Apogee contributor Justine el-Khazen reflects on how and why she writes, in conversation with nonfiction editor, Safia Jama. Her essay “Hummingbird Effect” is so lyrical and it might be mistaken for a poem, yet the rhetorical rigor and form extends the boundaries of the essay. You can read Justine’s piece in Apogee Issue 08.
As editors and writers who work to center marginalized voices, we at Apogee continually re-examine the role of institutions in facilitating dialogue and ensuring representation. The yearly AWP conference is one such institution, which fosters a dynamic and rich literary community, while at times drawing criticism for alienating marginalized writers.
“Home of Desperate Magic,” the first chapter of Yin Q.’s memoir, appears on the pages of Apogee Journal Issue 08. In it, Q. begins her journey into the wounds of childhood and inherited trauma; wounds she will later seek to heal and reclaim through the ritual work of BDSM. Here she speaks with Apogee editor, Cecca Ochoa, about the radical potential of consensual pain, empowering submission, and compassionate dominance. Cecca Ochoa: “Home of Desperate Magic” is an excerpt from your memoir-in-progress, Mercy. What is your memoir about? Yin Q: Pain, magic, and reclamation. “Home of Desperate Magic” introduces the idea of using pain as a way to “break the spell.” In this case a family dealing with abuse and loss. CO: So, how exactly does physical pain heal emotional and/ or psychological pain? YQ: Just as our bodies gain muscle memory through movement–-acquiring skills and agility––our bodies also harbor emotional memory. Acupuncture and massage therapy are respected practices of tapping into the body, sometimes to fix physical ailments, but also to release energy or Chi blockage. Rituals that incorporate physical tension or pressure can tap into the psychophysical story that the body has formed. That story can be retold, reshaped, and... Read More
Apogee Poetry Co-Editor, Muriel Leung interviews Issue 08 contributor, Jean Ho about her short story “Korean Boys I’ve Loved,” getting turned on by dentists, writing Asian American characters who challenge societal norms, literary politics, self-care, and getting your best life.