Catherynne M. Valente

This is an essay version of the talk I gave at the Stonecoast MFA Summer Residency at the University of Southern Maine, where I now find myself somehow a grown-up faculty member. Or at least, a third of it. I couldn't even get through all of it with a two-hour lecture slot, and when I fleshed it out

I wanted to show everybody this because I’m just so proud of it! They’ll be another proper Denizen this month, though, don’t worry. Here on the island, one of the churches has a twice yearly rummage sale where you donate what you can per bag you take, and we all bring old stuff to find new homes. La