Interview with Jessica Tyner

Here’s a new little feature I thought would be neat: interviewing all the writers published in Bop Dead City. This one is with Jessica Tyner, who wrote the poem “Eating,” which is published in our first issue. So here goes, and keep sending in those submissions.

Jessica Tyner

Describe your poetry in 25 words or less.

A manic concoction of emotions and words that have nowhere else to go with a mild sprinkling of formal training on the rocks.

Who has influenced you the most as a writer?

I suppose this is where I list my favorite poets (and there are many) including Li-Young Lee, Kim Addonizio, Maya Angelou and Pablo Neruda. One of Neruda’s lines has made it permanently on my rib cage in a scrawled tattoo. However, the real influence is my life’s greatest love, Chintan – of whom 99% of my writing is about. Cliched, but Neruda would be proud.

Tell me about your poem “Eating.”

I wholly believe men do make love like they eat and there’s something innately seductive about cultures that eat with their hands. Food, sex and love are what life’s all about, just not necessarily in that order.

Do you keep a blog?

Yes, but not for writing. I founded a karmic (ahem, free) yoga movement offering classes to communities who face barriers to practice, Get it Ohm!

What are you reading right now?

“The God of Small Things.” I spearheaded a book club aimed at bringing together voracious women readers who want to read books that require at least a splinter of intelligence. That was the actual description and it’s taken off. I guess I’ll have to read “50 Shades of Grey” on the sly.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Grow a thick skin as soon as possible. Don’t write about anything you wouldn’t scream in a drunken rage or cry to your therapist about. Always be either working on a new piece or submitting to journals and magazines where you actually want your work to appear.

What are you working on right now?

I just (as in yesterday) placed three new poems with an MFA’s literary magazine – “The Carving Station,” “Bouquet of the Body,” and “Bronco Busting.”