Patricia Hruby Powell is a former dancer skilled at making words dance across
the page. We are delighted that she will join us as faculty at this year’s
conference!
first think of yourself as a writer?
PHP: Hmmm, that’s
like a rollercoaster. I can, I can’t, I can, I can’t. I felt like a writer
early on while writing a novel (entitled Maddy
about my 6th grade self—you know, Maddy, it sounds like Patty) that never got
published—but nearly did. I felt it when I was writing Josephine. Dang I’ve felt it at moments, for years, while writing
my dreams in my journal. Dang. And then there’s the dark mirror of that, which
I’ve been feeling most days I’ve been writing a new piece about Women’s
Suffrage where I think — I don’t know how to write!
your most and least favorite genres of children’s literature?
— PB, MG, YA, adult, etc — I tend to love historical fiction. I tend not to
love science fiction or even fantasy, horror or most thrillers, but there are
exceptions.
book you’ve read most frequently (and why)?
PHP: I tend not
to reread books. I know, that’s not good. I guess I’ve reread Charlotte
Bronte’s Jane Eyre (partly because I wanted to know more about the woman in the
attic—my heart breaks for her) and some Jane Austen. Why? Jane Austen subtly
shows human foibles—brilliant and witty. Oh, and a childhood book of poetry, The Moon is Shining Bright As Day — some
of the poems. And Winnie the Pooh and
House at Pooh Corner. Usually my
mother read to us. She was a great reader.
reading now?
PHP: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance and loving
it. So much to learn there.
might we be surprised to learn you LOVED?
PHP: What a greatquestion. Wish I had a great answer. Gotta’ think. Hunger Games. Is that a surprise?
your FAVORITE books of all time?
impossible to answer. All the Light We
Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I love Julie Berry’s The Passion of Dolssa. I love Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese. Going back, I love Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. I used to love
Louise Erdrich and Edwidge Danticat. Before that, Hermann Hesse books and Anaîs
Nin books.
character would you most like to be?
excited to share with our Western WA members at the conference?
really hope to share fun. So great to be among writers and readers who care
enough to attend a weekend workshop. I’ve had great times attending weekend
writing workshops. Dancing. I want to dance with you all. Getting to know other
writers. I love that.