H.L. Hix interviewed by Deborah Kalb


H.L. Hix is the author of the new book American Outrage: A Testamentary. In this new interview with Deborah, they discuss the themes of identity and societal discontent expressed in Hix's latest work. Hix reflects on his approach to portraying the complexities of American life, emphasizing a blend of personal narrative and broader cultural critique.

Deborah brings up the book's exploration of historical injustices and asks Hix how these elements inform his writing. Hix responds by highlighting the importance of understanding the past to make sense of the present. He notes that literature serves as a mirror to society, allowing readers to confront uncomfortable truths.

The conversation shifts to Hix's poetic style, with Deborah inquiring about the techniques he employs to create emotional resonance with his audience. Hix explains his use of vivid imagery and stark contrasts to evoke a visceral reaction, encouraging readers to engage with the material on multiple levels.

They delve deeper into the specific societal issues raised in American Outrage, including disparities in power and the struggle for marginalized voices. Hix shares his belief that art can be a catalyst for change, provoking thought and inspiring action in the face of systemic issues.

As the interview concludes, Deborah asks Hix what he hopes readers take away from the book. Hix expresses a desire for readers to feel a sense of urgency about the narratives of injustice that we often overlook. He believes that awareness is the first step toward meaningful change, and through American Outrage, he aims to ignite that awareness.

Interview here:

https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2024/08/q-with-hl-hix.html

Geoffrey Gatza

Bio Note: Geoffrey Gatza is the author of the poetry collections The House of Forgetting (2012), Apollo: A Conceptual Poem (2014), and A Dog Lost in the Brick City of Outlawed Trees (2018).

 

Divya Victor, in an article for poetryfoundation.org, said of Apollo: A Conceptual Poem “The diversity of these works echoes the complexities of the subject, but together they posit something specific, the heightened relationship between the interior self and the exterior world.”

 

Gatza’s poems have been published in anthologies, as well as magazines and journals including Fence, Tarpaulin Sky, The Pickled Body, Peach Mag, Tupelo Quarterly and various others. His play on Marcel Duchamp was staged in an art installation in Philadelphia and performed in NYC.

 

Gatza is an award-winning editor, publisher and poet. He is the driving force behind BlazeVOX, an independent press located in Buffalo, NY, specializing in innovative fictions and wide ranging fields of contemporary poetry. Geoffrey Gatza is lives in Kenmore, NY.

editor@blazevox.org

http://www.blazevox.org

http://www.blazevox.org
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