Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Loxart. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alyssa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I have ever taken was publishing my first book. As a poet, the page is a bit of a diary to me. I explore my experiences and relationships within my writing, and to allow someone else to see into that can be terrifying. It took me a very long time to be ready to publish (years), but the day that I did was the most freeing day of my life.

As a poet, you cannot afford to withhold your feelings, your stories, or the lessons that you have learned. Otherwise, where is the heart in your writing? Where is the commonality that people can grasp onto and say, “I, too, have experienced this. I know what this feels like.”

Being vulnerable and publishing you writing for the first time can feel like a huge risk. But there is so much bravery in vulnerability. I’ve found, in publishing King of Pomegranates, when someone is vulnerable it can create a domino effect. Sometimes it can inspire others to be brave and vulnerable and to share their experiences in whatever medium they see fit. That is such a beautiful thing to me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Alyssa Loxart and I am a multi-faceted creative with a focus on poetry and writing. I began writing at age 7, and was always an extremely creative person. As someone who lived in a domestic violence household for fifteen years, it became a safe haven for my thoughts and emotions, and I never stopped. But I didn’t consider myself a poet for a long time – my thoughts easily turned into poems on paper. Eventually I realized, “Oh, I think I’m a poet.”

In 2021 I released my first book of poetry, King of Pomegranates. King of Pomegranates is a collection of poetry, prose and short stories depicting the journey from childhood trauma to self love. The open pomegranate is meant to symbolize my heart, open and vulnerable for the world to see. It’s messy, and still beautiful.

In Spring of 2024 I will be releasing my next book of poetry, The Last Lover in Los Angeles, which is an exploration of self, a memoir of pleasure, and an ode to the enigmatic city that witnessed it all.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would say that the goal for my writing is to help inspire others to be the most vulnerable, messy, authentic, and passionate versions of themselves. I want to help others on their journeys to self love or their era of finally allowing themselves pleasure and passion in every aspect of their lives. I want to help others with whatever comes next after that.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative has been the creative community – especially within Los Angeles. This is absolutely the place for artists and creatives to connect over something that they love, and I feel incredibly supported by the network of creatives that I have in my life. You can learn so much from each other, and inspire each other, and create together. There’s nothing like it.

One other very rewarding thing for me is when others say that my writing or my story has inspired them to do something like step out of their comfort zone or to follow that dream they put on the back-burner. It truly is why I am a writer, and it makes me feel like the hard work that has been put in has been entirely worth it if I’m helping others.

Contact Info:

• Website: alyssaloxart.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/alyssaloxart
• Other: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-pomegranates-alyssa-loxart/1139896542