Background
Juliana Maldonado and Nicole Brogdon will be our features Thursday, May 14, 2020 7:15 – 9:00 p.m. Contact bookwoman2ndthursdaypoetry@gmail.com for information on how to join this virtual event.
Juliana Maldonado is a poet who found her voice through Book Woman and Cindy Huyser’s open mics. She is ever striving to celebrate her mixed Chicana heritage and all things that make her soul sing. She is published in the ACC literary periodical The Rio Review and has featured at Malvern’s I Scream Social. She can only be found in person, so listen while you can!
The Interview
CH: What is your first memory of poetry? When did you first become interested in writing?
JM: My first memory of poetry is my mother reading “The Children’s Book of Illustrated Poetry” to me as a bedtime story. My favorites were Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe and The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
I remember first dabbling with poetry around age 13, but I didn’t start exploring writing as a passion until college.
CH: What drew you to poetry? When did you start thinking of yourself as a poet?
JM: I’ve always loved reading poetry. I love the richness of emotion and textured language that poetry provides.
Last year I took a creative writing class which introduced me to poetry in a new light. Through that class I was able to find a more poetic part of myself, as well as a community of similarly inclined people. After completing the class, I felt I had been remade as a poet.
CH: Do you have other literary or artistic interests?
JM: I dabble in various artistic mediums such as drawing and sculpting. I like experimenting with prose from time to time as well.
CH: From what do you draw inspiration?
JM: My biggest sources of inspiration are nature and both my past and present life experiences.
CH: What is your writing process like? How do you make time to write?
JM: Inspiration strikes at various times, so whenever it does I try to jot something down. I try to keep a journal handy at all times. Later on, when I have some free time and free mental capacity, I gather up all the things I’ve saved in my journal, type them up, and edit them. If I’m really unsure about something I’ve written I’ll ask friends or family to proofread it.
I have time set aside every weekend to work on my writing, though I don’t always use it.
CH: Who are some poets whose work has influenced you?
JM: Poe is probably my biggest influence just because I’ve read so much of his work for so long. I think I’m also influenced by the patchwork of styles I hear at open-mics.
CH: If you could have an hour with any contemporary poet, who would you choose and why?
JM: Honestly, anyone. I still feel so new to this world that I feel I could learn a great deal from any poet. I love to marvel at these brave and beautiful people and I hope that I will be like them.
CH: What are you reading now?
JM: Various old zines I found at Half-Price Books.
cindyhuyser 