Fairytales and fables are an important part of our childhood. They teach us about how the world works, about relationships, expectations, values, and dealing with conflict, among other things. But what would happen if we could change parts of these tales, or if the stories were told from a different perspective?
In this class, we will read work from contemporary writers inspired by fairytales and fables and use them to tell our own stories. Participants will generate at least 3 new drafts for poems or hybrid work.
Leonora Simonovis is a Venezuelan born poet, educator, and scholar who lives in San Diego, CA, on the unceded territory of the Kumeyaay Nation. She holds a Ph.D in Hispanic literatures from Washington University in St. Louis and an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Currently, she is a Professor of Latin American and Caribbean literature and culture at the University of San Diego (USD), where she also teaches creative writing in Spanish. She has been nominated a Woman of Impact, received an award from Student Support Services for the “Most Inspirational Professor,” and has been recognized for outstanding Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
Leonora's poetry manuscript Study of the Raft was selected by final judge Sherwin Bitsui as the winner of the 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry. Study of the Raft also earned an Honorable Mention in the 2022 International Latino Book Awards. Leonora's work has appeared in Gargoyle, Kweli Journal, The American Journal of Poetry, Tinderbox, The Rumpus, Arkansas International, and Diode Poetry Journal, among others.