Recent Project and Beloved Collaborators
I did a series of interviews about Poetry in Translation over at the Huffington Post. The four interviews are based on the launch of a new book series, Periscope, at A Midsummer Night’s Press. Through this series, publisher Lawrence Schimel publishes poetry in translation, particularly poetry by women. I conducted interviews with the three authors of the first Periscope books and an interview with Lawrence Shimel. The full interviews are available here:
Poetry in Translation: A Conversation with Lawrence Schimel
Poetry in Translation: A Conversation with Kätlin Kaldmaa
Poetry in Translation: A Conversation with Jana Putrle Srdić
Poetry in Translation: A Conversation within Care Santos
It was a great pleasure to talk with these poets about their work. The greatest thing about this project, however, was the collaboration with Lawrence.
In my research into lesbian-feminist publishing, one of the things that delights me is the quality of collaborative relationships that women writers and publishers built. I think about the collaborative relationship that Nancy Bereano had with a number of authors through her work at Firebrand Books, the relationships that Barbara Grier had with Naiad Press authors, and that Joan Pinkvoss had and has through Aunt Lute Books. Many times sitting in libraries or other rooms working through archival material, I would think about how I wanted to have relationships like that. I would think about how I wanted to have a relationship with someone who would help me identify and write my best work.
I have that relationship. Lawrence Schimel is one of the best friends and collaborators for whom any writer could ever wish. Lawrence inspires me to write more, he presses me when I do not want to do more, he provides lengthy thoughtful critiques of my work, cheers me when I am down and celebrates when I have milestones to celebrate. Sometimes the things that we research and read about, the things that we wish for in our own lives while rambling through the past, come to be.
I am grateful for having a collaborator, a conspirator, and a friend. Lawrence is all of that to me and more.
Filed under: lesbian, poetry Tagged: collaboraton, lawrence schimel, poetry in translation
