We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Treska and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have a tattoo from the poem “A Brief for the Defense” by Jack Gilbert, one of my favorite American poets, the line reads “We must risk delight.” I think that’s one way I’ve considered risk in my life. To me, real risk was pursuing what brought me joy, which was/is writing and experience. I worked in the service industry and as an adjunct instructor to give myself time to write and travel and take long walks to think. And to some, and sometimes to me, I felt like I was failing in being an adult to take long walks. It felt like a giant risk to pursue this idea of writing as a life, terrifying and uncertain, but the thrum of what I wanted was stronger than that fear. And I guess I think that’s what risk means to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My memoir, Wonderland, was published in July, with Simon and Schuster. It’s a memoir about my life and family history in Boston, and how that affected my adult life and pursuits in New York City. I think it’s also very much a story of love and forgiveness, and a book I’ve been writing since 2008. I tried it as a collection of auto-fictive short stories, I tried it as a novel, from the perspective of my father as a child, and none of these attempts really worked until my agent and friend, Annie DeWitt, suggested I write her all the family stories I told her at various dinners over the years, and we’d go from there. That unfettered yakking is what became the blueprint for Wonderland. I learned a lot about failure writing this book, and pursuing a life in literature. It’s hard and it requires a lot a LOT of rejection. Getting good at rejection—taking what was helpful and letting go of what wasn’t—has helped me succeed enormously in life and love. As Samuel Beckett said best: Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in New York, now, for 15 years, and so much has changed in Denver! But I was just home and I’m happy to report some of my favorite places remain! I’d say I’d take you to my brother Michael and his girlfriend, Kyrsten’s house right off Lincoln Ave., in South Denver, and we’d walk a few blocks to the Pearl Street farmers market for a stroll and a coffee at Stella’s (LOVE that I’ve been going there since the 90’s), then head over to Santiago’s for burritos and green chile, or maybe Jerusalem’s for falafel and baklava, then stop by any one of the lovely dispensaries for personal packs of sativa mini-joints before heading to Red Rocks for a hike and a concert. OR if we had time, I’d bring you along with my best friend Ashlie, to her family cabin in Bailey, on Wellington Lake. Sitting on the porch and birdwatching and watching storms roll over the mountains is my ideal Colorado day. I’m a great date!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my dear friend, Colin Cunliffe, who also grew up in Littleton, and I’ve known since middle school. His life in the arts in New York City really inspired my own and showed me how grit and authenticity and hard work led to success. He moved to New York in 1999 to attend AMDA and pursue a Broadway career. Just last week I went to see him in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway, with Eddie Redmayne and Bebe Newurth, with my debut memoir, which just came out with Simon & Schuster. I would’ve had a very different life it not for Colin and his friendship and support.

Website: https://www.nicoletreska.com

Instagram: @nicoletreska

Twitter: @ntreska

Other: Simon and Schuster Wonderland website
:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonderland/Nicole-Treska/9781668005040

Image Credits
author photograph: Sasha Rudensky

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.