April is going to be a busy month, and we kicked off programming last night with our Author Series, featuring Gayle Brandeis. One of the benefits of running 1455 is having the constant opportunity to meet (and read) the work of extraordinary authors. As is usually the case, this particular conversation was planned many months ago and, as usual, once I read the book I could hardly wait to talk about it! It’s always a cherished occasion, and honor, to watch any author read their own work, and when the work in question is as rich, moving, and meaningful as Drawing Breath, it’s practically an embarrassment of riches.
We chatted not only about the origins of this book, a collection of essays that explore breath and breathing, the body, grief, creativity, and community (yes, like I said: an embarrassment of riches!), we compared notes on navigating the creation of poetry vs. non-fiction, the importance of reading and responding to other writers, paying it forward to artistic influences, and why most writers are seeking meaningful connection, and how writing is a time-tested way to unite people across time, culture, and language.
It’s our pleasure to partner with D.C.’s historic Potter’s House and we encourage you to pick up your copies of Drawing Breath from them and help support independent booksellers!
ABOUT THE BOOK
In Drawing Breath: Essays on Writing, the Body, and Loss, PEN/Bellwether Prize-winning writer Gayle Brandeis’ essays explore both the writing life and the embodied life, along with potent intersection between the two. From the title essay investigating the connection between writing and breath to the final essay, which delves into Brandeis’ experience with long-haul Covid and its impact on her creative voice, this collection is infused with the urgency of mortality, thrumming with grief, authenticity, and a deep love for both language and the world of the senses.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gayle’s essays, poetry, and short fiction have been widely published in places such as The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, O (The Oprah Magazine), The Rumpus, Salon, and more, and have received numerous honors, including the Columbia Journal Nonfiction Award. She was named A Writer Who Makes a Difference by The Writer Magazine, and teaches in the low residency MFA programs at Antioch University and University of Nevada, Reno. She currently lives in Highland Park, IL with her husband and youngest child. Visit her online at https://gaylebrandeis.com
