Cabinet of Curiosities

About Cabinet of Curiosities

An inclusive podcast focused on queer, disabled, and marginalised creatives and their art. ***This podcast will be unavailable after September. To keep it going, please donate. Otherwise, big love and see you all around the internet!*** Donate here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dragongeorge https://linktr.ee/A.G.Parker Cabinets of curiosities, also known as ‘wonder rooms’, were small collections of extraordinary objects which attempted to tell stories about the wonders and oddities of the natural world. These displays, much like Victorian freak shows – and even modern media, literature, medical research, museums, and everyday life – often took fascination with and/or misrepresented anyone who didn’t fit into the (cisheteronormative, white-supremacist, ableist, patriarchal) norm. Both in art and in life, these groups have had stories written about them, while their own stories go unheard. The remedy is to reclaim our narrative and push for representation which authentically shows our communities as they are.

Publisher

A. G. Parker

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Aug 2021

Latest episode

16 Mar 2024

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Mar 2024

   Being an Agent, Mental Health in the Querying Trenches, and Ghost Scouts Honour with Carey Blankenship-Kramer

   I got to spend a sunny afternoon chatting with agent and writer, Carey Blankenship-Kramer! She had a wealth of insight and advice regarding the publishing industry, querying, and how to handle rejection. She also shared an excerpt from her upcoming middle grade horror, Ghost Scouts Honour, which already has me hooked! This is a great episode for anyone querying, wanting to submit to an agent (Carey is open for subs! Go read her MSWL), and learning how to handle rejection, all from a queer ND agent and writer with a huge amount of experience in both roles. Carey also answers that most vital of questions: how many queries should you send before you give up? Be sure to buy her book when it comes out! Keep up to date with all her news: Twitter: https://twitter.com/careyfblankensh (https://twitter.com/careyfblankensh) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careyblankenshipkramer/ (https://www.instagram.com/careyblankenshipkramer/) Website: http://www.careyblankenshipkramer.com/ (http://www.careyblankenshipkramer.com/) After growing up surrounded by books and people who loved to read them, Carey’s debut novel, GHOST SCOUTS HONOR, is being published by Scholastic January 2025. And yes, she does have experience with how ghosts have zero respect for personal space. She is currently repped by Sheyla Knigge at High Line Literary Collective. Carey graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing. She later received her master’s in Writing and Digital Communications from Agnes Scott College. She has experience working with both publishing houses and literary agencies and loves her role as Junior Agent at Belcastro Agency. Outside of work and writing, you can usually find Carey spending time with her small zoo and husband, getting way too competitive on the tennis court, gardening, playing video games, or eating candy. Summary (auto generated by Otter AI) Writing, publishing, and querying with a rejection backstory.0:00 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=0s) Speaker 1 shares their experience with querying agents, including rejections and epiphanies, while Speaker 2 offers support and advice. Both speakers discuss their writing journeys, with Speaker 1 on their first book and Speaker 2 sharing their six-book journey to getting an agent. Carrie Blankenship Kramer discusses her debut novel and writing experience with host. Writing, agents, and personalized queries.5:06 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=307s) Speaker 1 is excited to have an agent on the podcast and asks about their love for animals, including a dog named Bob and three cats. Speaker 2 shares their experience with animals and mentions their stream on Twitch, while acknowledging the potential for stalking or oversharing personal information. Speaker 2 shares their experience of receiving unsolicited food packages from fans, leading to concerns about online privacy and security. Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 discuss the importance of personalizing queries for agents, including matching manuscript wish lists and providing clear information about the story. Being a neurodivergent, queer literary agent.10:49 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=649s) Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 discuss their experiences as literary agents and writers, with Speaker 2 highlighting their own experiences in the "gray trenches" of publishing. Speaker 2 emphasizes the importance of understanding the mental health of authors and being able to relate to them, citing their own experiences as a writer and agent. Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 discuss the importance of demystifying the publishing industry, particularly for neurodivergent and queer authors. Speaker 2 shares their personal experience with mental health during the querying process, including using a jar to reward themselves with nice memories after each rejection. Querying and rejection in the writing industry.16:41 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=1002s) Speaker 2 shares advice for neurodivergent writers querying agents, including turning off notifications and focusing on next book. Speaker 2 and Speaker 1 discuss the changing query process, including form rejections and lack of feedback, with Speaker 2 noting it's important to protect mental health. Speaker 2 believes agents may clear their inboxes by sending non-personalized rejections, while Speaker 1 appreciates personalized rejections with feedback. Publishing trends and querying tips.22:17 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=1337s) Writer shares insider secrets on publishing trends and querying tips. Industry trends: Middle grade horror is popular, but horror in general faces challenges, and shorter books are preferred. A ghost story set in Savannah, Georgia.26:17 (https://otter.ai/u/FJ3Qb5mpoCcLY6l3i2UAqICrs9w?tab=summary&t=1577s) Author shares details about upcoming book, "Ghost Scouts," set in Savannah, Georgia, with a unique blend of ghost lore and Girl Scouts inspiration. Speaker 2 describes a ghost in a school auditorium, finding it eerie and unsettling.

2. 

   19 Feb 2024

   Demystifying Poetry, Sharing Words in the Woods, and DINOSAURS! with Alex Callaghan

   Alex and I had a cosy little chat about growing with the support of the poetry community, demystifying poetry to non-poets, Bone Down and, of course, dinosaurs. This is a great episode for anyone looking to get into poetry or learn more about how to get into event making and the poetry community! Alex Callaghan (they/them) is a non-binary poet from Yorkshire, and part of the Bone Down Literary Affinity Group. They specialise in wit, whimsy, and dinosaurs. Follow them: Twitter: ABCallaghan2 Instagram: poetry_ditties Otter Podcast Transcript Alex and Kate McKenna discuss their shared passion for dinosaur poetry, while Speaker 2 provides insights into the progression of Bone Down poetry events and the creation of the community-driven poetry zine. Speaker 2 highlights the significance of bone down as a gateway drug for people who aren't poets to get into poetry, and Unknown Speaker shares their experience of coming to bone down events and contributing to the zine. The speakers articulate the community-driven approach of Bone Down and the importance of celebrating and empowering the poetry community through events and publications. Meanwhile, Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 grapple with the complex language and historical context of poetry, emphasizing the need for balance between creative pursuits and other aspects of life to prevent burnout and maintain motivation. Transcript Outline Poetry, dinosaurs, and the Bone Down literary affinity group. Alex, a member of the literary affinity group Bone Down, discusses their passion for writing about dinosaurs, including their final university project, "Dinosaurs in Space," which explores grief through the lens of a Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus. Alex's partner has a velociraptor plushie and they buy little brooches of dinosaurs, leading to a discussion about the group's focus on whimsical dinosaur writings. Poet Caitlin was known as "jam poet" among Kate McKenna's friend group, met at Ilkley Literature Festival in 2022. Kate's book launch was unexpectedly accompanied by poetry readings. Poetry events and community involvement. Poet Kate asks Speaker 2 and Eve to help organize poetry events in local parks. Poets moved indoor events to a venue with accessibility features, warming up to outdoor performances again in winter. Speaker 2 shares their growth in poetry community involvement, from attending events to hosting, with support from Caitlyn and other members. Poetry community and zine creation. Community members collaborated on a zine showcasing their poetry and visual art, celebrating their diverse talents and connections. Poetry workshop attendees share their writing with others for the first time, including a mother who started writing during lockdown. Zine contributors performed their work, showcasing the difference between page and performance poetry. Poetry styles and accessibility. Poet dabbles in various styles, including rhyming poetry and prose poetry, to keep their audience engaged. Speaker 2 shares their personal journey with poetry, mentioning Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" as a favorite poem and highlighting the importance of accessibility in poetry. Speaker 2 discusses the evolution of language in poetry and how it can be difficult to read contemporary poetry, emphasizing the need for accessible entry points into the genre. Speaker 2 recommends Alice Goldman's "The Book of Seeing Past the Shadows" as a great introduction to poetry for those who are not familiar with the genre. Speaker 2 finds that reading poetry out loud helps them appreciate the pacing and emphasis of the poem better. Creativity, burnout, and balance in the arts. Neil Gaiman's poetry inspires creative problem-solving in real life. Struggling to balance event hosting and university while maintaining enthusiasm. Poets discuss creative burnout, balancing creative pursuits with daily life.

3. 

   12 Jan 2024

   Arts Funding, Imposter Syndrome, and Dead Women Poets with Helen Bowell

   Listen to me chaotically and queerly chat with the wonderful Helen! Helen Bowell is a poet, editor and producer. Her debut pamphlet The Barman (Bad Betty Press, 2022) was a Poetry Book Society Choice. She co-directs Dead [Women] Poets Society (which resurrects women poets of the past at events), runs Bi+ Lines (a project for bi+ poets), and produces events for the Poetry Translation Centre. Twitter: @helen_bowell, @bi_poets, @deadwomentweet Instagram: @helen.bowell, @bi_poets, @dead_women_poets_soc Website: helenbowell.co.uk and deadwomenpoets.com Transcript: Poetry and LGBTQ+ issues. (0:58) Arts funding challenges and successes. (6:12) Funding for artists and writers. (10:46) Queer literature and identity fluidity. (14:34) Imposter syndrome, shame, and identity. (20:37) Women poets from the past and their influence on contemporary poetry. (27:21)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

3.8 / 5

4 ratings

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