Danez Smith, author of Homie: Poems
Poetry category, sponsored by Wellington Management, Inc.
Each week leading up to the 33rd annual Minnesota Book Awards announcement, we are featuring exclusive interviews with our 36 finalists. You can also watch the authors in conversation with their fellow category finalists here.
In a year defined by a pandemic and its fallout, virtually everything about our lives has changed in some way. How has COVID-19 impacted your writing habits and preferences? Has the unique zeitgeist of the past year influenced your writing output in any ways that you can pinpoint?
Writing was difficult this last year, I felt most called to the page when there was tangible purpose to being there. The rest of my creativity was going towards living, helping, thinking, teaching, and trying to make good happen in my life and in others.
Would you tell us one or two things about your finalist book that you are particularly proud of, and why? (Sure, it may feel a bit un-Minnesotan to say so, but it’s not boasting if we ask!)
It’s funny! I think I might be a pretty hilarious poet if I say so myself. And I love that it’s yellow, which may not seem big, but it’s my 2nd yellow book and that feels very appropriately extra to me.
What do you hope that your audience learns or takes away from your book?
My book has done it’s job if someone leaves it feeling hugged or if they put the book down and pick up the phone to call a friend.
Minnesota enjoys a reputation as a place that values literature and reading. If this sentiment rings true for you, what about our home state makes it such a welcoming and conductive place for writers?
Artists’ support! I think we could still go a long way in building support for our artists and the groups/people/orgs who make the work happen, but dear lord is it better than other places. I feel like when you say you’re an artist or writer here, it’s taken seriously, like we know the value it places within our lives.
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer with an interest in your category?
Be weird, read everything, write what makes your feelings jump and quiver.
Tell us something about yourself that is not widely known! (It doesn’t have to be about your writing.)
I’m recently good at roller skating! It’s got my legs looking great and my bootyshake perfected. My one pandemic blessing.
Danez Smith is the author of [insert] boy and Don’t Call Us Dead – a finalist for the National Book Award. They have won the Forward Prize for Best Collection, the Kate Tufts Discovery Award, and Lambda Literary Award.