Nix Thérèse is a sonically-driven poet from New Orleans, currently pursuing their Masters of Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University. Highlighting and expanding the oral traditions, folklore, and mythologies that have existed for centuries – especially in American Southern, Pan-African, and LGBTQ+ contexts – is their professional goal. As Associate Digital Editor for the Fairy Tale Review, they deeply explore the fairy tale tradition, but they enjoy any story as rich as their lipstick.
Before graduating from Emerson College, Nix was honored with Distinction in Poetry by the Writing, Literature, and Publishing department for their thesis. They went on to serve as Contributing Editor for The Wilds' Literary Guide through Platypus Press, and completed a 10-day artist's residency in Santiago de Cuba through the support of Louisiana Caribbean Cultures, Inc., which culminated in a performance during the 37th Annual Carribean Festival and varied cultural exchanges. They have also advised five of Winter Tangerine's intensive online workshops, which focus on topics such as diaspora, queer identity, and exploring femininity in a variey of gender contexts. All of these experiences have deepened their ability to facilitate and curate, while nurturing their own creative practices.
"Snow Black", their latest poetry project, has earned support from VONA/Voices and the Women's Voices mentorship program. This remix of "Snow White" is set in southern Louisiana and prioritizes racial/familial tension, gender exploration, and the processes of trauma. Nix is currently researching their own familial history, as well as regionally-specific narratives in the St. Martinsville | Loreauville | New iberia area to expand this particular universe into the novel-in-verse they hope to publish.
Publications:
I was recently accepted as Contributing Editor for the Wilds' Literary Guide through Platypus Press where I'm set to write blurbs of some of my favorite work. They will post on Monday every week.
I'm very grateful for jayy dodd because they gave me this position and consistently make space for my work to thrive. I can only hope that I can live up to their legacy with Platypus Press and continue to make them proud. I believe that being in conversation with the literary community at large in this way will help me to grow both as a writer and an editor.
Here's an archive of the posted blurbs:
I'm working towards have a first draft of the Snow Black manuscript (a retelling of Snow White from the black perspective), so I applied to the Women's Voices Writing Mentorship program. They offered two scholarships, each valued at $3.25K, and I was awarded one of them. My mentor is Jessica Piazza, and one of my poems will be made into a broadside at the end of the program. I'm super excited to create a foundation for this project! More info can be found here. Stay tuned!
Winter Tangerine Review has welcomed me as an advisor for their online workshops this summer. They are an intensive, three-week programs "designed to catalyze self-revolutions in your writing." As an advisor, I will be reading & critiquing the writing of my small group, participating in word wars (a timed contest where the person who writes the most on a topic wins), setting group goals, and facilitating meetings/discussions.
As a former workshop participant, I'm honored to take on a higher role. More information about the workshop can be found here.
I'm excited to announce that I was accepted as a VONA/Voices Fellow this year! It is the only multi-genre workshop for writers of color in the nation. Their mission is to "bring writers of color from the margins to a community where their work is centralized and honored." The workshop takes place June 26th - July 2nd, on the University of Miami's campus.
More info about the organization and workshop itself can be found here.
Mr. Bear's Violet Saloon's podcast invited me to interview about my creative process and read a couple of poems. Some comments from Georgia Bellas: "Her gorgeous poems offer fresh takes on fairy tales, mythology, Katrina, creation myths, and more. Also included: the power of lipstick and special poetry prompts."
Featuring Nix Thérèse, Prairie M. Faul, Jo Gehringer, Zoe Blair and Greg Zorko @ Sisters of Christ, 5206 Magazine St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115.
A black literary cipher held at the Joan Mitchell Center!
Address: 2275 Bayou Road, New Orleans, LA 70119.
Come celebrate black writing life in New Orleans with readings, workshops, and performances from local black writers, storytellers, and artists. There will be workshops, panels, food, books, and more at the New Quorum! It'll run from 10AM to 8PM.
Address: 2435 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70119.