For Release: 2008-10-06 11:24:00
New York-based writer Samantha Thornhill sits down with Renee on the next Connections to discuss her poetry and up coming novel, Seventeen Seasons. The program airs Friday, Oct. 24 at 4/3 p.m. CT on KET2 and Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1:30/12:30 p.m. CT on KET1.Thornhill, who visited the Bluegrass to attend the Kentucky Women's Writers Conference, explains the nature of her writing and how she found her "poetic voice." She discusses the importance of poetry as a literary genre, one she identifies as struggling to find its place in society. Thornhill argues that poetry is important for communicating important political and social messages. She also discusses the difficulties of living as a writer and her secrets for keeping her soul nurtured.
The author, who teaches poetry at The Julliard School in New York, is currently staying at a writer's retreat geared specifically toward female authors. Thornhill explains how living at the retreat helped her write Seventeen Seasons. Scheduled for release in 2010, the book is intended for teenagers, presenting an honest picture of life for a young girl born in Trinidad. Although the novel is not autobiographical, Thornhill herself was born in Trinidad and often goes back in order to reconnect with her family still living there.
Thornhill also shares one of her poems and comments on the excitement of participating in poetry competitions known as "slams."
Connections with Renee Shaw is a KET production, produced by Shaw and Carolyn Gwinn. More information about Connections, including streaming video, is available at www.ket.org/connections. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
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