Skaja Evens On Books And Writing
Skaja Evens is a writer, artist, and publisher living in Southeast Virginia.
This interview has been edited lightly.
Your debut poetry collection was released recently. Would you tell me a little bit about it?
“conscientia veritatis” is a collection of writings born from the processing of things in my life. I’m a seeker of connection, and sharing about one’s life can foster that connection. I touch on relationships, grief, living in a patriarchal late-stage capitalistic world, mental health and neurodivergency, and living out loud. Many of the pieces are me sharing my life, and others are written from a collective consciousness point of view.
How long did it take to write? Do you have a writing routine?
There are pieces from over a decade ago to as recent as this year. I didn’t write for a specific book; I pulled writes from my larger body of work that seemed to fit together well. Once I started to put the book together, it took probably 15–18 months and a few drafts.
As for a writing routine: I often listen to music when I write and will start with a blank page. Other times, I’ll jot down fragments that pop in my mind and flesh them out later. Sometimes the words are in a hurry to come out, and sometimes it’s a slow coaxing. I’ll write on paper, or electronically, wherever I happen to find myself.
How did you go about getting the book published?
I met John Patrick Robbins, the Editor in Chief/Publisher of Whiskey City Press, in 2022, and early conversations with him inspired me to start a new press. I also began working with him, proofing/editing work and formatting manuscripts. After reading and publishing some of my work in his various magazines, along with encouraging me to submit my writing to other publications, the idea of a book blossomed.
When it came time to put the book together, I found myself in the fortunate position of being able to do most of the work myself. John created the beautiful front and back covers and mixed the table of contents. I did the formatting, chose the fonts, and pulled the final product together.
Do you have any literary influences?
Richard Bach, Dean Koontz, Jerome Berglund, John Patrick Robbins, Edgar Allan Poe, Lavyrle Spencer, Jackie Collins, T.S. Eliot.
Any other big projects in the works?
Currently working on growing my magazine Disturb the Universe Magazine, which recently shifted from publishing two days per week to three days per week. I also have a zine, It Takes All Kinds Literary Art Zine, that has had a varied publishing schedule, but is in the middle of a format change. I’m also looking at publishing manuscripts by other writers through my press Mōtus Audāx.
And, the beginnings of my next, currently untitled, book.
