Had a fantastic time today for my reading-Q&A-teaching guest thing with poet Jared Leising’s creative writing poetry class today at Cascadia Community College. The entire 25-something person class enthusiastically participated in class (and even returned to class after a freak fire alarm in the middle of the “exercise” section of the class, which, I have to admit, as an undergrad I might not have done.) These students asked intelligent questions that indicated they’d actually read my book – in advance. Knock me over with a feather. Then a bunch of the students bought books. (!!) And, apparently, if all poetry readers were like this class, books of poetry about comic books and Miyazaki would fly off the shelves. One girl even brought up Selkie wives! I mean, who knows about Selkies? Cool, right? And there was a Mary Biddinger doppleganger in the class. Anyway, it was a great experience, definitely worth the two-hour trip each way. If I could go do that every day, feeling like I was actually helping and encouraging people, I would be a happy girl.
Funny aside: one student asked if I had any advice for aspiring writers. When I told her the old “read” advice, she said, “I mean the good, special, real advice.” Ha!