A Deep and Curious Imagination

FEATURED AUTHOR—CRYSTAL WILKINSON A Deep and Curious Imagination Nikky Finney I have seen Crystal Wilkinson scribble downher beautiful stories at stop lights and in the aisles of grocery stores and at kitchen tables towering with dishes and pots steadily calling her name. I have watched her raise her children with one hand and hold tight to her writing pen with the other. I have seen her fend off doubt from others and doubt from herself and all other negatives that float around in the world. I have marveled at her concentration and her diligence as the phone rings, as the cat needs to go outside, as the rent is due, as students raise theirhands needing her attention, as ice storms come and go. She loves adventure. She does not mind getting lost because around every corner is something new to think about and a new character to imagine. She loves to get in her car and just drive herself into the arms of a new story. She drove to New York City for the first time in her life just to see what it felt like. I couldn't believe it! Her imagination is a deep and curious thing that feeds her writing consistently. I think she is an amazing woman for all of these reasons and more. She owns her own mind and heart—not an easy feat in this day and time. She is quirky and resilient and a tenacious fighter for what she believes must be. She is more determined to tell her Crystal-stories and to keep the sound and inflection of her grandfather's and grandmother's voices alive and in the modern day predictable air more so than any other writer I know. 26 ...