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A Full-Circle Conversation with Richard Blanco

Some moments in a writing life feel a little surreal, and this is definitely one of them.

I'm incredibly excited to share that my interview with Richard Blanco has been published by the University of South Florida in their wonderful magazine Saw Palm.

Richard "Coach" Blanco was one of my professors during my undergraduate years, long before I imagined I'd one day be interviewing him for a literary magazine. I found so much of myself reflected in his work. His writing about family, language, belonging, and the complicated beauty of home helped me better understand my own experiences and, in many ways, gave me permission to write toward them.

Sitting down with him years later felt wonderfully full-circle. We talked about poetry, memory, Florida, his creative process, and how our stories continue to evolve over time. 

I'm so grateful to Saw Palm for recognizing this interview. It's also especially meaningful because Saw Palm has been part of my own publishing journey before, having previously published one of my poems. To now return as an interviewer feels like another exciting milestone.

If you'd like to read the conversation, you can find it here: "Place, Memory, and Mentorship: An Interview with Richard Blanco".

Thank you, as always, for reading my work and celebrating these moments with me. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed being part of it!