‘Like a lot of writers, I am trying to understand the world around me.’
Today’s Friday Five Q&A features a writer I only recently discovered, Kristin Kozlowski.
It was a serendipitous discovery. I was researching literary magazines to submit to when I stumbled across her quirky and delightful flash fiction piece, “My Neighbor Posts a Sign in His Yard,” in Fish Barrel Review. After that read, I knew I had to check out more of her writings, and the more I read, the more I was curious about what inspires and motivates her. So I reached out to ask if she would be interested in being a part of this feature. Fortunately for all of us, she agreed.
Love the ’80s? Check out my latest music-inspired writing.
The latest issue of Syncopation Literary Journal just dropped, and I’m excited to have contributed two pieces to it. Syncopation is a music-focused litmag, and Volume 4, Issue 2 focuses on the music of the 1980s. As a product of that era — most of my favorite music and musical influences come from the rock, punk, and new wave sounds of the late ’70s and early ’80s — this theme is right in my wheelhouse.
About this time last year, I wrote in this space about how, during an attempt at housecleaning, I rediscovered of my old writings–college-ruled notebooks-as-journals, note pads and scraps of paper containing early drafts of short stories and essays and (mostly) notes about story ideas–and decided to investigate whether any of these old scribblings had any merit.
‘If we listen to each other’s stories—whether told through music, poetry or prose—we may realize that there is so much that connects humanity.’
Those who know me well know I have a deep affection for music. Many other writers share this interest. Natalie Welsh is one of them. She loves music and writing so much that she created a literary magazine that celebrates the fusion of music and storytelling called Syncopation Literary Journal.
Cover of the inaugural issue of Syncopation Literary Journal.
With a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and a Master of Arts in humanities from York University, Natalie brings a rich academic background to her editorial work. She’s also a multi-talented artist. Both writer and musician, she is proficient on piano and guitar, and has had her short fiction published in New Sociology: Journal of Critical Praxis, Indelible Literary Journal, and Duck Duck Mongoose Magazine. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Natalie launched Syncopation in 2021 as a platform for musicians and writers to explore the rhythmic interplay between sound and narrative. The first issue went live in January 2022. I was thrilled Natalie saw fit to include my essay “Not Fade Away” in volume 4, issue 1 of her journal, and I’m happy that a couple more pieces I wrote will appear in volume 4, issue 2, later this year.
In this Friday Five, on the final Friday of Women’s History Month, I’m happy to introduce readers to Natalie and her labor of love.
