Author Archives: cmariebissett

Looking into the Self with The English Magic Tarot

A couple of years ago, a vibrant rendering of The Magician showed up in my Facebook feed. I was immediately smitten. This was not The Magician I was familiar with, but he hinted at a wild power I was eager to explore. It didn’t take long before I tracked down the source and then became anContinue reading “Looking into the Self with The English Magic Tarot”

On the Wing: A Natural History of Grief

I began reading Helen Macdonald’s heartfelt memoir, H Is for Hawk in early June. Based on the author’s family history and intertwined with reflections on T.H. White and the history of falconry, Macdonald’s book won the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Costa Book of the Year Award in 2014. Her compelling take on “the archaeologyContinue reading “On the Wing: A Natural History of Grief”

Finding Beauty in Brokenness

In The Woman Who Watches Over the World, Chickasaw novelist and essayist Linda Hogan speaks to the vulnerability inherent to storytelling: “To open our eyes, to see with our inner fire and light, is what saves us. Even if it makes us vulnerable. Opening the eyes is the job of storytellers, witnesses, and the keepersContinue reading “Finding Beauty in Brokenness”

Selkies, Sirens, and Shark Boys

I have a thing about selkies, those maidens of the sea who shed their seal coats to dance on land. Don’t get me wrong. Mermaids and sirens have their own appeal, but it’s the selkies that I feel the most connected to. That connection evolved into my poem “Swimming with the Shark Boys,” which cameContinue reading “Selkies, Sirens, and Shark Boys”

Poetry Publications

So far, 2016 has been all about poetry. NonBinary Review has released all of the content for Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Issue #1), which includes my poem Wild Girl. This piece was nominated for Sundress Publications Best of the Net Award and the Pushcart Prize. It also marked the beginning of a wonderful relationship with theContinue reading “Poetry Publications”

Women Writing the Weird

My preference for weird and dark fiction is something that is often reflected in my writing. This wasn’t always the case. When I was growing up, I tended towards fantasy. I would occasionally dip into murkier water, but the books in the horror section were most often written by men and that flavor of theContinue reading “Women Writing the Weird”

Textile Dreams and Velveteen Allies

Today at Myth and Moor, an incredible blog on the mythic arts, Terri Windling-Gayton posted musings by C.S. Lewis accompanied with images of textile sculptures by artist Mister Finch. I’ve been fascinated with Mister Finch’s textile creations since first being introduced to his work in 2014. The combination of quotes and images struck a chordContinue reading “Textile Dreams and Velveteen Allies”

A Great Start to a New Year

Winter is my favorite season of the year. There is something about dark days and long nights that nourishes my soul. The cold and quiet that comes with deep winter allows me the time to contemplate the direction of my creative work. In An Unspoken Hunger, Terry Tempest Williams writes about these connections between placeContinue reading “A Great Start to a New Year”