An Interview with Jade Shade

I am Jade Shade. A poetess. A storyteller. A gardener. A daughter.

I write about the things that are hard to say out loud – loss, love, identity, and the quiet, radical act of healing. I have always felt the world a little more deeply than most, and for a long time I had no words for why. Writing became my language when everything else felt like too much.

My debut chapbook, Echoes of the Empty, was born from grief. My upcoming novella, Ladybug’s Garden, is being born from love. Both are true. Both are necessary.

I write for the women who held everything together while falling apart. I write for the daughters who didn’t say everything they needed to say. I write for my mother, who taught me that beauty comes in many forms, even plastic flowers in hard Georgia clay.

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Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

It’s often hard for me to put my thoughts and feelings into words, so writing became like an outlet for me, almost like my own personal therapy. It’s the perfect way for me to express myself without feeling overwhelmed.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have a modest medical background as a medical assistant, phlebotomist, and clinical research coordinator.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Not Gon’ Cry – Mary J. Blige
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Rise Up – Andra Day

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

That even in the midst of unspeakable pain, we all have a measure of resilience that we can tap into in order to overcome adversity.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Holding a paper copy of my debut book in my hands made everything feel so real. It gave me a sense of accomplishment, especially seeing how proud my family was when they saw my printed book.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on my first novella, called Ladybug’s Garden. It’s about the bond between a mother and daughter and how it’s nearly severed. The daughter makes a promise to her mother that she finds more difficult to keep than she anticipated.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.