We caught up with the brilliant and insightful James Gordon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

James , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Being a creative is dope. Inspiration comes from EVERYWHERE for me, whether it’s when the leaves turn colors, a new or familiar song comes on, a beautiful woman makes her appearance, and so forth. The above statement has been my process for every art form i participate in. I was a teacher, an honorable profession, for twenty years. I understand the advantages of having a “regular job”. However, there’s an exhilarating feeling to create something on my own or as a part of a collaborative effort. Also, being compensated for such efforts is a HUGE plus because there are projects that are “labors of love”.
Currently, I’m finishing up a book of Poetry titled “Poems She’ll Never Read”. It’s a compilation of odes to both my Daughter who passed away and a woman i loved dearly. It will drop in April.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is James Gordon from the Southside of Chicago. I have lived here my entire life. I taught 7th grade Language Arts for 20 plus years. Then, I made the bold jump to acting. In between then, i have written and self published 20 books across various genres(poetry, sensual, children’s, and mystery and suspense). Also, i am 33 time Moth Storytelling Slam Champion and 4 time Grand Slam Champion.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

On June 7, 2020 at 8:45 pm, my Daughter Morgan Denise Livingston bka Sweets passed away. For all of her life, Sweets battled a heart ailment. She lived life on her own terms. After her passing, i was lost for a while. Then, I realized that Sweets was tough, tougher than I ever was. I had right to wallow, sulk, or not live this life fully. And i live my life with the volume up and full speed ahead, dedicated to Sweets.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My Brother Gus is a extremely sustainable source of positivity. He has helped me change my diet, plays inspirational videos, and shares passages from his expansive readings.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Greatest Poet Alive
• Facebook: James Gordon
• Twitter: gr8estpoetalive
• Youtube: Greatest Poet Alive