Featured Interview With Jessica Highstreet
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m Jessica Highstreet. I grew up in Florida and moved to Denver in 2015. Writing has always been my thing. I also love to teach and share and build community through writing. I self-published my first book, Rose Hips, in June 2020.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved writing as soon as I learned what it really was- putting your thoughts down on paper. I just always thought that concept was magical, I still do. All my childhood friends still remember my songs about the flowers and the trees we were climbing. There’s always been a poet in me, finding her way out.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh wow, I’m inspired by so many authors and poets. I could never name them all. But there’s a few that come to mind- Mary Oliver, Pablo Neruda, Andrea Gibson, William Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, and possibly my first true love, Emily Dickinson.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Rose Hips is my first book. I self-published it in June of 2020, when the pandemic left me with lots of time on my hands. I was calling my grandma a lot that spring since neither of us were getting out much, and she kept encouraging me to finally publish my poems. When I started to put the collection together, I realized that I had really recorded my process of finding my identity with my poetry. I think finding your authentic self is something everyone searches for at some point. I wanted to be really vulnerable and raw in my writing. Hopefully anyone who reads Rose Hips will feel a little less alone in their journey.
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