Contributors’ Corner: Carol Guess

Welcome to “Contributors’ Corner,” where each week we open the floor to one of our contributors to the journal. This week, we hear from Carol Guess, whose story with Kelly Magee, “With Sloth” appears in 2.2.

Carol Guess is the author of thirteen books of poetry and prose, including Tinderbox Lawn (Rose Metal Press, 2008) and Doll Studies: Forensics (Black Lawrence Press, 2012). She teaches at Western Washington University. Follow her here: carolguess.blogspot.com.

Can you share a moment that has shaped you as a writer (or continues to)?

When I was in second grade, I wrote a novel about two kids whose parents died in a snowdrift. Everyone was very impressed that my novel had a plot (and dead people). Ever since then, I’ve tried to construct plots, but failed, because I’m really a poet. Apparently I reached my literary peak in second grade, and it’s been a downhill slide ever since.

What are you reading?

I’m obsessed with politics, specifically political and social responses to non-human animal rights. So I’m reading articles in Critical Animal Studies here, there, and everywhere.

Can you tell us what prompted “With Sloth”?

“With Sloth” is part of an ongoing project written in collaboration with my friend and colleague Kelly Magee. We co-write stories, each writing half a story, then passing it along. We just finished a manuscript titled _With Animal_ about humans who become pregnant with animal babies. Black Lawrence Press will be publishing our collection in 2015, so watch out!

What’s next? What are you working on?

Kelly and I are working on a second short story collection, tentatively titled _Your Sick_, about imaginary illnesses. I’m also slowly working on a new prose poetry collection. Thanks for asking!