Krisany Blount
When people hear the word “intern” the image that comes to mind is a person who fetches coffee and sometimes lunch. I can’t speak for other internships, but here at the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, that is certainly not the case. For the past month, my fellow interns and I have been hard at work developing our writing, interviewing, and communication skills. We conduct interviews, write articles, and are thrilled to share our skills (not to mention those aforementioned interviews and articles) with the wider literary community.
In this increasingly digital age, compounded by the pandemic, it can be difficult to make connections, even in a community like our own. So, in the interest of fostering a more connected community, allow me to introduce Elise Eystad, Kensie Kiesow, and myself, Krisany Blount. We are so excited to continue sharing articles about big thinkers, great writers, and inspiring creatives in the Chippewa Valley and beyond.
Elise Eystad is a third year English-creative writing major with a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Originally from Chippewa Falls, Elise enjoys writing, reading, hiking and traveling. She also likes writing songs and creating music.
Originally from Hudson, Wisconsin, Kensie Kiesow is an English-creative writing and German double major. She enjoys the typical English major pastimes of reading and writing, but also loves embroidery, Dungeons & Dragons, and cooking. Kensie is confident she can convince any meat-lover to like tofu with her fried tofu recipe. One day, she hopes to work at a literary magazine and make a living writing.
Krisany Blount is a fifth year English-creative writing major and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor. An Eau Claire native, she also coaches high school forensics at North High School. Krisany loves reading, writing, painting, and learning interesting things. In the time before the pandemic, she could frequently be found in a back corner of a library with either a book or her laptop.
Krisany Blount: Tell me about some good books you’ve read (recently or all-time favorites).
Elise Eystad: Definitely a hard question. Glancing over at my bookshelf now, I’ll name a couple. I finished the book The Girl with The Louding Voice by Abi Daré recently (and loved it), which is about a young girl growing up in Nigeria. My all-time favorite book of poetry is Mary Oliver’s collection, Devotions. And I do love The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I read it for the first time on a long road trip when I was a senior in high school, so I have fond memories associated with it, despite the heavy/dreary content.
“Right now, I’m reading two books for two of my classes, Redefining Realness, by Janet Mock and The Translator, by Leila Aboulela which deal with Mock’s journey through transitioning and accepting her queerness, and the life of an Arabic translator from Sudan, respectively. ”
Kensie Kiesow: Right now, I’m reading two books for two of my classes, Redefining Realness, by Janet Mock and The Translator, by Leila Aboulela which deal with Mock’s journey through transitioning and accepting her queerness, and the life of an Arabic translator from Sudan, respectively. They are both fascinating reads that talk about subjects I’m familiar with, but I love the deeper insights into the lives of Mock and Aboulela’s character, Sammar. The Translator is written in an especially poetic way that is wonderful to read. Outside of class, I’m reading a graphic novel based on a D&D podcast hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy with their father, Clint. The title is Here There Be Gerblins, and it’s delightful!
Krisany Blount: I’m currently reading Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado for a class and really enjoying it. It’s a collection of short stories and they’re all so different! Machado’s writing is so lovely and distinct—it’s been a real delight to read. One of my all-time favorite books is Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. It’s a graphic novel about a medieval steampunk society that follows a supervillain and his shapeshifter sidekick in their quest to expose the hero as a fraud. Something about it is so haunting. I first read it in 2016 and I’ve reread it several times since then, but I keep thinking about it and going back to it.
KB: What’s your favorite thing about the Chippewa Valley, within the “literary scene” or outside it?
EE: I really love and appreciate the creative and artistic culture in the Chippewa Valley. Growing up in the area, it was so easy to be involved in music organizations or go to local shows and events and I still reap the benefits of that accessibility now as a college student in a “creative” major. I think our community creates art and content that has the ability to reach audiences around the world, but has a certain familiar, nostalgic Midwest quality to it that I will always be drawn to.
KK: My favorite thing about the Chippewa Valley, within and outside of the “literary scene,” is the respect and appreciation for the arts. I feel like this area, tucked away in the farmlands of Western Wisconsin, is a little haven for creatives from the music, writing, and art worlds. Here, we have a fascinating mixture of hardy, Midwestern values and the eyes of an artist, trained to see both the beautiful and the ugly in the world around them.
“It’s been so wonderful growing up in such a creatively-rich environment. There’s always some sort of art-related thing happening. Theatre, music festivals, art shows, open mic nights, craft talks, the list goes on”
KB: It’s been so wonderful growing up in such a creatively-rich environment. There’s always some sort of art-related thing happening. Theatre, music festivals, art shows, open mic nights, craft talks, the list goes on. I love how active the art community as a whole is! My favorite thing outside of that is definitely Eau Claire in fall. We’ve got such beautiful scenery around here year round, but when all the leaves start changing color, it just feels even prettier.
KB: What’s your favorite thing about interning with the Guild so far?
“I’ve loved challenging myself to approach writing in ways that are unfamiliar.”
EE: I’ve loved challenging myself to approach writing in ways that are unfamiliar. Doing things like interviewing people and learning how to have a professional presence in my writing and interviewing was (and still is) daunting, but it’s been awesome to get to work with people on articles who not only want to share their story or information, but have genuinely wanted to see me succeed in the process, as well.
KK: I really love the freedom to choose what I want to write about and what I want to focus on. I don’t feel like the intern who’s shunted off to do the menial labor no one else wants to do; rather, I’m a part of this guild and the greater Chippewa Valley literary community.
KB: I’m so excited that this internship is giving me the opportunity to get to know a little more about the writing community in the Chippewa Valley and to help others continue to learn about our writers, organizations, and events! I’ve had the opportunity to chat with some incredible people and write about the amazing things they’re doing, and it’s been a true delight. I love hearing people talk about the things that really matter to them, and to be able to share in spreading that passion is a dream come true.
Thank you to our amazing interns, who are working so hard to keep you inspired and informed!