LITSNACK

Describe your writing process.

I sit down in the chair and something happens.  I usually don’t have ideas that I outline or work through in my head.  Characters take shape in the writing.  And revising.  Like Ferlinghetti says, I’m “constantly risking absurdity.”  And why not?  Most of what I write will face the delete key, but some won’t.  I love the burst of creation.  Poems & flash fiction happen fast for me—but that is only the beginning.  I love revision, even when it drives me nuts.  Ideally, I’d like to write everyday, but life can intervene.  It’s important to keep at it and not let discouraging voices get too loud.

If you were a snack food, which one would you be and why?

A potato chip.  Because I devour them.

What is one of the earliest pieces you read that hit you between the eyes?

I wasn’t much of a reader until high school when I had a teacher, Mr. Radtke, who made me think that books were invaluable, not because an English teacher says so, but because they can shed light that we need in this dark world.  The Stranger by Camus had and continues to have a big influence on me.  I didn’t read much poetry until college though I started writing song lyrics (and I can’t sing or read music) at 15: I was going to be the next Tommy James and the Shondells.  In our basement.

Tell us one thing that is in your writing space that we would be surprised to find there.

Pictures of 4 owls I “adopted” at the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minoqua, Wisconsin: Rhea, Willow, Fritz, and Cosmo.  They'd be surpised to see their faces looking over me as I write.

Choose three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers.

Contemplate.  Observe.  Courage.

Tell us about a celebrity crush.  Justification optional.

I’m aware of few celebrities since the 1960s or so.  Derek Jeter used to be quite cute.  I prefer people not to look done up.  Sometimes I look done in.

Tell us one thing about you that wouldn't appear in the standard 50 word literary journal biographical note.

I have a list of my 2400 favorite songs, in order.  The top one is “12:30” by the Mamas & the Papas.  The last one is “Better Move It On Home” by Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton. LS

How did you arrive at the poem published in LITSNACK? Where did it come from?

Unlike most of my writing this one is a simple descriptive piece, a picture, a ‘postcard’ from a journey form one corner of Europe to the other. I was taking a break on a bench in a park in front of a museum, etc., as described in a poem. The whole situation was a very happy, pleasant moment in a long journey with a heavy backpack, and I wasn’t sure what the next day would bring, I didn’t know where I would stay (in fact the night before I slept on a park bench), but I just didn’t really care, I put my backpack down and enjoyed the moment of rest, the sigh of relief, and... felt that it was the right time to grab my pen and notebook and write.


Describe your writing process.

Before I start writing a poem, I can feel that it is coming. It’s hard to describe it. It’s a particular kind of feeling. As if something or someone sat down on my shoulder and whispered “now, write”. When it comes I feel a certain kind of inner sadness and peace “opening” inside of me and it turns into a gentle physical sensation of discomfort around the heart, as if something soft and warm wrapped around it and started to squeeze it lightly. When I feel it I know that this is the right time to write. But before I start I never know what it will be. I hardly ever have and “idea”, a “plan”, a phrase that I know I will start with. It just comes to me and, sort of, reveals itself. So although I’m rather agnostic I believe in the idea of revelations that inspired the apostoles. I think I know what it may feel like.

If you were a snack food (Twinkies, Cheez-Its, Pork Rinds, etc.), which snack food would you be and why?

I’d be a piece of seafood sold around the harbour area of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) in the afternoon. Fishermen deep-fry calamari and octopi and sell it to the people who return from work, or wherever they are during the day, you take a toothpick and pick piece by piece and eat it.  I’d choose to be these because they can watch the afternoon/evening life of an East-African coastal city, which is something magical.


What is one of the earliest pieces of writing you read that hit you between the eyes?

For the sake of this interview, and my writing in English, I may say that Bukowski’s ‘8-count’ opened my eyes to writing poetry in English. And I think that most of my English works are very much inspired by this poem, and a few others.


What’s one thing in your writing space we wouldn’t expect to be there.  Why is it there?

It depends on the writing space, if I am at home I need to tidy the space around, it cannot be cluttered, because mess distracts me very badly, so you wouldn’t find anything unexpected. But if I travel and write in parks, sleep in parks and squats, dorms, other people’s homes and beds, you may find all kinds of things that are around, and they don’t distract me (unless they are cops who come to ask questions, that happened once when I was writing in a park).


Three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers 
   (e.g. Read, read, read)

Never trust anyone.

I mean: as you write and get more and more experienced you will find that for the same piece of writing you will be praised and crticised by various groups or individual people. So there’s no point in believing in anyone’s opinion. Trust yourself.

Name a celebrity crush (justification optional)

 Mary Beth ‘Peaches’ Nisker

What’s one thing not in your standard 50-word publication biographical note we would find interesting about your life? 

What may be interesting and/or important here is to mention that English is not my first language. I come from an Argentinean/Polish family so Spanish and Polish are my first languages. But my English poems are not translations of my poems written in my morthertoungues, they “come” to me in English! LS

How did you arrive at the story published in LITSNACK? Where did it come from?

Bette and Joy was one of those stories that just came organically. I find waiting rooms at the ER incredibly interesting because people always seem at their most fearful in this room, waiting to be seen, waiting for diagnosis. I began this story with the idea of a young woman who liked going to the ER daily, to dig the scene and bring some life (joy) to the place. Stories this short, for me, usually all come out at once. I let it settle for a few weeks before revising, and when I revised Bette’s character began to come to life as well, as a portrait of the average patient, trying to battle neurosis in the midst of feeling so helpless.

Describe your writing process.

I start with freewriting, never outlines. Usually, the real process happens for me when I begin the revision. I have learned that time is necessary to develop any perspective on the quality of my own work, so I let my writing simmer for a few days before rereading it. Once it’s on paper, the story seems to come together, little by little, each time I revisit the piece.

If you were a snack food (Twinkies, Cheez-Its, Pork Rinds, etc.), which snack food would you be and why?

Cubed cheese, probably colby-jack. I like everything about cheese: the texture, the convenience, and its compatibility with any meal and most all foods.

What is one of the earliest pieces of writing you read that hit you between the eyes?

Salinger’s Nine Stories struck me pretty hard. I’m still recovering, actually.

What’s one thing in your writing space we wouldn’t expect to be there.  Why is it there?

A Strawberry Shortcake doll that, disturbingly, still smells like strawberries even though she’s over twenty years old. I keep her because I am a minimalist and, as such, I have kept very few possessions from my childhood.

Three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers 
(e.g. Read, read, read)

Patience, Dedication, Integrity

Name a celebrity crush (justification optional)

Charles Osgood—need I really explain?

What’s one thing not in your standard 50-word publication biographical note we would find interesting about your life?  Do you raise pigs?  Collect bottle caps? Once appear on a reality TV show? What?

I’m good at imitations. I don’t have any celebrity fallbacks, but if we ever meet, give me twenty minutes and I’ll have all your mannerisms down. I’m also very good at copying signatures—probably a remnant of forging my parents’ signatures when I was a kid.  Imitation is, I suppose, a valuable tool in creative writing. It helps when translating life onto the page.  LS

How did you arrive at the story (or stories) published in LITSNACK?  Where did it come from?               

For "Black and "Blue" I wanted to write about bullying and expose how vulnerable we really all are, especially as children.  I had just read an article about Hope Witsell's suicide and it hit me hard, so I tried to put myself in her frame of mind and imagine her dancing with a favorite stuffed animal, her only trusted friend.

"Pointillism" is about identity and how we often put on false skins (masks) to appease others, or to compromise ourselves at the cost of perceived success.  It's also about love and sacrifice.

Describe your writing process.

I write every day.  I'm never blocked.  If anything, I have a hard time shutting it off.  I have hundreds of first sentences and unfinished story starts, so I'll grab one of those and see where it leads.  I use everything--photographs, song lyrics, a word that sounds interesting--as stimulation and fodder.  Also, other great writers--xTx, Parker Tettleton, Meg Pokrass--make we want to write.  I carry a pen and paper everywhere I go, even on the treadmill, the shower, in bed, etc., to capture fleeting thoughts.

If you were a snack food (Twinkies, Cheez-Its, Pork Rinds, etc.) which snack food would you be and why?

SweetTarts because I'm two sides of the same coin--naturally shy, yet I can be outgoing when necessary.

What is one of the earliest pieces of writing that hit you between the eyes?

"The World According To Garp," by John Irving floored me.  I was astonished.  Every paragraph was packed so full that I almost hyperventilated.  It's an extraordinary gift to be able to do that much with every sentence, and then to do it for five hundred continuous pages.

Tell us about a particularly bad ACCEPTANCE or a particularly helpful REJECTION.  Or both.

Roxane Gay at PANK always gives helpful critiques.  Same with JA Tyler at Mud Luscious.  I edit for Metazen so I know how difficult it is to pinpoint why a piece doesn't quite work.  Steve Himmer at "Necessary Fiction" is an editor who really works with writers to make pieces better.  As do the team at "Right Hand Pointing."  Also, John Wang at "Juked" helped me shave and shape a piece that became one of my favorite stories ever.  Editors are so busy, so to find ones that will sit beside you (virtually, of course) is rare, wonderful and humbling.

What's one thing in your writing space we wouldn't expect to be there.  Why is it there.

I live on a lake.  It's beautiful.  Thus, I have a pair of binoculars.  We have an eagle ("Pete") and I love to watch him soar.

Three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers (e.g. read, read, read)

Learn from others.

Name a celebrity crush (justification optional)

Natalie Portman

Which writer could write his or her grocery list and you would read it with held breath?

xTx.  Even her throwaway blog posts buckle my knees.

What's one thing not in your standard 50-word publication biographical note we would find interesting about your life? Do you raise pigs?  Collect bottle caps?  Once appear on a reality TV show?  What?

I run marathons and do occasional public speaking on team-building.  

We did have pigs when I was a kid, chickens and cows, too.  I had a pet calf named Go Go and a pet chicken named Melissa that laid eggs with double yokes.

Please name one of your guilty pleasures (TV show, bubble bath, special dessert, etc.).

I love Jacuzzi bubble baths with a book and a glass of wine.  I take one every other day/night.  Almost always, I get a few poems written and/or several stories, albeit water-stained pieces.  I've come up with some of my best stuff in the tub. LS

How did you arrive at the story published in LITSNACK?  Where did it come from?

I wrote the first draft of The Wedding March in February 2010. A friend had told me her cousin’s marriage was cancelled at the last minute. I wrote that phrase in my journal, and returned to this idea many times. When I decided to write the scene just prior to the wedding, and build the tension with tardiness (a personal pet peeve), the first draft appeared.

The father appeared in the story after I joined the legacy of writers at 52/250 in autumn 2010. They have weekly themes, and I decided to adapt “The Wedding March” for The Palm of Your Hand.

Describe your writing process

I’m a visual person, sometimes can see images unfolding in my head. I like writing from prompts: a line, a phrase, or idea. I love to blurt or “throw-up” first draft, just wheeee all the way down that creation slide. Then get back in the car for more than one ride. I write every day, if not fiction, then journal. Finishing is my challenge. I never know when I’m done. I read a lot too, especially flash fiction lately. I firmly believe that reading informs writing.

If you were a snack food (Twinkies, Cheez-Its, Pork Rinds, etc.) which snack food would you be and why?

Dots. Those crappy candies that cause tons of dental work. I’m orange, fruity, full of variety, sticky and you can’t get me out of your mouth entirely.

What is one of the earliest pieces of writing that hit you between the eyes?

As a young kid, I loved reading. Island of the Blue Dolphins or A Separate Peace stood out as being very influential. But most books seemed to really affect me. The Charlie Brown comics, or reading poets in college: Hart Crane, Patti Smith. I’m very sensitive. It’s why I choose what to read with great discretion.

Tell us about a particularly bad ACCEPTANCE or a particularly helpful REJECTION.  Or both.

I haven’t had a “bad acceptance,” it was strange when a magazine (Lesser Flamingo) closed with no communication after they’d taken my story. I’m a frequent submitter (more than 450 times in 2010). I prefer rejections when editors give suggestions and/or reasons why my piece isn’t necessarily a good fit. In general, specific is more useful. I like the risk of submitting to new magazines, or as a blind submission. But a relationship with each editor is a great high, and communication is key.

What's one thing in your writing space we wouldn't expect to be there.  Why is it there.

A poster from Brush Dance that says “Live With Intention: Each year provides its own gifts.” It keeps me focused on hope, and less likely to feel “this happened to me.” More of “How did I create this?”

Three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers (e.g. read, read, read)

Trust the process.

Every summer I have the opportunity to work with kids in writing camps, and I have used the phrase repeatedly (yes, thanks, Star Wars).

Name a celebrity crush (justification optional)

A few: Bill T. Jones, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Silverman. I’m drawn to intelligence, self-deprecating humor, and anyone who can break- dance.

Which writer could write his or her grocery list and you would read it with held breath?

Chuck Palahniuk. Would be sick and twisted, but playful. It’s the ‘held breath’ part that made me think of Chuck. I feel like I hold my breath through much of his books.

What's one thing not in your standard 50-word publication biographical note we would find interesting about your life?  Do you raise pigs?  Collect bottle caps?  Once appear on a reality TV show?  What?

I was lead singer in two different bands: Monarque and Traiil. Both were successful in their own regional upstate New York way. Music was the complete focus in my life before writing. And music still has significant meaning. Especially John Phillips Sousa marches.

In a former life, I did hair and make up, and travelled internationally doing shows, photo shoots, and educational events. More than a decade. And here’s a more random one: my room-mate from college dated Jan Brady (middle daughter of the Brady Bunch, actress Eve Plumb) when we moved to Los Angeles. She was tight-lipped about that show, and though I never understood why then, I do now.

 
Please name one of your guilty pleasures (TV show, bubble bath, special dessert, etc.).

I don’t feel guilty about pleasure. None whatsoever. I dreamed about seeing the world when I was a little kid. Part of this can be attributed to books like Swiss Family Robinson. Part of it was growing up rurally, and my parents loved the outdoors, thankfully, but our “vacations” were at the same upstate New York locales every year. So, experiencing places like Bali, Egypt, India, or hiking the Kalalou Trail on Kauai are some of my indulgences. I really enjoy getting away from it all, not sure what “it all” is, but those remote places, in the middle of nowhere. I like the silence. I feel a sense of home there.  LS

 How did you arrive at the story published in LITSNACK? Where did it come from?

Well, there was the Ryan Gosling movie, Lars and the Real Girl, that planted the seed. But Lars was sensitive and quiet and young and sweet. He wore charming sweaters. I think lots of women would have pounced on Lars if he were ready for it. So I thought about what if a red-blooded, gun-toting, poker-playing Southern man did the same thing. A guy who’s older and set in his ways, whose friends might judge him more harshly and who would maybe not have a lot of chances to find another woman who would fit well into his life. Would the same idea work with him? I wanted to answer that question. What surprised me was when Carl became a better man in the process. I wasn’t expecting that.

 Describe your writing process.

An idea or a line or a title comes. Then other things start sticking to it. A snowball forms. Everything else comes along and gets packed in, until there’s a snowman standing in front of me, with a scarf and stick-arms and carrot-nose. Finding the coal-eyes is hard, because where do you get coal? That's the fun part--digging for the damn coal and popping in the eyes and seeing that it's done.

 If you were a snack food (Twinkies, Cheez-Its, Pork Rinds, etc.), which snack food would you be and why?

Raw cacao nibs. No added sugar. Uncooked. Intense. Palatable in small doses.

What is one of the earliest pieces of writing you read that hit you between the eyes?

Don’t hate me. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man made me really, truly feel life swirling around me. And that led to Ulysses, which led to lots of fun adventures.

Tell us about a particularly bad ACCEPTANCE or a particularly helpful REJECTION.  Or both.

I have been fortunate. Because of Fictionaut, editors have mostly asked for stories, so I haven’t had to bite my nails too much. I am not a good submitter, not at all. I get nervous; I become doubtful. I don’t like putting editors in the awkward position of saying no if they have to. I guess there was one bad-ish acceptance where an editor saw a story of mine in another lit mag and asked me if I would submit something to his magazine. I gave it to him, and he seemed disappointed that it wasn't like the story in the other lit mag, but what could I do? (Here’s a secret: LITSNACK was my first unsolicited acceptance. Shhhh….)

What’s one thing in your writing space we wouldn’t expect to be there.  Why is it there?

A traveling trunk from turn-of-the-century Baltimore. My good friend Wade gave it to me during a particularly rough time in my life, and I was so touched that he would entrust me with a family heirloom. I use it as a coffee table, and I prop my feet up on it when I sit on the couch with my MacBook. My son plays Legos on it and decorates it with sidewalk chalk.

Three individual words that would serve as advice to beginning writers
(e.g. Read, read, read)

Ready. Set. Go.

Name a celebrity crush (justification optional)

Female: Annette Bening. She is absolutely stunning and has a spark in her eye. Male: Will Arnett. He’s Canadian and is over-the-top witty. Wits go a long way. And he probably smells good.

Which writer could write his or her grocery list and you would read it with held breath?

Tom Robbins. He would somehow, someway, make it hilarious.

 What’s one thing not in your standard 50-word publication biographical note we would find interesting about your life?  Do you raise pigs?  Collect bottle caps? Once appear on a reality TV show? What?

Well. One thing is that I birthed my 2 1/2-year-old son on a former hippie commune where the midwives are world-famous. I mean, like, there was a couple and their newborn from Japan staying in another cabin at the same time we were there. Yes, there was running water. And no, I did not forget the pain when I looked at my son's precious face. It was just a perfect experience. Absolutely perfect.

Please name one of your guilty pleasures (TV show, bubble bath, special dessert, etc.)

I could live without desserts. Bubble baths are a necessity, not simply a pleasure, and so are whiskey and wine. You know what really makes me giddy? Those half-hour, past-midnight TV advertisements for K-Tel records or whatever. It’s like listening to my iPod on shuffle but with old video footage. They've got Carly Simon, Todd Rundgren, America, Henry Gross, Alan O’Day, Bread, Badfinger, Phoebe Snow, Robbie Dupree, Rupert Holmes, Bertie Higgins, Paul Davis, Gino Vanelli, LeBlanc & Carr, Spandau Ballet, Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Bourgeois Tagg, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, David Soul, Peter McCann, Stephen Bishop, Seals & Crofts, Toto, Leo Sayer, Orleans, Pablo Cruise, Danny O’Keefe, Al Stewart, Kenny Loggins, Marty Balin, Dan Fogelberg, Mac Davis, Firefall, Ambrosia, Frank Stallone—you know, the makers of the most awesome music in the universe. Those commercials informed my childhood, so now they’re like comfort food. I thought that grown-up married couples always wore linen pants and smiled at each other longingly as they walked down a beach at sunset with “Steal Away” playing somewhere overhead.  LS