An Interview with Portia Sykes

Portia D Sykes has lived in big cities and rural communities. She has practiced natural pain management, nutrition and organic farming. She is a singer, dancer, mother and poet.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

Learning about climate change / destabilization inspired me to take action. Many scientists have expressed their desire for a better conversation in the mainstream world in order for us to make a difference before it’s too late.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I wrote during a folk music festival in Colorado. One band, FY5, performed ‘She Wants to Eat the Moon’ and I loved it. In addition to Eat the Moon, my Hot Mess trilogy will include Swallow the Sun and Savor the Earth.

Describe your dream book cover.

My cover designer incorporated an image of me dancing in the desert into the landscape of a mesa. She also added the mandala imagery into the night sky like I wanted. These elements will carry over for my other two book covers.

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

I incorporated many songs into the novel. They include Neko Case – “Hunted By American Dreams,” Lil Smokies – “Decades,” The Accidentals – “Stitches and Seams,” FY5 – “She Wants To Eat The Moon,” and Screeching Weasel – “Science and Myth.”

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

For Eat the Moon, I liked Climaggedon by Lawrence Wollersheim. For Swallow the Sun, I like books by Chuck Collins such as Born in First Base. While writing, I only read non-fiction and the In Death series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts pseudonym).

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

I’ve been a Naprapath for twenty years, helping people with pain, neuromusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders. Before I became a doctor, I worked in the film industry in Chicago. I’m an ‘old’ punk rocker who was on tour with Green Day in the 90s and was married to Ben Weasel from Screeching Weasel.

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

After realizing the extent of our climate crisis, I felt compelled to be a part of positive solutions. The story of Eat the Moon came into my mind like white lightning after reading Climaggedon by Lawrence Wollersheim.

Where is your favorite place to write?

A cozy nook next to a window to watch the trees, birds and sky.

Do you have any writing rituals?

All my notes go in notebooks and my computer is for actual prose. If an idea for prose comes to me while I’m writing in a notebook, I’ll switch from printing to cursive.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope people will be inspired to act in more positive actions for a climate-stable future and to find more faith than fear. Love is always the answer and we are each being called to live lives that are worthy of our souls.

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