Interview with Như Xuân Nguyễn

Như and I discussed her recent chapbook A System of Satellites and her writing practice, finding dignity as a trans poet, and writing past ingrained fear and doubt.   She also asked me questions. Hear me stumble trying to answer questions about my writing practice and how I approach writing with personal experiences. Như Xuân Nguyễn is a queer and trans Vietnamese American poet and writer. A Kundiman Fellow and a graduate of the MFA program in Creative Writing at Rutgers-Newark, she won the 2018 Poetry Society of America Chapbook Fellowship with her debut chapbook A System of Satellites. Her work has appeared in The Offing, DELUGE (Radioactive Moat), The Journal, The Shade Journal, and Juked. She is currently based in New York City, where she lives with her two cats, Arya and Azula.  Như's website Buy Như's chapbook   Note: I refer to a NOLA poetry fest panel that is no longer happening due to COVID-19. Wash your hands and stay at home, everyone.   People and Books Mentioned: Adrian Matejka Cathy Park Hong's Minor Feelings Tracy May Fuad  Emily Luan  Editor and Social Media Manager: Mitchel Davidovitz   The Sound of Waves Breaking: Lunar Wind, @Walter_Odington