Meet Hillary Leftwich | Writer, teacher, editor

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

Hi Hillary, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from Colorado Springs and this plays an important role in who I am today. It’s mainly military and Christian-dominated city and can be very unforgiving in both aspects to women and the LGBTQ communities. The themes and topics I mainly write about include women’s bodies and Christianity extremism, both of which have become, with ROE V WADE being overturned, much more prominent now. How the world is impacted and the people being hurt the most play an important role in who I am and how I conduct myself as a human interacting with others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It was not easy to get where I am and it has proven to continue to not be an easy route. Is it ever with anyone? The struggles we have as creatives–writers in the world–feels very isolating most of the time. Even in the communities here in Denver and the Front Range, there are so many different pockets of people writing and these often don’t intersect. Still, support and stubbornness go a long way in success, especially in writing. There are so many frustrations and setbacks–especially when it comes to class and privilege–that go unsaid. I just tried hard as a single mom to find the time to write and find a community of people who support one another. Sixteen years later it isn’t any easier, but there’s more of an understanding that nothing is ever easy, shit is hard, and we need to support each other. Our country and our government don’t, so maybe we should make each other and our writing/creations more of a focus.

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 grew up right outside of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, so that’s the first place I always suggest people go to. It really is a beautiful sight to see up close. I also suggest checking out Welton Street Cafe at its temporary location, they have some of the best food I’ve had, SEI Film Center, and the Denver Art Museum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate/give a shout-out to Art From Ashes and Sacred Voices–both nonprofits operating and supporting youth and underrepresented voices in our communities. There are a lot of ingredients at play in writing and who has access to support. Both of these organizations do an awful lot for our communities. Also, local author and photographer Jay Halsey’s debut multi-genre collection and photography is coming out from Really Serious Literature. It’s an important collection with themes on many important issues we all should take to heart. The photography and words partnered together are absolutely stunning. I’d like to share the pre-order link here: https://rlysrslit.bigcartel.com/product/barely-half-in-an-awkward-line

Website: www.hillaryleftwich.com

Instagram: Hillary.Leftwich

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillaryleftwich/

Twitter: @HillaryLeftwich

Facebook: Hillary Leftwich

Image Credits
Jay Halsey-photo credits on everything but the book cover. Book cover design by Sarah Best.