Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 33

Hello! Jennifer Martin here! I'm a budding short story writer and a new volunteer at The Writer's Workout as well as a recent graduate. I have learned that breaking into the literary world can be daunting feat and so I am taking every opportunity to meet new and interesting people in the literary community, like today's guest Jennifer Case.

An avid essay writer with a love for environmental work, Jennifer Case has several essays published under a multitude of literary magazines including but not limited to Terrain.org, The Rumpus, The Michigan Quarterly Review. As well as having published three full-length manuscripts, Jennifer is truly carving her path into the world of creative nonfiction and environmental literature. Make sure to check out their website and socials, which are linked below, so you don't miss out on any of their future work. I was very pleased with the opportunity to meet Jennifer. I know you will be too.

Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for meeting with me today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I started to think about myself seriously as a writer in 8^th grade, when my English teacher shared a few excerpts from his personal journal. It inspired me to keep a journal of my own, where I wrote down my observations of the world and practiced writing techniques. In college, I majored in English, and then I went on to graduate school, where I studied environmental literature and creative writing. I was given the opportunity to teach, and I immediately loved it. After that, I knew I wanted to make teaching and writing my career. I feel really grateful to have a job where I can explore my own creative practice while also witnessing and supporting the creative practices of my students.

Tell us about your writing style.

I write creative nonfiction: memoir, personal essays, lyric essays, researched essays, etc. I love the variety inherent in the genre and the opportunity it gives me to engage the world while still integrating poetic elements.

Tell us about a project you’re proud of and link it. 

My most recent book is The Carework Project: Reckoning with Love, Labor, and the Living World, which is essentially about what it means to care for ourselves, others, and the world, especially in this era of climate crisis. Although some of the themes are heavy, the project gave me a lot of joy. It also gave me an opportunity to experiment. When working on the book, I integrated visual art and played with white space. I’m so glad Trinity University Press was willing to work with me on the interior design and accommodate almost all of my requests!

Spill the tea, what are you currently working on?

It’s more academic than creative, but I am editing an anthology on trauma-informed pedagogy for creative writing instructors, which will be published by Bloomsbury. I’ve also been working on an essay about what it was like to read my meditation teacher’s journals after she passed away.

What is your biggest/best piece of advice for other Indie Authors?

Have faith in your work and enjoy the writing process. I think if we maintain faith in ourselves and let the creative process drive us (more than, let’s say, a desire for prestige or sales), we will end up where we need to.

Who is your favorite Indie Author? 

I have too many to count! I really loved Stephanie Clare Smith’s Everywhere the Undrowned and Wei Tchou’s Little Seed. Bailey Gaylin Moore’s Thank You for Staying with Me is a phenomenal collection of micro essays. I’m currently reading Maya Jewell Zeller’s Raised by Ferns and really enjoying it. There’s so much great nonfiction coming out from indie presses!

Where can someone find your work, social presence, etc. drop some links. 

My personal website is at www.jenniferlcase.com There are lots of links there to essays available online as well as my books!

If you want to know more about Jennifer, check out her 2nd interview over on The Writer's Workout Substack - https://writersworkout.substack.com/p/jennifer-case-second-interview

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