Interview with Lawana Holland-Moore

Create a Connection Interview
with Lawana Holland-Moore, writer and artist
by Deb Richardson

Lawana Holland-Moore is a writer and artist who has been featured in all three of the Dark Dreams horror and suspense anthologies (Kensington, ed. by Brandon Massey) and has articles in the African American National Biography, published by Oxford U. Press. She is also an art quilter whose piece will be on tour at U.S. museums as part of the Textural Rhythms exhibit, curated by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. You can find out more about her and links to her sites at: SewChick

Do you consider yourself more of a writer or an artist, or are they equally important to you?

They are both extremely important to me as not doing either one would be like not breathing. If anything, I find it distressing as to how hard it can be for creative folks to balance their creative pursuits with their monetary needs. It can be difficult to create at the end of the day after a 9 to 5 has drained you.

Do you work on both writing and creating art daily or weekly, or do you tend to work on them in cycles - devoting yourself to one for several days or weeks before switching to the other?

I tend to work in cycles, but when I'm being "good," I have a writing schedule of at least a half-hour/day. It's like having a craving: Sometimes I crave visual arts, sometimes I crave the written word. I can feel it.

You write for both children and adults. Do you prefer one of those types of writing to the other? And if so, why?

I don't have a preference, actually, because they're so different in my mind. I find that one genre helps me with the other. Writing for kids and teens is so much fun, but it forces you to be more concise, which actually helps me with writing for adults.

What caused you to branch out from drawing and painting into creating artwork in fiber and thread?

My great-grandmother taught me to sew and fabric stores were just as exciting to me as a little girl as they are for me now. I saw quilting--and art quilting in particular--as being a natural progression and a blend of both worlds. I've found that the way I think about creating them is not very different from writing either--I have a whole back story in my mind for my pieces. I want the person viewing my piece to have one as well.

What do you enjoy most about making art quilts?

Everything. Absolutely everything. Especially the freedom from quilting's "rules."

In addition to your creative pursuits, you're considered a national expert on ghosts and hauntings in the D.C.-Metropolitan area. How did you get involved in ghost hunting?

Since 1999, I've had a page devoted to haunted DC-Metro area locations because it seemed interesting. When a great local group asked me to join as historian and separate fact from fiction, I thought "Why not?" It gave me the opportunity to have full-access to many historic places in a way most people would never see, but I am winding down that aspect of my life to focus on my art and writing. It's been a great experience.

What percentage of reported hauntings you investigate turn out to be genuine paranormal activity rather than having some other explanation?

It's hard to gauge, because so many places I've been to are historic and often have a documented history of haunted activity. 60% maybe? To me, if people have been seeing it throughout the years or even centuries, something is definitely going on there.

What's the most interesting site you've investigated?

Ross Castle, Co. Cavan, Ireland

You've accomplished a lot so far and you're still young! What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Graduating from GWU early with a double major and no extra classes. Talk about saving money, LOL!

What goal would you most like to accomplish in the future?

Besides having my own book out, being able to work from home as a self-sufficient writer/artist. In today's culture, where creative work is not always valued as a career, that is always quite a thing to achieve.

You can find Deb talking about art, books, and life from her own unique perspective at her blog, Red Shoe Ramblings.

Comments

[nyjlm]

thanks for bringing us this- what an interesting woman!

[Cynthia]

Great interview ... I want to find out more about that castle in Ireland!

[Delia]

Thank you for this interview and the exposure to another fascinating new writer/creative soul.
--D.--

[Star]

I can tell the interviews are going to be different and equally exciting this month. I love that the hosts will rotate and give a fresh perspective in all areas each month.

Thanks for introducing us to Lawana, Deb. I need to head over and check out her site.

(and I love your pic with the D you got from Michelle--too cute!)