121. Elizabeth M. Castillo | Not Quite an Ocean, multilingual poetry, and different things

Arts Calling

Weekly shoutout: switchyardtulsa.com

Hi there,

Today I am excited to be arts calling poet Elizabeth M. Castillo! (elizabethmcastillo.net)

About our guest: Elizabeth M Castillo is a multilingual poet, writer, teacher and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. She lives in Paris with her family and two cats, where she writes a variety of different things, in a variety of different languages, and under a variety of pen names. Elizabeth is committed to promoting the indie arts, especially from women creators, and has a particular soft spot for women of colour who are also neurodivergent, much like herself. She’s found writing and creativity to be central to her own well-being and mental health, and is always keen to accompany other artists on their journey to developing their own authentic creative practice. In her writing Elizabeth explores the different countries and cultures she grew up with, as well as themes of race & ethnicity, motherhood, womanhood, language, love, loss and grief, and a touch of magical realism. Her writing has been featured in publications and anthologies in the UK, US, Australia, Mexico and the Middle East. Her bilingual, debut collection “Cajoncito: Poems on Love, Loss, y Otras Locuras” is for sale on Amazon, and her debut chapbook "Not Quite an Ocean" is on available now from Nine Pens Press. You can connect with her on Twitter @EMCWritesPoetry and IG as EMCWritesPoetry, or on her website.

NOT QUITE AN OCEAN, now available from Nine Pens Press! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1739151747

'Not Quite an Ocean' by Elizabeth M. Castillo is a paean to the feminine, to motherhood and to the natural world. At once these poems are both unabashed in their celebration of womanhood, and are searing in their unflinching confrontation with darker undercurrents that threaten to break and destroy. The poems in 'Not Quite an Ocean' are beacons, are rallying calls, and are ultimately a roars of strength, pride and hope that cannot be silenced or subdued: To be woman is to be everything All things bound together and, if you can manage it that little bit more.

Thanks for this wonderful conversation, Elizabeth! All the best!

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Arts Calling is produced by Jaime Alejandro (cruzfolio.com). If you like the show: leave a review, or share it with someone who's starting their creative journey! Your support truly makes a difference! Go make a dent. Much love,

j

https://artscalling.com