Episode 151 Notes and Links to Allison Hedge Coke’s Work
On Episode 151 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Allison Hedge Coke, and the two discuss, among other topics, her multiracial and multiethnic and multilingual upbringing, wise words and inspiration from her family, her life of art and creativity, California as her muse, holding California to account, ideas of stewardship and environmental care, and the incredible inspirations and circumstances that brought her award-winning poetry to the world.
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke's previous poetry books include The Year of the Rat, Dog Road Woman, Off-Season City Pipe, Blood Run, Burn, Streaming as well as a memoir, Rock Ghost, Willow, Deer. She is the editor of the anthologies Sing: Poetry of the Indigenous Americas, Effigies, Effigies II, and Effigies II and is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Riverside. Hedge Coke came of age working fields, factories, and waters and is currently at work on a film, Red Dust: resiliency in the dirty thirties, a new CD, and new poems.
Buy Look at This Blue
Allison Hedge Coke's Website
Allison Hedge Coke's Wikipedia Page
National Book Awards Description for Look at This Blue
At about 7:30, Allison discusses her busy and exciting upcoming weeks that include a Georgia poetry circuit and the National Book Awards, where she’s nominated for
At about 9:20, Allison discusses her experiences with languages and reading and writing as a kid; she discusses her father’s and family’s great pride in their lineages
At about 13:45, Allison relays a telling anecdote about her son and his crayons that speaks to the multilingual extended family from which she comes
At about 16:20, Pete reads from the beginning chapter of Allison’s memoir and Allison expands on lessons learned from those times and from her mother and father
At about 18:50, Pete notes Allison lifelong devotion to art, and she talks about her family’s background and about what it means to create for her in her traditions
At about 20:25, Allison recounts the amazing story of writing Look at this Blue in Montenegro in a stunningly short period of time
At about 22:00, Allison describes her first encounters with California in 1980 and then future time spent in CA
At about 26:05, Pete cites the wonderful blurbs from wonderful writers for Allison’s collection; she defines it as an “assemblage” and talks about the assemblage in connection to jazz and other music
At about 28:00, Pete and Allison discuss the poetry’s connection to “blue,” and blue’s myriad meanings and connection to longing and fado and saudade (Pete’s obsession)
At about 30:40, Pete shares the possibly apocryphal story of Garcia Marquez’s writing a masterpiece
At about 31:00, Allison expands upon the title’s meanings
At about 31:45, Allison responds to Pete wondering about “catharsis” upon writing about such personal and emotional work
At about 34:00, The two meditate on parenthood and influences on children
At about 36:00, The two discuss memory and perspective, and Pete cites the book’s epigraph
At about 37:10, Pete provides a book summary and details the historical and personal
At about 38:15, Allison reads from the book regarding the Xerces blue butterfly and links its story to that of California and its abuses, excesses, and displacement
At about 43:00, Allison reads from the Prelude
At about 45:45, Allison recounts a bonkers story (adapted for the book) about the INS and her mother
At about 48:30, The two talk about extinctions, displacements, and endangerment featured in the book
At about 51:40, Allison talks about being stewards for the environment
At about 53:15, The two detail connections made in the book to events both historical and modern and themes like racism and homophobia
At about 54:20, Pete discusses “let” and “love” as depicted in the book
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Please tune in for Episode 152 with Tommy Dean, author of a flash fiction chapbook, Special Like the People on TV from and the Editor at Fractured Lit; “You’ve Stopped” was included in Best Microfiction 2019.
The episode with this flash fiction writer extraordinaire will air on November 15.
Episode 117 with Nadia Owusu, Introspective and Precise Writer and Chronicler of Trauma and Joy, Writ Large, and Author of the Award-Winning Memoir, Aftershocks
Episode 116 with Noel Casler, Standout Artist, Creative, Podcaster, and Standup Comedian with 25 Years of Experience in TV and Production, Including The Celebrity Apprentice
Episode 115 with Jennifer Fliss, Flash Fiction Star and Master of Signifying So Much by Writing So Little
Episode 114 with Reyna Grande: Brilliant and Award-Winning Memoirist, Novelist, and Author of 2022’s Triumph, A Ballad of Love and Glory
Episode 113 with Nicole Santa Cruz, Multitalented Journalist, Former Chronicler of The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report, and Reporter Covering Issues of Inequality for ProPublica
Episode 112 with James Tate Hill, Editor at Monkeybicycle , Columnist for LitHub, and Reflective and Acclaimed Writer of Blind Man’s Bluff: A Memoir
Episode 111 with Taylor Byas, Master Tactician of Profound and Affecting Words, PhD Student, Editor at The Rumpus, and Powerful Poet of the Critically- and Reader-Acclaimed Bloodwarm
Episode 110 with Bryce Hedstrom, El Padrino of Comprehensible Input in the Foreign Language Classroom, Master Teacher and Teacher Trainer, Author of Multiple Books, and Bold Advocate for Reading
Episode 109 with Ben Guest, Educator, Builder of Great Relationships through Education and Basketball, and Author of Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey
Episode 108 with Navdeep Dhillon Singh, Writer of Stirring, Profound, and Clever Work and Author of the Standout and Unforgettable Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions
Episode 107 with Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, Tireless and Compassionate Advocate for Carceral and Mental Health Reform and Author of The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice
Episode 106 with Daniel Olivas, Lawyer, Wordsmith, Playwright, Aesthete, and Author of 2022’s Unique and Riveting How to Date a Flying Mexican Story Collection
Episode 105 with Nikesha Elise Williams, host of Black and Published Podcast, prolific and versatile writer of Beyond Bourbon Street and More, and Master Storyteller in Different Media.
Episode 104 with Matt Bell, Author of The New York Times Notable Book, Appleseed, and Uber-Talented Craftsman, Worldbuilder, Chronicler of Society’s Mores, and Writing Teacher
Episode 103 with Tracey Thompson, Short-Story Reader Extraordinaire, Shirley Jackson Fan, and Publisher of the ”California Reading” Project
Episode 102 with Tice Cin, Interdisciplinary Artist, Aesthete, Wordsmith, and Author of Keeping the House-Called” a cult classic in the making” by The Guardian
Episode 101 with Mia St. John, 5-time World Boxing Champion, Founder of El Saber Es Poder Foundation, Advocate for Mental Health Awareness, and Author of the Memoir, Fighting for My Life
Episode 100 with Susan Muaddi Darraj: Versatile Writer of Moving and Well-Researched Works for All Ages and ”Portraits of Flawed, Ordinary Humans with Whom the reader Can Feel Joy, Pain and Empathy”
Episode 99 with Sara Borjas, Profound Thinker, Script-Flipper, Proud Pochx, and Author of the Breathtaking Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff
Episode 98 with Greg Bishop, Disciplined and Voracious Reader, Profound and Thoughtful Writer, and Storyteller with Sports Illustrated, Showtime All-Access, and More
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