Coffee With Lydia and Girls With The Sky In Their Eyes
If you were having coffee with me, I would be happy to introduce you to writer, poet and blogger Lydia Chiseche and her book of poetry For Girls With The Sky In Their Eyes.
B: Hello Lydia, a pleasure to have you here, first question Tea or Coffee?
L: Most definitely, Tea
B: What would your ideal coffee date be like?
L: At my favourite teahouse, on a warm and sunny August day
B: Describe for us your perfect writing environment
L: I can write anywhere; but possible the perfect environment for me is in the moment where it would be most inappropriate for me to write. There is just something about doing what you aren’t supposed to be doing which inspires me
B: How long have you had a blog, are you a blogger?
L: I do…or, I did. I started blogging consistently in 2016; it was poetry for the most part, and then branched off to think pieces on different issues. It was only recently when I decided to be real with myself and said I’m not a writer of current events, but a dreamer of things made up in my head. My blog pages are still open, they just have not seen some love in a while.
B: For Girls With The Sky In Their Eyes; what does the title mean; where did that come from?
L: This must be the most difficult question I’ve received on the book so far.
I always knew that this was a collection directed towards girls….but men and boys are also encouraged to read it! For me, the sky is a representation of so many things; hope, limitlessness, the world, heaven
So…it’s a representation of those who have a steady eye on hope despite whatever is going on around them.
B: Why did you release it as an e-book?
L: Truth be told, I was afraid; I was afraid of the reception, of the questions I would get…I was afraid no one would read it.
I was finished with the final proof by November 2017, and I put the release off to January. January came, and I put it off to March, and so on. By the time April came around, I knew that if I waited any longer, I would never release it.
So, the e-release happened; and I chose the e-platform because there is no really turning back from it, and at least a bunch of unread books won’t be looking back at me *laughs*
A paperback version will be out in October this year.
B: I read it, finished it then read it again, its beautiful, its touching, its haunting. Whose story is it, is it simply made up poetry? Who did you write it for?
L: Wow.. thank you so much. I honestly did not know I was writing a story until nearly halfway through the body when the ending was so clear…and then that’s when i scrapped the first draft and began to write it differently.
It started as a story of one girl; the Girl who saw Sky. But then it ended up being a story of the girls and women around her; so, by the end of it all we had the Bride, the Women, the Other Sister, Mother- once, Mother- a second time, etc.
I’ve always been drawn to stories which had female characters in the leading roles…and not just female characters, but female characters that are flawed, complicated, nuanced, real.
So, it’s every woman’s and girl’s story. I based each scene on something that has happened before; either to me….or to girls and women I know, or heard about. It is our story.
B: I know this an unfair question but ……Which one is your favourite poem and line from the book?
L: This is quite the unfair question indeed
Push to shove…I’d perhaps say my favourite poem is the last one (I did not title that on purpose)- this is because I am a fan of callbacks…and I feel like that poem sort of wrapped the entire collection together.
B: For me the most intriguing was the Dear God series of letters. Its relatable, I have even asked similar questions…… Do you think there’s a plan for all THIS? *gestures hands grandly to encompass everything*
L: Sometimes, I think everything is by design…like some elaborate domino effect. Then other times I think everything is a mistake. At the end of it all, I get back to truly believing the design theory of things. I think there is a plan…whatever God’s plan is, and however mildly sadistic it may be *nervous laughter*, I’m pretty sure it will all have meaning.
B: Allow me to quote you:
God is strange. He takes on so many faces. To
some, he’s vengeful, returning sacrifice with
blood and fire. To others, he’s loving, patient, and
kind. To some, he’s on the sidelines, watching
until he gets bored. He forgives even those that
won’t forgive themselves, like the Women.
To me, God is the gust of wind in the middle of
an August storm, God is the tiny crack in the
building they said was indestructible. God is
nowhere, and everywhere. To me, She is
beautiful
B: How has your book of poetry been received?
L: Oh my gosh! The reception has been overwhelming…it is more than I could have expected. I have people asking me questions, quoting my work….it is such a wonderful, humbling feeling. The reception has been so far mainly local….and hopefully the work will be able to reach a wider audience with time.
B: Any final words to those who can’t forgive themselves?
L: It’s difficult to get into the head of someone else and see through their eyes the things they feel are unforgivable. So, I honestly don’t know what I can say that would be enough.
I think Time; time may not completely heal someone, but it sure does change their circumstances in one way or another. So, let them give it time.
B: A few words to fellow sisters out there
L: It is so important to remember that you are still capable of love. And this also goes to the brothers. You are allowed to love, and be loved without fear of what happened to you, or what you did in your past.
B: Any shout outs to people out there, do it like you are doing it for TV.
L: This is so exciting! Okay
So, first of all I want to shout out my best friend Miriam; ours is a special friendship
My sisters, my friends Ruth, and Grace who read proof after proof. I want to shout our Itati, the crew at Lusaka Writer’s Room…and the Women; I cannot mention them by name but this book would not be what it is without them.
B: What’s next?
L: I am underway with my second collection…I am yet to title it. Will it be linked to For Girls With SKY In Their Eyes? I’m yet to see
B: last Question, what is the weirdest question anyone has ever asked you about your book?
L: Have I been asked difficult questions? Yes. Many. I am yet to be asked something I could say is a weird question.
B: Thanks Lydia, you have been a star.
L: Thank you so much for having me.
BIO:
Lydia Chiseche is poet and writer based in Lusaka, Zambia. She is one of seven children, and is a self-proclaimed daydreamer. When she is not writing, she works as a Banker, and supports a few philanthropic projects.
LINKS:
Twitter: @LydiaNgoma
Instagram: lydiangoma
Blog: EyeWoke
BOOK DOWNLOAD LINK:
To kick start my March Goals, if you were having coffee with me I would tell you I had the privilege of attending Batsirai Chigama’s Gather The Children Book launch at Alliance Français Harare.
