I'd like to add that poet faculty such as Forrest Gander and Brenda Hillman were super nice, supportive of all attendees, and very gracious and funny. They were at every event. Forrest even came up to me after the participant reading and said he enjoyed the scene I read from my Collection. A Pulitzer nominee said he liked my writing. Well, knock me over with a feather...
The weather was hot but pleasant and often there was a breeze. It did cool down in the evenings so a sweater/jacket was necessary. The wineries were gorgeous, the people of Napa and St. Helena pleasant, and the surroundings were lovely. My workshop mates and I also became hardcore fans of Gott's Roadside as a dinner option. Went twice (back-to-back days). No regrets.
After a near miss in terms of catching my flight to Albuquerque (for once I am thankful for plane delays) I had a bit of a segue way in Albuquerque before heading to my next conference.
Cue Segue way:
Native American Food Shacks (Pueblo Jemez)!
Hot Springs (Pueblo Jemez)!
Spanish Market with Local Artists (Santa Fe)!
And then we make our way to St. John's College for the Glen Workshop West (aka The Glen). After walking around Downtown Santa Fe I was greeted by friendly volunteers but man was I hot! Not humid, just hot! The sun is In. Your. Face. in Santa Fe. Literally, it winked at me.
As I headed up for registration I saw my instructor, Sara Zarr. And you know what? She recognized me! And you know what else? She hugged me straightaway! I almost begged off, embarrassed I was sweaty and she said not to worry. How cool is she?! I also met my workshop mate T. Michael Martin (expect his book The End Games next May). I heard some of it...awesome.
So after getting my packet and such I got some help from Greg's (Image Journal founder's) son Benedict (Ben). Super nice guy. Very helpful and seeking to pursue sculpture. Go Ben!
Attendees were warned, on more than one occasion, and I was warned by those from desert areas that I would need to adjust to the elevation. No joke. Ben and I were huffing our way to my dorm, which wasn't even that far in all honesty. But the high elevation (over 7,000 feet) and the thinning air made it a challenge for us low-landers.
Going from a cottage to a dorm is an adjustment, but I liked the size of my room and the fact that we were provided towels and bedding and such. I was out of the sun but it was warm. My roommate Raina was super nice and often not around so I had the space to myself often and where I was off at events in Napa, I got to utilize downtime in Santa Fe and get writing/reading done on a daily basis.
In Santa Fe water became a second appendage for those of us around campus.
"Where you going?"
"Bathroom."
"You really need that water bottle, it's down the hall?"
(Clutches water bottle/kleen canteen) "Never know."
Three meals (with vegan/vegetarian options) were provided on campus in the cafeteria. The Glen participants also shared time and space with visiting MFA students. Our schedule was thus: first breakfast, three hour workshops, then lunch, then break, an afternoon reading/lecture, dinner, then an evening reading/lecture, worship (where Scott Cairns talked about how one can mix their faith and their art), and then on a few days the open mic (prose, poetry, song, and visual) for participants. On the first day was a wine & snacks party and the last evening a wine & snacks and dance party!
Yes, I did say worship services. The Glen is a workshop organized by Image Journal and one of their goals is that "[T]hrough a commitment to artistic excellence and religious truth, Image has taken its place on the 'public square' and is poised to make a lasting impact on the future of our national culture." For those who are non-religious or agnostic, like myself, I want to convey that The Glen is not a workshop that centers around religion. It's about finding a balance in faith and art. And if you do not feel especially close to a particular faith do not feel like you'll be judged or preached to. It's a very comfortable environment where everyone listens and respects one another and for me I became even more intrigued by the mixing of faith and how everyone uses it to push their work. I even found in myself that I do subscribe to a faith of being good to my fellow man and woman and wanting to create the most honest portrayal of culture in my art.
Sara had been in touch with us prior to The Glen with an outline of what to expect and just to say "hello!" On the first day we relaxed, got to know each other, and did writing exercises. After that she scheduled work with groupings to talk about some things but also in what may work with each other. It was a relaxed style where hand-written critiques weren't necessary but a discussion always keyed up with someone saying "I loved this..." and others echoing that statement along with support on how to make certain aspects stronger and resonate more with the reader, while also helping the writer to feel more confident about pursuing their work and honing in on what the heart of the story is.
Sara was very generous with her time and even spoke with me afterwards about my story and my overall concerns with balancing personal changes in my life with focusing on my art. I can't thank her enough for the time she gave while at The Glen and the interest she showed. And have to extend another thanks to my workshop mates who liked Calvin and Kayla's relationship and gave me more to consider in revisions. Thanks y'all!
Both NVWC and The Glen offered something different but incredibly helpful and introspective as I shared different pieces from my Collection. In Napa people felt for the pain of a woman dealing with a miscarriage who's uncertain about where her life is going. One of the best pieces of advice I got from Tayari Jones on how to fix this in the revision phase was to "add some happiness" into her life so that the pain would pack a harder punch.
In Santa Fe I shared a portion of the life of an angry teenage boy whose love for his little sister trumps all but even he messes that up. His is a story about the inability to forgive and forgiveness and chaos and everyone in Sara Zarr's workshop got that. From Sara I got a great idea on how to tie up loose ends so that the reader will still stay with the main character even when he can be dislikable.
For me, it's been helpful to know that each time I show a piece from my Collection, flaws and all, the characters still come through and the readers I meet--strangers and artists around North America--become part of my cheering squad. So, yeah, the stories have flaws but the heart is there and that's what I needed to know to keep going. Two weeks away and I come back filled with even more gusto.
Interview with Caits Meissner (spoken word artist, graphic artist, lyricist, and all-around mellow lady)
Interview with artist Caits Meissner who is a New York City educator, spoken word poet, graphic artist, and musician.
I met Caits Meissner when we went to Ghana for the first year of the Pan African Literary Forum in 2008. Caits won a scholarship to attend for her phenomenal poetry and I was hankering to go to Africa and use up some bonus money. We were both there for the ambiance and the guidance of a great roster of instructors and authors, and we enjoyed our time immensely.
I have kept in touch with a handful of people from PALF and am certainly glad that Caits is one of them. She's a teacher, artist (in various genres), and gentile soul who's work will simultaneously inspire and astound you. I've heard her live and heard her audio and seen her graphic work and am consistently blown away. (Definitely check out her website(s) and follow her for upcoming gigs.) I was glad she offered to do an interview for her friends with blogs and she has inspired me to do a rotation of interviews with friends who are artists in their own right and want to spread the word about themselves.
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JBH: As an artist, how do you deal with the constant changes in media and social networking? Do you feel face-to-face is dead or as a spoken word poet do you feel you get to engage in meeting people more through performances than perhaps fiction writers and non-fiction writers and so on and so forth?
Caits: What a relevant question! My students, sometimes, when you ask them what their interests are say, "the internet," or "facebook." This fact frightens me, but I am not immune to it. I find myself "plugged in" too often and it accounts for a lot of disconnection in my own heart, despite the facade of intimacy. Its also a great way to be heard, so, like all things in this great life, its a balance. Unfortunately, I have never been much good at balance. I have a plugged in community, so I keep fairly up-to-date with the latest tech invention but its overwhelming. And exhausting. And I find myself less able to focus and lose myself in my art the way I was able to as a kid, with parent-limited 'net access, and a slower than syrup dial up connection. These days, I write a little, check my phone, write a little, check a blog, constantly checking in. Who wants to troll the internet for accolades and mentions constantly? Who wants to pump themselves to their friends and supporters over and over? The trick is detachment from an already detached networking system, and its a sincere practice in this day and age.
The good thing is, as a performer, I do feel connected to the larger world in a very tangible way, being on a stage. There is a direct contact: a handshake, a wink, a hug. But there is something very special, I still think, about being behind a pen and paper. You maintain a certain old-world mystery. I say embrace that. I waffle between wanting two very sharp distinctive worlds: being known and celebrated, and hiding, running away.
Caits: I struggle with this question, deeply. There are moments in the past when I would have loved to answer this question, ranting and raving and grinning. It defined me. These days, I am more acutely aware of what hard work being in front of a classroom is. How much energy you must give to the young faces in front of you. How unkind they can be and you take home the day like an old coat and dust it off, patch up the holes, put it back on and walk back into the wind. I shared this sentiment with a close friend, also a teaching artist, who said, "the amazing thing is, even when you aren't trying, young people are the center of your world when you teach, even if you teach part time, and there is a beauty in that." I agree.
Teaching becomes the center of my life, whether or not I wish my focus was more on myself, my love, my art. Teenagers demand a certain level of patience and attention and it becomes a very real meditation. Sometimes you wait weeks for a breakthrough, but when it happens, nothing is sweeter. The students I teach, for the most part, are not artists by their own definition. They find it difficult to be free in their expression and are afraid to create "wrong." Teaching reminds me there is no wrong. What a victory it can be to pull the creativity out.
Caits: I love this question! I am pretty good at sharing how much I love someone's art with them and I am blessed to have crossed paths with many of my old and new favorites. Of course, there are some that I just haven't... met, or written to, or expressed to. My friend Dionne Lee (look up her photos! Wowee.) has been writing to her favorite artists and getting amazing responses! She has been urging us to write to our influences and give them our love. I'm going to choose two women I'd love to gush to. Let me get to tell them now:
Dear Ani Difranco,
You saved me at thirteen. Seriously. In every way. Let me open for you.
Love, Caits
Dear Miranda July,
You remind me I can make all the art I wanna, in all kinds of ways. Thank you for expanding the boundaries of what my heart believed was possible for an artist. Thanks for destroying the box.
Love, Caits
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Caits: Of course! I have a big, baaaaddd website at http://www.caitsmeissner.com and I keep a daily blog at http://caitsmeissner.tumblr.com I tweet sometimes, too: http://www.twitter.com/caitsmeissner
Thanks, Caits for tackling these questions and for sharing your work, your kindness, and influences!