Chrysalis is not a chapbook sampling of a few random poems. It is a culmination of ten years of one young woman's life. The remarkable thing about this 142 page book is that its author is not a poet, nor did she ever intend for most of these works to ever be seen. Yet here it is, laid bare a story fleshed out in words. Taken out of chronological order and rearranged in an emotional arc, Chrysalis carries us through her struggles, achievements, pains and joys in a way that allows us to come away with some understanding of who this complex, compassionate and sometimes shockingly candid author is. The poems range from the romantically innocent, to violently enraged, all intermingled with the spice of irreverent sassiness.Preview the book: Chrysalis
VitalsName: Carissa Starr
Age: 31
Contact: carissa@threadhoppers.com
Where she works and plays: mostly at home in Pennsylvania
What kind of art she does: *laughs* that's a loaded question...uh, everything?
Online Galleries: Kahl on DeviantArt, earth-bound misfit, i, and Carissa's professional site
Education: started drawing as early as I was able, taking pictures soon after. Began telling stories before I could write them...and eventually made my way through school to college at the Art Institute of Philadelphia for filmmaking in my early twenties. Mostly I study people. I study life.
Past work: Has participated in a few charity auctions and showings of her paintings; has worked as a photographer in various styles, and recently is focused mostly on writing and film.
Current News: Carissa has recently published some poetry, and a few freelance articles. A comic book company, Hallboy Comics has hired her to write a series for them, which will hopefully see light soon. Aside from Chrysalis, she is working on non-poetry book which should be ready by September and a novel that seems to be taking forever. Mostly...she wants to write films.
Past work: Has participated in a few charity auctions and showings of her paintings; has worked as a photographer in various styles, and recently is focused mostly on writing and film.
Current News: Carissa has recently published some poetry, and a few freelance articles. A comic book company, Hallboy Comics has hired her to write a series for them, which will hopefully see light soon. Aside from Chrysalis, she is working on non-poetry book which should be ready by September and a novel that seems to be taking forever. Mostly...she wants to write films.
A Note from the Author:
The forward of Chrysalis is fairly direct in explaining why I, an author who denies any attachment to the title 'Poet' would put out a poetry book. I actually find it strangely ironic that it would be my first published book at all. Many who have known me repeatedly ask why I haven't written an auto-biography, or encourage me to, and for the time being I have to say this is as close as you will get. I'd like to think that an auto-biography is something one writes in their later years; retired, puttering about the house, left to oneself with the time and accumulated wisdom to more powerfully understand and convey ones memoirs. While I cannot deny that my life experiences thus far are, perhaps, more intense than many people I've met twice my age, the truth is that I am only just reaching a precipice over which I can see the span of my childhood and young adult life. Although at times I fear that I will fall short of flying some greater distance, my life ending far too soon, I would like to think that I have many decades yet to live...therefore much more time to understand my own story before I try to tell it.
Having recently come across several old diaries and journals, I have read the words of a child that I know only as well as one might know a character in a film. The internal battles spilled out on the page I remember as one might recall a powerful event in political history. To me it is only that. History. The beliefs and thoughts of that little girl have changed so dramatically, I do not even hear my own voice as I read the entries. I know that this person was me...but she is not me. Not the me of Now. The changes and evolutions have been so great that for now...until I am older and can make sense of it all, this collection of my poetry, all written between 1998 and 2008 is the best record I can offer of my complicated childhood, troubled nightmares, and the onset of a madness that I am only still taking control of.
If you come away understanding any of that, then I suppose you have won and I have succeeded. In truth, all that matters is that some record of this strange little girl has been made, one more step toward moving on.
The forward of Chrysalis is fairly direct in explaining why I, an author who denies any attachment to the title 'Poet' would put out a poetry book. I actually find it strangely ironic that it would be my first published book at all. Many who have known me repeatedly ask why I haven't written an auto-biography, or encourage me to, and for the time being I have to say this is as close as you will get. I'd like to think that an auto-biography is something one writes in their later years; retired, puttering about the house, left to oneself with the time and accumulated wisdom to more powerfully understand and convey ones memoirs. While I cannot deny that my life experiences thus far are, perhaps, more intense than many people I've met twice my age, the truth is that I am only just reaching a precipice over which I can see the span of my childhood and young adult life. Although at times I fear that I will fall short of flying some greater distance, my life ending far too soon, I would like to think that I have many decades yet to live...therefore much more time to understand my own story before I try to tell it.
Having recently come across several old diaries and journals, I have read the words of a child that I know only as well as one might know a character in a film. The internal battles spilled out on the page I remember as one might recall a powerful event in political history. To me it is only that. History. The beliefs and thoughts of that little girl have changed so dramatically, I do not even hear my own voice as I read the entries. I know that this person was me...but she is not me. Not the me of Now. The changes and evolutions have been so great that for now...until I am older and can make sense of it all, this collection of my poetry, all written between 1998 and 2008 is the best record I can offer of my complicated childhood, troubled nightmares, and the onset of a madness that I am only still taking control of.
If you come away understanding any of that, then I suppose you have won and I have succeeded. In truth, all that matters is that some record of this strange little girl has been made, one more step toward moving on.
-CSMD
Buy the book: Chrysalis
THE FINAL FIVEWhat turns you on creatively? Real Emotion
Who is your favorite artist? at the moment, Martin Stranka (a photographer from the Czech Republic)What color best describes you? mottled sea green
What music best defines you? passionate- like heavy metal or symphonies...anything loud, moving, nuanced...What is your favorite curse word? fuck...of course.
3 comments:
From the preview and from this review, this little big book of a life's journey so far....sounds amazing. I cannot wait until it comes in the mail!!
Kat...you're so awesome. *pounce*
Just bought your book. I have not read your sample pages since I rather wait until the book gets here. :D
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