Today we’d like to introduce you to Leonore Hildebrandt

Hi Leonore, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

Many years ago, I signed up for a directed study at the University of Maine. I had no idea of what I was getting into. At the first one-on-one meeting, the instructor – a well-respected writer, teacher, and editor – asked to see some work of mine. I had to admit that, while I had dabbled with song-writing, I merely wished to write literature. The teacher sent me away with the assignment to write something and come back. And so I agonized over my words all week, and anxiously showed her a few poems, and she kept me on, even granting me my first publication in her literary journal. After that semester, I kept going.

Since then, I have overcome my timidity. I met other people who write poetry – sharing and discussing our work is immensely helpful. Writing seems like a solitary affair, but it thrives in a community of fellow writers, it wants feedback by readers. My work can be found in many literary journals, and next year, my fourth volume of poetry is due to be published by Deerbrook Editions. My first instructor gave me what I needed most: a framework for establishing habits, skills, and confidence. But it was I who made the initial move, and on a whim, jumped into water too deep for reconsideration.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

The biggest challenge for me is simply to show up. Time tends to quickly fill with other things, so for me, daily habits are necessary to keep myself engaged with my artistic practices, which include poetry and song writing along with performing as a singer-songwriter. When I am interrupted for longer periods, I often find it difficult to begin again, as if doubting that I have anything to say or offer. But I found I don’t have to wait for having something to say. I just start writing and find myself discovering what could be said. I just do a vocal exercise and see what might be felt by the singing voice.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

When I started writing, I found that poetry came most easily to me. Readers tell me that my poems are finely crafted, accessible (not “difficult”), and thought-provoking. My dedication to sustainable living tends to assert itself no matter what, so I invite playfulness into my writing. (We practice a back-to-the-land lifestyle, live in a solar-powered house that we built ourselves, grow our own food, etc.) Since English is my second language, I was given a medicinal dose of alienation – my artistic medium retains some otherness, it offers questions and discoveries. It invites me to dive deeper, to marvel at the ever-changing life of human language. My hope is that my work reflects these surprises.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?

Success is neither objective nor general. When I compare myself to others, I get lost and it makes me unhappy. I do better when I compare my work to things I’ve done before. For example, I may note a broader range of subject matter, a poem’s unexpected shift, a musicality of language that pleases me, and conclude that I’ve succeeded. Of course, there are more objective markers for literary success: a new manuscript accepted by a prestigious press, an outstanding award, one’s work being widely perceived and favorably discussed. These things, I imagine, would be gratifying and should be celebrated, but in the end, a sense of success is personal. It’s pleasurable and enduring – a childlike joy over something well done.

Pricing:

• The Work at Hand, Letterpress Chapbook, $20
• The Next Unkown, poetry book, $ 15
• Where You Happen to Be, poetry book, $ 15
• Upward Spiral, poetry anthology, $ 15
• To order, please go to my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leonorehildebrandt.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonore.hildebrandt