Interview with Tracie Adams

Published in Issue No. 2, Vox Novum.

Hello, I'm Tracie Adams, a writer and former educator in rural Virginia. After teaching writing to high schoolers for 20 years, I just retired and started publishing my creative nonfiction , flash fiction, and memoir at the age of 58. I live on a small farm with horses and goats, where we grow the best tomatoes in the county. I'm the mother of four grown kids and Glamma to five grandkids. My two best friends and writing buddies are dachshunds, Hans and Franz.

Interview published in Issue No. 4, Musa et Verbum, January 1st, 2025.

What inspired you to write the piece that was published in Everscribe? Can you share the story behind it?

“Ghosts of Autumns Past” is an auto-fiction piece, based on true events from my own life, with some fictionalized details. The narrator of the story deals with post traumatic symptoms, like panic attacks, insomnia, and depression. I wrote this as a part of a series of stories, which I called A Life in Seasons. It was born in a workshop in SmokeLong Fitness, where we received a prompt to write four stories that reflect the stages of one’s life. In this story, the narrator is in the Autumn season of her own life, raising kids while recovering from previous trauma.

What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your work?

I hope that readers connect with the narrator as she actively works on healing from the traumatic events of her life. Sadly, the universal themes of depression and anxiety are all too familiar for many readers, especially trauma survivors. Like my narrator, many parents sacrifice everything for their kids, and they find purpose and healing in raising the next generation. I hope that readers who connect with these themes will see the post traumatic growth in my narrator's life, and that it will give them hope for themselves.

How has your writing evolved since you started? Are there any particular influences that have shaped your style?

I am an avid reader myself, and reading the work of other talented writers has helped me to grow exponentially in my own writing. I especially love the flash form of both fiction and creative nonfiction, and participating in community workshops has taught me so much about how to tighten my prose. I learn something new every day, and nothing compares to the thrill of applying newfound knowledge and skill to my art.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

Community is everything. Find a writing or critique group so you can give and receive feedback and support. Not only will this improve your writing, but the fellowship of other artists will lift you up when you're down and give you the motivation to keep climbing higher and higher. The act of giving feedback to others will teach you to be a better writer, and those friendships will help you feel like you're a part of something bigger, something with the power to change the world.

Are there any upcoming projects or works in progress that you’re particularly excited about?

In 2025, my goal is to publish a chapbook of some creative nonfiction pieces that I am currently curating. I also enjoy writing legacy stories for hospice patients, and I hope the new year brings many more opportunities to write those special end-of-life stories.

How can readers find you and see more of your work?

If you're on X/Twitter, please follow me @1funnyfarmAdams so we can be friends. You can read more of my work at https://www.tracieadamswrites.com. I welcome your feedback and thoughts.