Read my interview with Chris Wind. Find out how you can win an ebook copy of Satellites Out of Orbit at the end of this post!

chris wind has degrees in Literature, Education, and Philosophy.  Her prose has been read on CBC Radio, and both her prose and her poetry has been published in numerous magazines and journals.  Her theatrical work has been performed most notably in Toronto, Ontario and Laurel, Maryland.  She has received thirteen Ontario Arts Council Writers’ Reserve grants.  www.chriswind.net

Five things you didn’t know about “Epistles” — the first section of Satellites Out of Orbit:

1.  The first piece, “I am Eve” actually started as my final term essay in the Milton course I had to take in my third year (B.A., English Literature), though instead of writing an essay, I wrote a play.  I later turned Eve’s lines into “I am Eve”.

2.  Both “I am Eve” and “I am Mary, mother of God” have been done as audio collage pieces.  You can listen to them here: http://www.chriswind.com/albums/art-of-juxtaposition.  (“I am Mary” is titled “Ave Maria”.)

3.  I really had my eyes opened when I read about, and then read parts of, the Apocrypha, which I discovered while I was researching this section.

4.  The monologues in this section can be used as audition pieces — I can almost guarantee that the judges will not have heard the pieces before!

5.  I really, really like the cover of Thus Saith Eve, the ebook version of the Epistles.  Thank you Elizabeth!

Five things you didn’t know about “Myths” — the second section of Satellites Out of Orbit:

1.  I think my favorite poem is “Gorgons”.

2.  No, maybe it’s “Galatea”.

3.  Though “Bellerophon” still gets to me.

4.  There are some study questions on my website, www.chriswind.net, for English teachers who want to use the poems in their Mythology unit (thanks, Peg!).

5.  I really, really like the cover of UnMythed, the ebook version of the Myths.  Thank you Elizabeth!

Five things you didn’t know about “Letters” — the third section of Satellites Out of Orbit:

1.  I really got involved in the research for this section.  The whole book took three years, and I think this section probably took the longest.

2.  At first I was going to write a piece from the point of view of Lou Salomé, Freud’s mistress, but then I discovered she’d written stuff herself (and it has survived), so that disqualified her.  (I decided to only choose women who had not written anything, or, at least, whose work has not survived.)  I ended up going with Freud’s wife, which actually turned out to be more intriguing.

3.  As is the case with all of the pieces in this section, much of the stuff I mention is true.  For example, in the first portrait, Nannerl had been left out altogether, just as her mother, Mrs. Mozart (Amadeus’ mom, yup) (well, and Nannerl’s mom too!).

4.  “The Dialogue” was performed in Toronto — that was a hoot!  (And yes, there are references to female students at Plato’s Academy…!)

5.  I don’t particularly like the cover of Deare Sister, the ebook version of the Letters, but I couldn’t come up with anything better.  I love the cover of Satellites though!  Thank you Elizabeth!

Five things you didn’t know about “Soliloquies” — the fourth section of Satellites Out of Orbit:

1.  I’ve interwoven the soliloquies into a theatrical piece which was most recently performed by Venus Theatre in Laurel, Maryland (thank you!).  If there are any actresses or directors or producers out there looking for something unique and feminist, contact me!

2.  I like “Ophelia” the best.

3.  The soliloquies can be used as audition pieces — again, I can almost guarantee that the judges will not have heard the pieces before!

4.  There are study questions for seven of the soliloquies on my website, www.chriswind.net, for English teachers who want to use them in their Shakespeare unit.  If you are teaching Hamlet, MacBeth, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, or The Tempest, check them out!  (Thanks, Peg!)

5.  I really, really like the cover of Soliloquies: the lady doth indeed protest, the ebook version of the Soliloquies.  Thank you Elizabeth!

Five things you didn’t know about “Fairy Tales” — the last section of Satellites Out of Orbit:

1.  I like “Alice” the best.

2.  No, I like “The Youngest Princess” the best.

3.  But I had most fun with “Alice”.

4.  And I had most trouble with “Thumb” — our language makes it hard not to mention gender!

5.  I initially had another cover in mind for Snow White Gets Her Say, the ebook version of the Fairy Tales, but a friend of mine (Peg!) wanted to use the image for her Shit that Pisses Me Off  book series, and I have to say it’s perfect.  So I did something else for Snow White, and I like it well enough!  Thank you Donna!

Leave a comment at the end of this post with a vlid email address for your chance to win a copy of Satellites Out of Orbit.