55 min
Episode 230 with Chelsea T. Hicks, Author of the Story Collection, A Calm & Normal Heart, Revitalizer and Student of the Osage Language, and Crafter of Poetic, Timely, and Timeless Stories The Chills at Will Podcast
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- Books
Notes and Links to Chelsea Hicks’ Work
For Episode 230, Pete welcomes Chelsea Hicks, and the two discuss, among other topics, her language journey and how she came to study and work to help revitalize the Osage language, her feelings about being named “5 Under 35,” mentors and inspirations like Louise Erdrich and N. Scott Momaday, her writing as alternately “MFA-ish” and experimental, her nuanced view of “The Movie,” and salient themes from her story collection, including identity, celebrations and traumas, rematriation, agency, and family ties.
Chelsea T. Hicks is a Wazhazhe writer with an MA from UC Davis and an MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her writing has been published in The Paris Review, Poetry, McSweeney’s, and elsewhere. She was selected as a 5 Under 35 honoree by Louise Erdrich for the National Book Award, and her first book, A Calm and Normal Heart, was longlisted for the PEN America Robert W. Bingham Prize.
Buy A Calm and Normal Heart: Stories
Review of A Calm and Normal Heart in The Southern Review of Books
At about 1:30, Chelsea gives kudos to mentors at UCDavis for her MA
At about 2:25, Chelsea discusses her mindset and joy in being named one of the “5 Under 35” by Louise Erdrich for the National Book Foundation
At about 7:15, Chelsea talks about her childhood relationship with language, and she provides a personal language background and a historical context for the loss and revitalization of the Osage language
At about 11:55, Chelsea shouts out Inés Hernández-Ávila and a language challenge through Ines’ connections in Oaxaca
At about 14:50, Chelsea gives background on some teaching and mentoring and promoting of language acceleration that she’s done
At about 17:40-20:10, Chelsea responds to Pete’s question about innate connections to her Osage culture, particularly with regard to the language
At about 20:35, Chelsea provides interesting information about the Osage language, including “masculine” and “feminine” ways of speaking and gendered pronouns
At about 22:40, The two discuss a cool phrase regarding the moon in Wažáže ie
At about 23:50, The two commiserate over linguistics classes
At about 24:45, Chelsea gives background on early favorite books and her literary journey, as well as how Peter Pan, other books, and her classmates and friends shone light on the way she and others in society saw her Native culture
At about 28:35, Chelsea traces her path as a writer, including early, self-guided poetry
At about 30:25, Chelsea describes an “opening of [her] eyes” in reading N. Scott Momaday
At about 32:30, Chelsea references some particular insights of Momdaday from House of Dawn and gives background on a Paris Review article she wrote about his work; Chelsea discusses “rematriation” and land care, while discussing important work by Natalie Diaz and Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
At about 35:50, Pete and Chelsea discuss the book’s introduction and including indigenous language in the book, especially the titles; Pete shouts out a dynamic
At about 37:30, Chelsea responds to Pete’s question about connections in the collection’s opening story to Killers of The Flower Moon and how she sees the movie
At about 43:10, Pete lays out some salient themes and plotlines covered in the story collection
At about 44:25, Chelsea wants to clarify how her work comes off- “direct” and “experimental,” etc.
At about 46:25, Chelsea talks about her writing philosophy, craft, love of poetry, and future academic work
At about 47:30, Pete enumerates some creative methods used by Chelsea
At about 49:50, Pete cites an important and poignant quote from the book
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or o
Notes and Links to Chelsea Hicks’ Work
For Episode 230, Pete welcomes Chelsea Hicks, and the two discuss, among other topics, her language journey and how she came to study and work to help revitalize the Osage language, her feelings about being named “5 Under 35,” mentors and inspirations like Louise Erdrich and N. Scott Momaday, her writing as alternately “MFA-ish” and experimental, her nuanced view of “The Movie,” and salient themes from her story collection, including identity, celebrations and traumas, rematriation, agency, and family ties.
Chelsea T. Hicks is a Wazhazhe writer with an MA from UC Davis and an MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her writing has been published in The Paris Review, Poetry, McSweeney’s, and elsewhere. She was selected as a 5 Under 35 honoree by Louise Erdrich for the National Book Award, and her first book, A Calm and Normal Heart, was longlisted for the PEN America Robert W. Bingham Prize.
Buy A Calm and Normal Heart: Stories
Review of A Calm and Normal Heart in The Southern Review of Books
At about 1:30, Chelsea gives kudos to mentors at UCDavis for her MA
At about 2:25, Chelsea discusses her mindset and joy in being named one of the “5 Under 35” by Louise Erdrich for the National Book Foundation
At about 7:15, Chelsea talks about her childhood relationship with language, and she provides a personal language background and a historical context for the loss and revitalization of the Osage language
At about 11:55, Chelsea shouts out Inés Hernández-Ávila and a language challenge through Ines’ connections in Oaxaca
At about 14:50, Chelsea gives background on some teaching and mentoring and promoting of language acceleration that she’s done
At about 17:40-20:10, Chelsea responds to Pete’s question about innate connections to her Osage culture, particularly with regard to the language
At about 20:35, Chelsea provides interesting information about the Osage language, including “masculine” and “feminine” ways of speaking and gendered pronouns
At about 22:40, The two discuss a cool phrase regarding the moon in Wažáže ie
At about 23:50, The two commiserate over linguistics classes
At about 24:45, Chelsea gives background on early favorite books and her literary journey, as well as how Peter Pan, other books, and her classmates and friends shone light on the way she and others in society saw her Native culture
At about 28:35, Chelsea traces her path as a writer, including early, self-guided poetry
At about 30:25, Chelsea describes an “opening of [her] eyes” in reading N. Scott Momaday
At about 32:30, Chelsea references some particular insights of Momdaday from House of Dawn and gives background on a Paris Review article she wrote about his work; Chelsea discusses “rematriation” and land care, while discussing important work by Natalie Diaz and Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
At about 35:50, Pete and Chelsea discuss the book’s introduction and including indigenous language in the book, especially the titles; Pete shouts out a dynamic
At about 37:30, Chelsea responds to Pete’s question about connections in the collection’s opening story to Killers of The Flower Moon and how she sees the movie
At about 43:10, Pete lays out some salient themes and plotlines covered in the story collection
At about 44:25, Chelsea wants to clarify how her work comes off- “direct” and “experimental,” etc.
At about 46:25, Chelsea talks about her writing philosophy, craft, love of poetry, and future academic work
At about 47:30, Pete enumerates some creative methods used by Chelsea
At about 49:50, Pete cites an important and poignant quote from the book
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or o
55 min