Several times a month we connect with our contributors showing where they have been, where they are now, and what’s up for the future.
Name: Rebecca Brock
Title of Pieces Published in Sweet: “The Flight Attendant Looks Back“
Issue: 15
Find Her:
Threads
Twitter (X)
Instagram
Rebecca is a Sweet Repeater. She has two poems in Issue 15, “The Flight Attendant Looks Back” and “To My Father Whose Pitch Has Always Been About Surviving” as well as being a finalist for our 2023 Sweet Lit Poetry Contest. You can find Rebecca in Virginia or Idaho or somewhere in between. Be sure to see what else Rebecca is up to on her website.
What are some major accomplishments you have had since your Sweet publication?
My first full length book, The Way Land Breaks, was published earlier this year by Sheila-Na-Gig Editions. And I was thrilled to have a new poem in the November issue of THRUSH.
Can you tell us about a current/ongoing project that you’re excited about?
A dear friend and I are both doing the Two Sylvias Press Advent of Poetry Prompts together. She lives on the West Coast and I’m out East. I gave her the Poetry Advent for Christmas. It’s been so lovely to experience her writing again and to have such a loving reception of mine. This conversation of poems is proving to be the gift I hoped it would be. I’ve been in a bit of a poem drought but this challenge is invigorating!
Who is your favorite author?
This is not a fair question! 🙂 I love reading literary mags and finding new voices–and hunting up other work by them. As to more established poets–Ellen Bass, Lucille Clifton, Saeed Jones, Andrea Gibson, Louise Gluck, Jane Hirshfield, Jane Kenyon, Denise Levertov, Ada Limon, Sharon Olds, Maggie Smith, Ocean Vuong, Hanif Willis-Aburraqib…and the list goes on!
What is your favorite poem/essay/book?
I always struggle with these questions–there are too many to name and its variable! But, above my desk I have Rilke’s “Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart” quote, Mary Oliver’s “The Journey” and Ada Limon’s “Instructions on Not Giving Up.” And I often recommend “A Gentlemen in Moscow” by Amor Towles. I loved the sweep and scope of the characters, the story and setting. I also loved Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend series.
What inspires you to write?
Time. The constant of change. My kids. I used to think and worry about not finding time to write–now I know I need to make the time. Some other things will falter, yes, but I’m better when I write. I’m more in the world, more present to myself, my family. Writing places me.
What are you reading right now?
I’m rereading “Possession” by A.S. Byatt–it was a favorite of mine, years ago. After her recent passing, I picked it up again and I’m still transfixed.
What is your favorite sweet? We would love for you to share a recipe or link to place that serves it. Pictures are great, too!
My favorite sweet to make is Pumpkin Bars–a recipe passed down from my husband’s beloved preschool teacher. My oldest made them last year for a project in his calculus class…usually we cut them into squares, like brownies. They are more scrumptious than you might think.
PUMPKIN BARS
Preheat Oven: 325 degrees
- Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups pumpkin
- 3/4 cup melted butter
* stir above & add:
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 1 tsp of vanilla
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp of salt, ginger, nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp of cloves
*Bake for 25 minutes
Optional: add 1/2 cup Pecans and/or Buttercream Frosting.
Thank you, Rebecca, for taking the time to reconnect with us. We look forward to seeing more of your work in the future!
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