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Q&A (& Giveaway) with Poet, Cristina M. R. Norcross

“I want to want less / Freedom lies in / recognizing perfect moments / but not calling them perfect.” ~ from “Notes for January” in Still Life Stories

still-life-stories-coverSitting in a circle of friends recently, conversation turned to wanting to want less, to the serenity found in simpler things, like a slow and deliberate walk on a two-lane road in order to take in the sounds and scents around you and to feel the ground below your feet.

Cristina M. R. Norcross’ new chapbook, Still Life Stories (Aldrich Press, 2016), explores experiences and memories in poems such as “Notes for January” and “Where I Am From” (two of my favorites), taking moments of complexity that define who we are or what we become and sculpting them into a single thread or phrase–poems that speak to the power of meditating on one true thing.

Poetry at its finest.

I’m honored to host Cristina Norcross for a Q&A. In turn, she’s offering a copy of her chapbook, Still Life Stories, along with a set of poetry postcards, for one lucky reader. You can enter the giveaway HERE (deadline is Tuesday, October 11th at noon).

And while this Q&A focuses on Still Life Stories, Cristina is also celebrating the launch of another chapbook, Amnesia and Awakenings (Local Gems Press). If you’re local, stop by her double book launch and open mic event on Saturday, Oct. 15th, at Books & Company in Oconomowoc, WI (6:30pm). Look for me, I’ll be there!

Now welcome, Cristina Norcross.

Christi Craig (CC): I love the title of your chapbook; it works well to pull the reader in with the promise of images captured in time. Then you enrich those images with fragments of story and tiny lessons in living. What sparked these poems most often, settings or ideas?

cristina-norcrossCristina Norcross (CN): I guess I’d have to say that people sparked most of these poems. Although not every poem is a tribute to a person, over half of the poems are about people no longer with us, who have left behind a soul legacy.

My people poems “asked” to be written. Whether you believe in our connections to those who have passed on, or not, as a poet, I allow myself to be open to the story coming through. Many times when writing this book, I would get a feeling, a memory would come through, or for example, the scent of my grandmother’s favorite flower, Lily of the Valley, would appear. In each case, I knew that there was something I needed to write.

This collection of 25 poems was originally 56 poems. I started writing it back in 2008, before I moved from New Hampshire to Wisconsin. I kept writing, editing, tweaking, adding poems, and then cutting a big portion of poems out, until 2015. This book has had a long history and a brave journey.

In poems where ideas came first, there was also a sense of urgency to how the poem came into the world. Usually I would quickly write down the first line or 2 that came flooding into my head, and then it was up to me to do something with that raw material. I received many, inner writing prompts. I always wanted to see where the poem would take me. Every poem required edits and re-writes, but the initial thoughts would often come free flowing.

CC: One of my favorite poems in Still Life Stories is “Notes for January” for its reminder to slow down and soak up the life around you; there is beauty and comfort in simplicity and in “holding the sweet candy / of just enough.” Knowing writers might feel strange when asked which passages or poems of their work they love best, I’ll rephrase it a bit and ask which of your poems in this chapbook you cherish most?

CN: Thank you so much for your kind words about “Notes for January.” Oh boy, this is a very tough question. Many of the poems in Still Life Stories celebrate the voices of loved ones, or the loved ones of friends, who have passed on. These tribute poems, for those held dear, are ALL my most cherished in the book. I have poems for both my grandmother, on my father’s side of the family (“The Last Party”), as well as a poem for my husband’s Nana (“I Hear You”) in this book. For each of us, these were our longest living grandparents, so we had the honor of knowing them well into adulthood.

All of my grandparents were extremely special to me. All four of them have been the subjects of my poems in past books. There is a special connection between grandchildren and their grandparents. Perhaps, it’s because they get to give you cookies and Lifesavers candies, listen to your every word over cups of tea, and then send you on your way home with mom and dad. Or, maybe there is a sacred connection between generations, and that sense of history which grandparents preserve for us.

Growing up, I didn’t write everything down. Sometimes, I wish I had. Instead, I think I was taking notes with my heart, recording the essence, so that one day I could pay tribute to the deep love my grandparents gave me. Most of my enduring memories from childhood involve sitting around someone’s dining room table and sharing a meal, laughter, family stories, and just one, last raspberry thumbprint cookie.

CC: You are a co-founder of Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day. Can you tell us a little about this project, how it started and the impact it’s had on you or those around you?

image of poetry postcards from Cristina Norcross
Poetry postcards for the giveaway.

CN: Thank you so much for asking about RAPA Day! Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day is celebrated every year on February 20th by artists and writers, both in North America and abroad. We’ve been conspiring to bring beauty, joy, and kindness to others, through the arts, for 5 years now. February 20th, 2017 will mark our 6-year anniversary. My courageous and talented co-organizers are artists, Sonya S. Sinha (New York) and Jennifer S. J. Peña (New Jersey). (Jennifer S. J. Peña happens to be the cover artist for Still Life Stories.)

There is no event location and no registration necessary. The premise is pretty simple. Wherever you are on this day, simply do something good – give back to others through the arts. This can be in the form of donating books to a library or a shelter, randomly giving away a pair of handmade gloves to someone who is cold, leaving a small, boxed treasure of handmade earrings on a public bench, donating a framed photo or painting to a school, etc. The choice is yours!

We invite people to connect with us on the RAPA Facebook page, where each year we offer suggestions and ask participants to share photos of their Random Acts of Poetry and Art. I often hear from poets and artists, who take part, that they really enjoy doing this. It is good for the heart and soul. Just knowing that your art, perhaps, made someone’s day a little brighter, is the best possible feeling! My heart is always very full by the end of February. Each year we grow a little bit more. Visit our RAPA Facebook page to learn more.

CC: What are you reading these days?

CN: I just started reading a book by TED Talks presenter Kio Stark (When Strangers Meet: How People You Don’t Know Can Transform You). My husband and I love watching TED Talks for inspiration in our work. When I saw that Kio had a book, I did the one-click order thing (that click/order function is way too easy, and dangerous to the purse, but you can never have too many books!).

The premise of Kio Stark’s talk, and book, is that when we open ourselves up to the beauty of meeting strangers and engage in simple, respectful exchanges such as smiling, paying someone a compliment, or comparing notes on parenthood while standing in line, we enrich our lives and the lives of others. It is a wonderful book about the importance of human connection.

CC: What poem (or poet) do you return to again and again as sustenance for your spirit and creativity?

CN: I have many favorite poets, who nurture my spirit, but I would have to say that the 13th century, Sufi mystic poet, Rumi, definitely provides my poet’s soul with breathing room, wisdom, and a certain gentleness. When I am caught up in a flurry of deadlines and projects, I turn to Rumi. He reminds me to slow down and return to my breath. He encourages me to remember the very reason why I write – to connect with something deeper, something greater than myself.

I’ll end by sharing a Rumi quote, which I’ve shared on social media many times. There is both a sense of freedom, and also a true love of life, in these words:

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. ~ Rumi

Cristina M. R. Norcross is the founding editor of the online poetry journal, Blue Heron Review, and lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their two sons.  She is the author of 7 poetry collections, and her works appear in print and online in North American and international journals, such as Red Cedar, Your Daily Poem, Lime Hawk, The Toronto Quarterly, The Poetry Storehouse, The Avocet,Right Hand Pointing, and Verse-Virtual, among others. She was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Concrete Wolf Chapbook Competition and a finalist in the 2015 Five Oaks Press Chapbook Contest. Cristina was one of the co-editors of the project, One Vision: a Fusion of Art & Poetry in Lake Country (2009-11).  She is currently one of the co-founders of Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day and is a regular contributor to the Art Ambush Project. Visit her website for more information.

Don’t forget: ENTER the giveaway by Oct. 11th for a chance to win a copy of Still Life Stories. 

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Q&A with Anne Clermont, Author of Learning to Fall

“Back at home the walls of my bedroom were the same mossy green they’d been for the last ten years. My vet school textbooks lay disorganized on my dresser and in my reading nook. the kitchen was empty, and the sitting room still ached for laughter and conversation. ” ~ from Learning to Fall

9781940716787_Perfect.inddWhen pieces of our life crumble, the first thing we often do is go home in search of comfort and solace. But for Brynn Seymour in Learning to Fall, the act of returning home after the tragic death of her father brings as much heartache as reprieve. With the fate of Redwood Grove Stables and her father’s life’s work in her hands, the actions Brynn takes will mean losing the family ranch or letting go of her own life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian.

In a debut novel that builds around the world of horse show jumping, Anne Clermont gives us a page-turning story with an insider’s view of the strong competition; we read of one woman’s loyalty, her love for horses, and her realization of what matters most in a world where winning is everything.

I’m thrilled to host Anne as she talks about Learning to Fall and doubly excited to give away a copy of her book (courtesy of SparkPress). You can enter the giveaway by dropping your name in the comments OR by sharing this post (and tagging me!) on Facebook (@Christi Craig) or Twitter (@Christi_Craig). Deadline to enter is August 30th.

Now, welcome Anne!

CC: On your website, you say you were inspired to write ever since you took to the trails on horseback for the first time at sixteen years old. What was it about that ride that opened your heart to stories and storytelling?

Anne+Clermont+Author+Show+Jumping+BookAnne Clermont (AC): The summer I turned sixteen my parents took us on a long (and at the time seemingly grueling) tour of the US and Canada. While in Wyoming we came across a trail-riding place: one of those rugged, authentic cowboy places. I begged to be allowed to ride and for some reason my parents gave in (they usually didn’t). I had read of horses and open plains and ranches and cowboys, and I romanticized it to no end. Being able to finally ride a horse was magical and surreal in many ways, and after that ride I imagined living on a ranch, surrounded by horses, writing long novels. Stories have been a part of my life from the earliest time I can remember, yet that moment seems to be the moment where many of my dreams laid their foundation.

CC: In your novel, the theme of “letting go” returns again and again for the protagonist, Brynn, as she faces tragedy, difficult choices for her future, and the sordid side of competitions. What do you hope readers take away from Brynn’s trials and triumphs?

AC: I’m a dreamer. I always have been. One of my earliest memories is of laying in preschool during naptime, imagining flying out of the window with the help of magical angel wings. I would discover new worlds, travel, learn… What I didn’t expect as I grew up, and I’m sure many can relate, is that life doesn’t unfold in a neat, organized way, and sometimes it’s not that easy to follow your dreams.

Many of my plans fell apart, many were riddled with obstacles and unforeseen difficulties. There were moments when I didn’t think I could go on, where moving forward seemed impossible. But what I learned from observing those who were happy and filled with joy and love and success was that life is about adjusting, changing course, dealing with the blows that have come your way. Writing LEARNING TO FALL was my way out of a dark place, discovering who I was, finally saying ‘yes’ to a dream that was buried somewhere in the far recesses of my mind. As I wrote it I imagined that one reader, alone, curled up with my book, reading Brynn’s story. I imagined it inspiring them. Reminding them that sometimes life is about learning how to fall – then picking yourself up again. I still hope that it finds that reader and helps make their day a little better.

CC: Outside of writing, you are an editor and web designer, wife and mother, and more I am sure. How do all the roles you play come together to fuel your creativity and guide you to the next story?

AC: Our family recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest so that we could live a simpler life with much less stress and commuting than we had in the Bay Area. Life still isn’t simple, but every day I’m filled with gratitude and love for my husband and daughters who support me one hundred percent in my pursuit of writing. I don’t know if life will ever simply be about writing, but how could it? Living life, with all of its imperfections, is where I find inspiration and guidance to fill pages with made up characters and their stories – ones that hopefully touch and inspire readers.

CC: What are you reading these days?

AC: Right now I’m reading THE GIRLS by Emma Cline, THE HOUSE OF BRADBURY by Nicole Meier, and ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr. There are many other fiction and non-fiction books on my kindle and nightstand and they’re like candy! I don’t know which one to read first!

CC: Do you have a favored mantra that keeps you going when life or writing (or both) slow you down?

AC: We all have things we say to ourselves that either help us move forward or impede our ability to do so. So often I’ll tell myself, or even say it out loud, “I just can’t do/take this anymore! I give up.” But then I realize that if I do, I’ll forever wonder what would have happened ‘IF’. I have to fight against that voice and try to replace it, like a bad hard drive, with thoughts of: “Yes. Yes you can. You can’t give up just yet. You have to see this thing through and see where it takes you.” Then I go back to my computer/task/life event, and try to tackle one little bit at a time. Oh, and I couldn’t do it without yoga, long walks in nature, and my family.

Anne Clermont is a Canadian living in the U.S., born in Kraków and raised outside of Toronto. She spent fifteen years in California before relocating to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She holds a BS in animal biology, and an MBA. Her background ranges from studying animal behavior to carrying out pancreatic cancer research at one of the world’s largest and most innovative biotech companies. Inspired to write Learning to Fall in part by her own experience of running a show jumping business, she now devotes her time to writing and working as a developmental editor. She lives on an island in the middle of Puget Sound with her husband and two children. Visit her website at anneclermont.com and follow her on Twitter (@anne_clermont).

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway: 1) drop your name in the comments OR 2) share this post (and tag me) on Facebook (@Christi Craig) or Twitter (@Christi_Craig) by Tuesday, August 30th!

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Q&A with Jamie Duclos-Yourdon, author of Froelich’s Ladder

“Imagine my voice brother: I am here with you, Harald. We are not alone.” ~ from Froelich’s Ladder by Jamie Duclos-Yourdon (@JamieYourdon)

~

Take two brothers, one very tall ladder, and a quest for fortune. Or fame. Or maybe just love. Mix in a bit of betrayal and a few carnivorous clouds and you have Froelich’s Ladder (Forest Avenue Press, August 9, 2016), a well-told tale by debut novelist, Jamie Duclos-Yourdon.

Froelich's coverSet in the 19th century, Duclos-Yourdon’s novel introduces readers to brothers Froelich and Harald, who set off from Germany to Oregon Country in search of land and prosperity. While Froelich is the mastermind for the journey, it’s the older brother, Harald, who finds fortune–in love and in living–and Froelich, who settles into resentment (with the land and later with Harald). But even in bitter need for retreat Froelich doesn’t slip off to a cave or disappear into the woods, he instead rises up to the sky on his very tall ladder for escape, holding on to the rungs in tight retribution while Harald bears the weight of it, ladder and all, for the next seventeen years.

Froelich’s Ladder catches the eye with its cover and holds attention with its curious tale about the ladder as a touchstone, marking determination loyalty and acting as reminder that we are never alone. I’m thrilled to host Jamie Duclos-Yourdon today for an interview and am offering a book giveaway as well. Leave your name in the comments for a chance to win a copy of Froelich’s Ladder (deadline to enter is Tuesday, August 9th). Now, welcome, Jamie!

CC: From the first pages of your novel, readers embark on a journey where clouds run like cattle and may very well devour man, where a beautiful girl escapes her isolated prison only to discover the world twice as dangerous and lonely, and where a crazed, old man appears long enough to blur the lines of reality and make everything clear all at once. What sparked such a fantastic story?

Jamie DYJDY: What a generous and succinct summary! It certainly sounds fantastic by your description.

The (unpublished) novel I completed before Froelich’s Ladder involved a lot of totems: scarecrows, bicycles, etc. I had a few leftovers when I was finished—among them, a ladder.

To me, a ladder begs the questions Who’s on top? Who’s on bottom? What’s the nature of their relationship? That’s how I conceived of the brothers Harald and Froelich. One thing led to another, and suddenly I had man-eating clouds.

CC: Mid-way through the book, Lord John insists that ‘Without Froelich, there can be no ladder [and] without a ladder, there can be no meaning!’ In his mad cry, he cinches the idea of Froelich’s ladder as more than an object of escape; it is a crucial connection between one person and another, past and present. Who do you think faces the bigger challenge: the man who climbs the rungs, records “odd scripts and patterns over the years,” and clings to the history, or the man at the base of the ladder who balances the weight of wrongdoing while desperately trying to live in today? 

JDY: Hmm … that’s a metaphor, right? My guess is that each reader will approach this question from his or her own unique perspective. Me, I’ve got more sympathy for the person at the bottom of the ladder than the person on top. I think we all carry the burden of responsibility; everyone can feel that weight against his or her back. And certainly there’s a lot to recommend personal responsibility! But when I think of anyone who’s trapped under-rung, I feel a tremendous sadness. First Harald and then Binx sacrifice their happiness for Froelich’s sake. That’s no way to live.

CC: On your website, you link to Tall Tales, essays and stories you write based on experiences from your book tour. When searching for a story, where do you turn first: to the people or the place?

JDY: People—always people. I’m primarily interested in the relationships we share, not in the sense of boyfriend/girlfriend but how two or more people relate to each other in a specific context (like on a ladder, say). In fact, my editorial conversations tend to go, “There are these two guys driving in a car, and—” “Where are they?” “I don’t know—Long Island? Anyway, the first guy is blind! And the second guy—” “Long Island, when? Like, contemporary Long Island?” “Holy crap, I don’t know! Who cares? Long Island a thousand years ago!” “Then how are they in a car?” “Forget the car. There are these two guys, in a cave, in Long Island, a thousand years ago, and one of them is blind …”

CC: What are you reading these days?

JDY: I impatiently await the arrival of Tracy Manaster’s new novel, The Done Thing. While I do, I’m reading The Golem and The Jinni, by Helene Wecker. I wish I’d picked it up a year ago—I would’ve pleaded for a blurb!

CC: As editor, author, and parent, I imagine your plate is full. What’s your favorite technique or bit of advice for managing multiple projects?

JDY: In all honesty—and I don’t recommend it for everyone else—it’s waking up insanely early. When my kids were little, I could only depend on the hours before 6:30 AM to write, so I set an alarm for 5:00. Now that my kids are older, it’s still a time when no one’s going to interrupt me. No one’s going to text me or expect a response to their email—and I stick to this schedule seven days a week, Christmas and my birthday included. By 7:00 I can face the day knowing that I’ve written 300 words; whatever else I accomplish is gravy.

Jamie Duclos-Yourdon, a freelance editor and technical expert, received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. His short fiction has appeared in the Alaska Quarterly Review, Underneath the Juniper Tree, and Chicago Literati, and he has contributed essays and interviews to Booktrib. Froelich’s Ladder (Forest Avenue, August 2016) is his debut novel. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Contact him at info@jamieduclosyourdon.com.

Don’t forget to enter the book giveaway by Tuesday, August 9th! Just drop your name in the comments below.