Feature Friday - Candice Ann
Name
Candice Ann
Pronouns
She/Her
Bio
I'm a book lover, serial hobbyist, and "writer" who still gets shy calling herself that based in Montreal. I'm the Editor-in-Chief here at Forget The Box! I have an English degree that (somehow) got me a marketing job, but I'm pursuing a master's degree in Information Studies with the goal of becoming a librarian, so I can live between dusty pages for the rest of my days.
Where in Montreal are you located?
West Island
What do you love about that neighborhood?
Lac Saint-Louis. I'll romanticize the hell out of a summer evening spent by the water. Second place is tied between any locally run cafe and any locally run bookstore - with a special shout out to Livres Babar, which has probably been around longer than myself.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
Not strictly an art space, but The Yellow Door on Alymer St. I attended a Friday night Hootenanny there last fall and the cramped basement space was warm and welcoming - overwhelmingly so.
Describe your art in your own words.
Anything I create is a desperate attempt at understanding my own self.
What have you been working on recently?
Truthfully, I've been in a writing slump. I'm trying to re-teach myself how be a writer, and what that really means to me on a personal level. I'm also trying to hone my fiction writing skills.
How would you describe your poetic voice?
Soft, quiet, and a little pretentious.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Sunshine on my skin, my lover's embrace, rain against my window, weeds poking through sidewalk cracks. Everything and everywhere.
Describe your writing process.
I usually start with a feeling, emotion, or memory I want to evoke. I try to think of words or images that resonate with me, and go from there. I wrote once about how poetry feels textile to me, in a way - I feel like I'm scrapbooking, plucking ideas from my brain at random until I can arrange them in a way that feels right.
Who are some of your favorite writers?
Sally Rooney, Angela Carter, Mary Oliver, A. A. Milne, and I have a soft spot for the Romantics and the Pre-Raphaelites (Christina Rossetti you will always be famous).
What do you love about Montreal's poetry scene?
The passion. The art of poetry feels very much alive here, in a world that can trick you into thinking it's dead.
Explore Montreal's vibrant art scene! Tune in every Friday for a new Feature Friday artist spotlight!
