“I never go searching for inspiration to write, especially when it comes to short stories; if I’m not moved to write I create in some other way, like drawing or painting or designing botanical arrangements.

When I feel that smack that says write, these visual creations often inform my descriptions, characters, and topics. Years ago I was thrilled to learn that one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Bishop, had also painted, and I received a book of these paintings titled Exchanging Hats. They are spirited, loving homages to scenes and spaces of her life, including a whimsical ‘E. Bishop’s Patented Slot Machine’ that makes me giggle every time I look at it and reminds me to try to add a bit of play into everything I create.”
—Kate Hill Cantrill, author of Walk Back From Monkey School, (Press 53, 2012)