Wednesday, January 28, 2015

A Chat with E. Kristin Anderson-- Poet, Young Adult Author, & Blogger



I met her several years ago when we both participated in The Found Poetry Review's Pulitzer Remix, and ever since then, she seems to pop up everywhere. If you haven't read her work, you're missing out. Let me introduce you to E. Kristin Anderson.

L: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

E: I'm a girl from Maine living in Austin, Texas, writing poetry and the occasional YA novel or essay.

 L: Sorry to interrupt, but what brought you to Austin all the way from Maine?

E: Coming to Austin is kind of a funny story. Either a tragedy or a comedy, depending on your POV, but I believe in silver linings. I moved here for a guy I met online, hung out with a few times, and fell in love with. He turned out to be a terrible person. But I fell in love with Austin. So now Austin is my boyfriend. Austin gives me tacos whenever I want them. I mean, what more can you ask for?


L: Austin will never disappoint either. Okay, go on…


E. I have two chapbooks out -- A GUIDE FOR THE PRACTICAL ABDUCTEE with Red Bird Chapbooks and A JAB OF DEEP URGENCY with Finishing Line Press -- and I co-edited the DEAR TEEN ME anthology with Zest Books. I'm addicted to television, vintage dresses, and guacamole. I also have a third chapbook on the way with ELJ Publications, ACOUSTIC BATTERY LIFE, forthcoming in 2016.

L: Three chapbooks... wow. You are a busy woman! Please, do tell us your secret of success.

E. I have been accused by critique partners of never sleeping. And I must confess, I do suffer from insomnia. But I think the real secret to any success is pigheaded delusions of grandeur. I write my heart out, and I send my work to magazines (somewhere in between the writing and the sending is, of course, critique and revision) and I ask myself "What would Buffy do?" a lot. The answer is usually kick ass now and apologize later when I break something. So, you know, that totally translates to writing.

L: What is your favorite type of poem to write?

E: My favorite type of poem to write definitely depends on my mood, but I think I'm always excited when I get to write a poem about weird things like jackalopes and UFOs. And I'm even more excited when I find a way to do this with found materials.

L: Will you please share a poem with us?

E: Sure. This is one I really enjoy reading at events (it's also in my chapbook A GUIDE FOR THE PRACTICAL ABDUCTEE):

Unicorn in Central Park

You've heard the city is magic –
it's why I came, knowing
I'd be a workhorse, carting tourists
down Fifth Avenue, donning bells
that clank. Never a jingle. 

                          Hiding – it should be simple. 
The carousel, though, it reflects truths
where I am a lie. 

Magic – this city has it, sure:  The first snow,
a kiss in the park, the off off Broadway theatres
exposing names in lights. 

I am just another creature with feet touching
            wet pavement. Myth is a line blurred
                         between starlet and waitress,
                                  between horse and cart. 

There are worlds here
which we render invisible. 
The wind in my hair, a girl's breath,
a last ride in the settling dusk.


//

L: If you could sum up your style in one word, what would it be?

E: My style, in one word, is narrative. Whether found or traditional free verse, I think every poem should tell a story. I try to reflect that in my own work.

L: Where can we find you? (FB, Twitter, blogs, etc.)

E: I blog at http://EKristinAnderson.com and also run http://DearTeenMe.com with friend and fellow author Priya Chand. You can find me on Twitter at @ek_anderson and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorekanderson.