The Next Big Thing: Interview
Stevie Edwards tagged me in an online project called "The Next Big Thing" where writers with a recent or forthcoming book answer a series of questions, and then tag other writers to do the same. It was a lot of fun to answer. So here's that. I hope you dig it!
WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE BOOK?
There was a lot of debate about what the title of my first collection of poetry would be. In the end I went with After the Witch Hunt, which suits the book for two reasons. The first—many of the poems in the book assess modern day persecution facing women. There are poems told through the voice of sexually objectified cartoon characters, poems that deal with body image and societal pressures upon women, there are fictionalized prose stories about women who have run away from abusive homes, as well as poems about my own abusive relationship and the shame I faced coming forward about it. So yes, in the modern, yet non-Salem sense, the book definitely deals with what happens after someone is persecuted. But on the other hand, the book is about reclaiming the body and image, forgiveness, and taking a stand against abusers in a powerful way. “Witch” is redefined to be a word for a strong and magical female, and that woman is one to be feared if you cross her. The title has both elements of being a victim, a survivor, and an intimidating badass. I am still really pleased with the title and the multitude of meanings readers have derived from it.
WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM FOR THE BOOK?
I once heard the idea that a poet’s first collection is often the work that they had to unleash out into the world—almost like their poems were a wild dog breaking free of their chain. So I never sat down and said “this is what I want to write a book about.” I just wrote for years and eventually assembled it in an order that felt right, and that became After the Witch Hunt.
WHAT GENRE DOES YOUR BOOK FALL UNDER?
Poetry to “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.”
WHAT ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY THE CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK IN A MOVIE RENDITION?
Can I make a movie rendition? Amazing. A lot of the poems are from my own life. I think maybe I’d be played by Jennifer Lawrence because some people tell me I look like her, but she’d need to gain 40 pounds at least to do the whole “fat girl” thing. Or I’d pull a Lena Dunham and play myself. My brother would be played by someone effortlessly handsome and reckless looking. Probably Shane West. My mother would be played by Patricia Clarkson undoubtedly, but if I couldn’t get her, Katherine Keener. My dad would be Chevy Chase, silly, clueless, gray. Lenny Kravitz would play the sweet and fleeting love interest. The villain would be played by Vince Vaughn ala Psycho, charming and then…boom. Pyscho.
WHAT IS THE ONE-SENTENCE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?
Young writer explores the necessity of the written word to overcome her own darkness and the radius of darkness that encompasses women around her. Or something.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT?
Write Bloody Publishing has a near-yearly open book contest where hundreds of writers submit three poems, the staff selects their top 20 favorite submissions, and then asks those 20 authors to submit a full-length, 40 poem manuscript. I was a finalist for the Write Bloody Publishing contest in 2010, but I only had a handful of great poems and it was a struggle to come up with 40. When I submitted that manuscript, it wasn’t great, and ultimately I didn’t get the book deal. THANK GOD. A year later with more-than-a-year’s-worth of life experience and devoting myself to the craft, I submitted again, became a finalist again, and when I submitted the manuscript that would be After the Witch Hunt in 2011—I was proud. I knew I’d written a good book. And I guess they thought so too.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
Living la vida loca.
IS YOUR BOOK SELF-PUBLISHED OR REPRESENTED BY AN AGENCY?
My book was published by Write Bloody Publishing (www.writebloody.com) which is pretty much the best sentence ever! You can pick up a copy on Amazon, Powell’s, or Directly from me if you come to a show or e-mail MeganFalley@gmail.com!
My next tagged poets: (check them out!)
Miles Walser
Lauren Zuniga
Safia Ehillo
WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE BOOK?
There was a lot of debate about what the title of my first collection of poetry would be. In the end I went with After the Witch Hunt, which suits the book for two reasons. The first—many of the poems in the book assess modern day persecution facing women. There are poems told through the voice of sexually objectified cartoon characters, poems that deal with body image and societal pressures upon women, there are fictionalized prose stories about women who have run away from abusive homes, as well as poems about my own abusive relationship and the shame I faced coming forward about it. So yes, in the modern, yet non-Salem sense, the book definitely deals with what happens after someone is persecuted. But on the other hand, the book is about reclaiming the body and image, forgiveness, and taking a stand against abusers in a powerful way. “Witch” is redefined to be a word for a strong and magical female, and that woman is one to be feared if you cross her. The title has both elements of being a victim, a survivor, and an intimidating badass. I am still really pleased with the title and the multitude of meanings readers have derived from it.
WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM FOR THE BOOK?
I once heard the idea that a poet’s first collection is often the work that they had to unleash out into the world—almost like their poems were a wild dog breaking free of their chain. So I never sat down and said “this is what I want to write a book about.” I just wrote for years and eventually assembled it in an order that felt right, and that became After the Witch Hunt.
WHAT GENRE DOES YOUR BOOK FALL UNDER?
Poetry to “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.”
WHAT ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY THE CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK IN A MOVIE RENDITION?
Can I make a movie rendition? Amazing. A lot of the poems are from my own life. I think maybe I’d be played by Jennifer Lawrence because some people tell me I look like her, but she’d need to gain 40 pounds at least to do the whole “fat girl” thing. Or I’d pull a Lena Dunham and play myself. My brother would be played by someone effortlessly handsome and reckless looking. Probably Shane West. My mother would be played by Patricia Clarkson undoubtedly, but if I couldn’t get her, Katherine Keener. My dad would be Chevy Chase, silly, clueless, gray. Lenny Kravitz would play the sweet and fleeting love interest. The villain would be played by Vince Vaughn ala Psycho, charming and then…boom. Pyscho.
WHAT IS THE ONE-SENTENCE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?
Young writer explores the necessity of the written word to overcome her own darkness and the radius of darkness that encompasses women around her. Or something.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT?
Write Bloody Publishing has a near-yearly open book contest where hundreds of writers submit three poems, the staff selects their top 20 favorite submissions, and then asks those 20 authors to submit a full-length, 40 poem manuscript. I was a finalist for the Write Bloody Publishing contest in 2010, but I only had a handful of great poems and it was a struggle to come up with 40. When I submitted that manuscript, it wasn’t great, and ultimately I didn’t get the book deal. THANK GOD. A year later with more-than-a-year’s-worth of life experience and devoting myself to the craft, I submitted again, became a finalist again, and when I submitted the manuscript that would be After the Witch Hunt in 2011—I was proud. I knew I’d written a good book. And I guess they thought so too.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
Living la vida loca.
IS YOUR BOOK SELF-PUBLISHED OR REPRESENTED BY AN AGENCY?
My book was published by Write Bloody Publishing (www.writebloody.com) which is pretty much the best sentence ever! You can pick up a copy on Amazon, Powell’s, or Directly from me if you come to a show or e-mail MeganFalley@gmail.com!
My next tagged poets: (check them out!)
Miles Walser
Lauren Zuniga
Safia Ehillo
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