Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 59: Janice Lee)

Janice Lee

JANICE LEE (she/her) is a Korean-American writer, editor, teacher, and shamanic healer. She is the author of several books, including Imagine a Death (Texas Review Press, 2021) and Separation Anxiety (CLASH Books, 2022); A roundtable, unanimous dreamers chime in, a collaborative novel co-authored with Brenda Iijima, is also forthcoming in 2022 from Meekling Press, and an essay (co-authored with Jared Woodland) is featured in the recently released 4K restoration of Sátántangó (dir. Béla Tarr) from Arbelos Films. She is Founder and Executive Editor of Entropy, Co-Publisher at Civil Coping Mechanisms, and Co-Founder of The Accomplices LLC. She currently lives in Portland, OR, where she is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Portland State University. 

My current favorite things to read are: Bayo Akomolafe’s Facebook posts and the strange messages left by the squirrels and crows in the garden consisting of feathers, leftover bits of cucumber, and rotting pears.

My current favorite things to watch are: The Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney and Hotel del Luna on Netflix.

My current favorite thing to listen to is: MONTERO by Lil Nas X. Also, the new podcast from Plum Village expanding on the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, The Way Out Is In.

My current state of mind is: mole burrowing underneath the ground on a sunny day.

My current chemical romance involves: Topo Chico hard seltzers.

My current words of wisdom are: Let go. The dandelions are prophesizing.

My current mode of transportation is: a Subaru Crosstrek because I have become a Portlander. Really though, it has seat warmers which is the bougiest feature I’ve ever had in a car I’ve owned.

My current favorite fast food item is: [a] regular crunchy taco from Taco Bell.

My current workout routine consists of: …I started running during the pandemic, plus occasional yoga, the punching bag, beginner-level kung fu, and hikes. And currently, long walks with the dog.

My current regrettable decision involves: drinking way too much caffeine yesterday.

My current hopes and dreams are: to just keep doing my best.

My current hobbies include: listening more to the plants and the animals. Playing Super Animal Royale. Learning Hungarian and brushing up on my Korean. Cooking more with my new Le Creuset dutch oven.

 

Janice Lee is online at janicel.com.

Brian Alan Ellis runs House of Vlad Press, and is the author of several books, including Sad Laughter (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2018). His writing has appeared at Juked, Hobart, Fanzine, Monkeybicycle, Electric Literature, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Funhouse, Heavy Feather Review, and Yes Poetry, among other places. He lives in Florida.

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