In which we interview writers asking the same questions asked of Ashley Tisdale by Juliette, editor of Miss O and Friends; see the original interview here.
If you find yourself jaded about the poetry scene in particular and the writerly scene in general, as your correspondent tends to be, you are hereby directed to place yourself in the presence of Melissa Broder. A publishing publicist by day and poet and poetry reading series curator the rest of the time, Melissa proves that the community finds a way, hook or crook, to rejuvenate itself.
Melissa Broder's ebullient, essayistic poems pay attention to sounds and sense, rouses tunes out Duane Reeds and word like "unhitchery" equally. She addresses her poems to a world of non-poetic people who might find themselves in her poems: people with acne, teenage waifs, and aging anarchists alike. They are cosmopolitan in a playful kind of way. Watch out for her first collection, When You Say One Thing but Mean Your
Mother, coming out from Ampersand Books in February 2010.
Her lively Polestar Poetry Series, held in the Lower East Side, is also a super addition to the New York scene. Broder received her BA
from Tufts University and is currently in the MFA program at CCNY.
She is also the new editor of La Petite Zine (my old job). Find her poems have appeared in many journals,
including: Opium, Shampoo, Conte and The Del Sol Review. She took time to answer these important questions from her abode in
Brooklyn. And we are glad she did!
Age: 30
Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Philadelphia
You may know me because: I pimped your book.
My house is: inaccessible by wheelchair.
The first thing I do every morning is: pop a piece of Nicorette and wait for the miracle.
My cell phone brand is: BlackBerry.
About my pets: Two pampered guinea pigs, Angie and Peaches.
I exercise: religiously, yoga and the elliptical, to keep my Russian shtetl DNA at bay.
Lately I've been surprised by: the inevitability of aforesaid DNA.
Book I'm reading: Rise Up by Matthew Rohrer.
I was so excited when this came out on DVD: Mad Men Season 2.
The cereals in my cupboard are: Fiber One, Fiber One bars, Fiber One English muffins. Cardboard no. Delicious yes. For dinner, I like to make: a phone call to Lichee Nut Chinese restaurant.
I'll eat sushi, but not: gin.
My coolest article of clothing: is my cropped leather moto jacket.
My most prized possession: is a secret.
My TV screen is: flat.
When friends come over, we: barbecue all night long.
My favorite TV channel is: a la carte.
My first financial splurge was: a Balenciaga city bag.
Wackiest fan encounter: I met Ann Coulter in The Today Show green room and she turned out to be lovely in person, kind and humble. That was puzzling.
TV show I never miss: The Daily Show and Gossip Girl.
Before I die, I want to: I think it's slowly happening.
The best perk of being a celebrity is: free liquorice tea at CakeShop and a Daniel Nester promotional whoopee cushion.
Celebrity whom I'd ask for an autograph: Bud Cort as Harold from Harold and Maude, in the hearse, with the harakiri gear, and Ruth Gordon in tow.
Dream car: an old Porsche.
When I fly I have to have: a copious supply of Nicorette.
People would be surprised that I: am not amused by their children.
Favorite cartoon: Metalocalypse.
My iPod playlist: Here's the latest Polestar playlist:
A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins
Alcohol - Robert Jay
Back in Your Head - Tegan and Sara
Big Exit - PJ Harvey
Black Swan - Thom Yorke
C-C - Tom Vek
Coleen - The Heavy
Da Feelin - Nightmares on Wax
Don't You Evah - Spoon
Gamma Ray - Beck
Gimme Danger - The Stooges
Going On - Gnarls Barkley
The Good Old Days - The Libertines
Handsome Devil - The Smiths
International Dateline - Ladytron
Kung Fu - Curtis Mayfield
L.E.S. Artistes - Santogold
Let's Talk About It - White Denim
Let The Beat Build - Lil Wayne
Love Buzz - Shocking Blue
Medication - Queens of the Stone Age
The Message - Grandmaster Flash
Monkey Man - The Stones
Over and Over - Hot Chip
Panic in Detroit - David Bowie
Precious - Pretenders
Promise - Violent Femmes
Salute Your Solution - Raconteurs
Tomorrow Comes Today - Gorillaz
I can't start my day without: a bit of prayer and meditation.
If I had to spend $10 at my favorite fast food joint, I'd order: the old Wendy's Superbar from days of yore.
Author photo credit: Brandon Finney
