Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz shares the top 10 things that her readers should know about her, following the release of her seventh collection of poetry, How to Love the Empty Air
Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
My poetry career started because a boy in my class invited every girl in our class to see him compete in a poetry slam EXCEPT me! I had to go to spite him—and then won the very poetry slam and was hooked!
I once wrote a poetry collection about the year I spent as a writer and editor in porn. It’s titled Hot Teen Slut, is still in print, and was recently optioned for a film adaptation!
I write nonfiction books as well. My latest nonfiction book, Dr Mütter’s Marvels even made the New York Times Best Seller List! But when I toured behind it, I still did poetry gigs on the sly in the same cities too!
The worst experience I had while performing was getting food poisoning and vomiting on stage – twice! It was at university, I received emails for weeks afterwards from teachers who told me their students were very impressed, and thought I was very “punk rock”!
Speaking of punk rock, I ran a poetry slam in the legendary New York City punk rock venue CBGBs for years! When CBGBs closed its doors, we moved to another legendary spot: NYC’s Bowery Poetry Club.
I lived in New York City for fifteen years, but fell in love in Austin, Texas, where I currently live. I love Austin, but miss the hell out of NYC’s fresh bagels, fast subways, and constant, beautiful chaos.
I have two rescue dachshunds named Max & Alvy. When touring writers stay at our house, they have the option of having Max & Alvy sleep in the guestroom bed with them! Most say YES!
The publisher of my poetry books once slept on my dorm room floor when he toured with his band “John Wilkes Kissing Booth.” His name is Derrick Brown, and he was a paratrooper, a weatherman, a children show’s writer, and a singing gondolier before founding Write Bloody Publishing. Another fun fact: he also was the minister for my wedding!
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the paranormal. Ghost stories, Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, you name it! I spent an embarrassing number of summer afternoons trying to see if I could objects using just my mind!
Breakfast is my favorite meal. I tour a lot, and wherever I am, I google “Best Restaurant for Breakfast” and go there. It’s my one tour indulgence, and it’s worth it! Plus, it’s a great way to explore unfamiliar cities!
How to Love the Empty Air is vulnerable, beautiful and ultimately life-affirming. In her revelatory seventh collection of poetry, Aptowicz continuing in her tradition of engaging autobiographical work, How to Love the Empty Air explores the before, during and aftermath of losing her mother, battling the silencing power of grief with intimate poems burnished by loss and a hard-won humor.