Meet Holly Payne-Strange - dipity Community Spotlight Q&A Interview no. 2
learn more about poet and author Holly Payne-Strange's work through dipity's global interview monthly spotlight feature
Introduction
Holly Payne-Strange (she/her) is a published novelist, poet and podcast creator. Her writing has been described as “genuinely captivating” by LA Weekly and “profound and sincerely engaging” by USA Today. She was also a writer for Fireside Mystery Theater, which The New York Times called “One of the top ten podcasts to bring drama into your home”. Her next novel, All Of Us Alone, will be a recommended read for Women Writers, Women’s Books in December 2023. Her poetry has been published by various groups including Curating Athena, Door Is A Jar Magazine, In Parenthesis, Rising Sun Productions, SHEAUXTIME Collective, and will soon be featured in Academy Heart, among others.
Waiting
Sometimes, I feel like a kid at Christmas,
Waiting to hear from you.
It is so lovely, such a delight,
To know that we will talk again soon.
I could reach out first, of course,
Snatching the gift
From under the tree,
Discarding the bow,
Not a thought at all for time or place.
But there is such a delight in waiting.
In the gentle passion of anticipation,
Glinting like golden fairy lights.
In letting the snow fall where it may,
Enjoying the moment, trusting the stillness.
In knowing, for a fact,
That the right time will come.
That I will have my present
And you will have yours.
And we will feast together,
Laughter and champagne
Swirling between us.
I could reach out, but I know you will,
When you are ready.
And it will be
My Christmas morning.
Q: What is the backstory of this poem?
I consider myself to be very lucky that I have a lot of different types of relationships in my life. I have a fantastic wife whom I love deeply, we have an amazing home together. But I am also polyamorous. Having such a secure relationship with my wife allows me to sometimes have relationships with people who would not typically be ready to date. People who need a significant amount of space (months can go by between conversations, for example). But the dynamic really works for us, and I’m actually really glad I can be supportive to my partner while still giving space. So this is about how it feels to know that a lover will eventually return, having that level of trust in a pretty unorthodox relationship.
Q: What was your most recent publication?
Well, I have poems slated to be released by Academy Heart and SHEAUXTIME Collective in the upcoming months, but they are not available yet. My most recent publication is my novel, Strange and Twisted Things, a horror story about a lonely old woman who has just moved into a haunted house and must decide whether to embrace the chilling specters of her past or face the terror that lies ahead.
Strange And Twisted Things — Amazon Link
ABOUT: In a quiet village nestled deep within the heart of Italy, an elderly woman finds herself abandoned by her family, the depth of her loneliness almost overwhelming. Seeking solace in a decaying house, Greta clings onto the memories of her estranged husband, whose absence haunts her every waking moment.
As she steps over the threshold of her new home, the house awakens with an ominous energy, enveloping her in its unsettling embrace. Strange occurrences plague Greta's days, while chilling whispers echo through its dilapidated hallways. Only one fact cheers her- she is clearly not alone.
Caught between the longing for companionship and the terrifying consequences of embracing darkness, Greta must make a harrowing choice. Will she succumb to the allure of the house's sinister inhabitants, finally gaining the company she so desperately craves, or will she break free from their clutches and confront the horrors that lurk within?
"Strange and Twisted Things" is a chilling tale set against the scenic backdrop of Italy, where Greta's unwavering love battles against the very essence of evil itself.
Q: What are some of your fave publications (could be one of your own or a recommended read elsewhere?
My novels are available on Amazon, and my podcast can be found here: https://www.echoesshow.com/listen. [You can dig into episodes of Echoes on Spotify, YouTube, and iHeart].
Unfortunately, most of my poetry is behind some kind of paywall since they have been printed in anthologies, but I am proud of my work in this one: Poets of Alexandria: Modern Poems on Classical Themes.
Poets of Alexandria: Modern Poems on Classical Themes — Amazon Link
Q: When did you begin writing? OR What or who sparked and inspired your writing journey?
Gosh, I’ve been writing for so long now, I don't really remember. I started writing
short stories as a kid, and I was also really into theater— acting especially—so I started to write my own plays. They started to get produced when I was a teenager,
and that lead me to screenwriting, writing for podcasts, novels and eventually poetry. To be honest, poetry has always scared me a little, I only really do it when I feel like I have something I have to say. And that can be anything really. I just feel like you have to have strong feelings about something, to write a poem about it.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring poets, authors, or fellow writers in the community?
I think that a lot of people worry way too much about being unique. I have friends that basically refuse to start anything unless they feel like it is fully ‘their idea’. I think that’s such a shame. Your stories are your stories. No one else can tell them the way you can, because they are part of you. But at the same time, it's a good thing if these stories resonate with other people! Surely that's the point of writing, or any art really, to awaken something in someone else, to create that connection? So there's really no need to worry about having original plots. They will come to the extent that they are needed.
Q: What else do you do outside of the writing or poetry community? OR What else are you working on or excited about in the future? Any fun hobbies?
As far as hobbies go, I have a deep passion for studying languages. Italian is a
language I'm very comfortable with, and currently, I'm learning Mandarin and Norwegian. There's just something totally captivating about the intricate puzzle of grammar and etymology. I’m a very logical person and I love diving into how it all fits together. It’s also astounding how, as a species, we construct meaning through words. What leaves me in awe is the notion that I can take a thought or a feeling, encapsulate it in a phrase, and then transfer it to someone else. The power of communication, in this sense, is absolutely incredible to me.
Q: What are you currently reading? OR What book(s) would you recommend to others right now?
I love non-fiction! Currently I’m reading Cleopatra’s Daughter by Jane Draycot. Partly it’s research because my next novel is going to be set in approximately the same time period, but also, it's just really interesting. I was familiar with Cleopatra, of course, but I never really thought about what happened to her children. Turns out, their story is just as fascinating! And besides, It’s such a beautiful, almost mythical world they lived in. A truly amazing look into a different time and place.
Q: What was the last movie or TV show you watched or recommend others see in the
community?
Probably Designated Survivor. It has a really fascinating premise (I don't want to give anything away, but basically a very unlikely person becomes president of the United States). And it deals with an incredibly wide range of issues in a genuinely completing way. The last few episodes do get a little preachy, but they effectively highlight real concerns in a very engaging manner, so I can't complain. I think it’s a great intersection of entertainment and information.
Q: Which poets, artists, or writers inspire you?
So many! As far as poetry goes, I’m a big fan of Rumi and St. Catherine Of Siena. I find something about their rhythm intoxicating and I love their quiet confidence about the world. I’m also very drawn to visual art as well though, I really love Dali. I admire his ability to make things look twisted but in a realistic sense. I think that is what I strive for, especially in my horror writing.
Q: If you were stuck on the moon with anyone or could pick your space flight partner who would it be ( it could be someone from the past or present time)?
It would be my wife, hands down, no question. Probably a stupid answer really because she doesnt know much about surviving in space, but I know she’s the one I would want by my side. We got through the pandemic well together, so I have a feeling she’s one of the very few people I could handle being alone with for an extended period of time. We can start a new home on the moon, it’ll be fun!
D.E.L - Here (Visualizer)
Q: What's one of your favorite poems in existence?
“If” by Kipling.
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
~ Rudyard Kipling
Source: (https://poets.org/poem/if).
To Check Out More of Holly-Payne Strange’s Work
Please Def Follow: @hollypaynestrange_author
on Instagram, Amazon, and the Echoes podcast.
[Interview Processed By VFORROW]
Note: We choose one song for fun to pair with each Substack submission similar to our website’s online tank.
[Thank You Message From the Founder]:
Thank you so much Holly for taking the time to share about yourself through dipity’s Substack community spotlight and your podcast Echoes sounds awesome — love the synopsis I was reading on the show’s site — check it out further again here guys (https://www.echoesshow.com/about-the-show)! Ironically, just recently I was also watching the new 2023 teaser trailer of ORPHAN BLACK: Echoes the other day. I’m a huge sci-fi and horror flick fan as well.
It’s always cool to see poets who are passionate about the value that comes from learning other languages or even integrating them and their experiences, relationships, and memories into their work. I myself took Spanish and Mandarin classes in the past, but am, unfortunately quite rusty and only recall tidbits now but undoubtedly it’s super beautiful the connections we establish with the vast number of languages in the world no matter where we may be. We’ll definitely have to check out more episodes of your podcast and novels!
~ Jazz Marie Kaur (Vevna Forrow)
P.S. We actually had our VERY FIRST community comment at the bottom of our last Q&A Interview Substack with Bex Rose — give it a read if you missed it! Remember it helps to foster growth and community engagement via any restacks, shares, or comments below! We truly strive to share as many amazing writers of all ages as possible from around the world and carefully take the time to review all submissions. Please note it is incredibly hard to decline any. P.S. We may open this someday up to photographer spotlights too stay tuned! To enter dipity’s fun writer/artist community spotlight Q&A interviews and for more submission opportunities outside of our Substack visit: https://www.dipitylitmag.com/submit
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