Carolyn Williams-Noren, a poet, has recently embarked on a journey to publish her work through two distinct avenues. After experiencing the frustrations of seeking traditional publication—submitting her poetry to contests and open reading periods—she decided to share her creativity more immediately. Inspired by the everyday act of cooking, Williams-Noren began creating comics, illustrating her favorite recipes with anecdotes, which she shared with friends via email. This initiative garnered positive feedback and led her to consider producing a zine after taking a workshop on riso printing.
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In a significant turn, about a year ago, Williams-Noren’s poetry collection won the Wick Poetry Center's nationwide first book contest, judged by poet Pádraig Ó Tuama. Kent State University Press subsequently chose to publish her collection, titled "Oil Courses," released earlier this month. The book reflects her experiences growing up in Alaska with a father in the oil industry, addressing both society’s dependence on oil and the environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction.
Alongside this traditional publication, Williams-Noren is also pursuing her self-published zine, "This is Good," which features a staple-bound design with a handmade aesthetic, and includes her recipe for chicken noodle soup. She plans to produce four quarterly issues over the next year and expresses pride in both forms of publication.
Williams-Noren emphasizes the importance of both her poetry collection and her zine within her creative process, stating, "The publication of the poetry book is an honor. The making of the zine is fun and exciting, and I’m really not willing to say that one is more valuable or more important than the other. They both have their place in my creative practice right now."
To celebrate the release of both works, Williams-Noren will host a launch event on September 24 at 6:30 p.m. at The Toolbox Collective in Minneapolis.