Literary Laureate Stefanie Freele
Don’t stand in the way of Stefanie Freele. She’s a force of nature. Besides her editorial work at LAR and Smokelong Quarterly, where she spent one year as writer-in-residence, Freele published her MFA thesis collection, Feeding Strays, almost before the ink dried on her diploma. Now, Healdsburg, California, an artsy, boutique community nestled in the bosom of wine country, has named her their literary laureate. She slowed down long enough to talk with us about her latest honor.
NB: Tell me about becoming the Healdsburg Literary Laureate?
SF: A group of poetry thugs–you know how persuasive those poets can be–spread the news around town and to all of us local
writers that nominations and applications had opened for the 2010-2011 Healdsburg Literary Laureate. Hardly a move could be made without bumping into one of the flyers or one of those literate-types who would poke and prod. They exerted overwhelming pressure–even inserting subliminal messages into our city water bills.
NB: How did you feel when you found out you were a finalist?
SF: Stunned, then honored.
NB: And they named the laureate based on a final “read-off”?
SF: Organizers magically turned the warehouse-area above a local business into a night-club-like setting with dim lights, sensual atmosphere, flowers, food, music etc. First the previous laureates read, then the candidates. It was a powerful afternoon.
NB: What do you hope to accomplish with your laureateness?
SF: Two things come to mind first: I’d like to find ways to invite youth to join in at the open mic nights at the Healdsburg Literary Cafe. We have a substantial literary community here but it isn’t quite connected into the teenagers or younger writers. I’d also love to start a “Full Moon Fiction” night in the Healdsburg Square. Redwoods tower the beautiful city square used for concerts and fairs during the day. But, as far as I know, no one has organized an evening candlelight-tell-stories-hot-chocolate-bundle-up sort of event.
NB: You’ve recently started giving readings/workshops/classes. How does that compare with the creative work you do to spin out a story?
SF: It is good to remind myself of all the techniques I’ve learned and read over the zillions of notes from previous courses and reread texts I cherish. I re-teach myself.
NB: What do you like about being an editor?
SF: I love sending out acceptance letters. I could do that all day. I love finding writing (think Ravi Mangla in the current issue) that just makes me crazy — typing that acceptance letter so fast because I’m afraid another magazine will grab it first.
NB: Do you think these various activities make your writing better? If so, how so?
SF: Editing makes my writing better because I am always editing. I edit when I hear people read, I edit when I read and am not suppose to be editing, I edit conversations. Reading and editing, editing and reading.
NB: Any words of wisdom for the website readers?
SF: Really just one word: Read.
Feeding Strays is available at www.stefaniefreele.com, the Lost Horse Press website, and through Amazon. A signed copy would make a fantastic Christmas present for your favorite flash fiction aficionado. I’m just saying.
We at LAR suggest you support authors and small presses whenever possible, but here is an Amazon link for the other times.
