Spotlight On Writers
Carmen Baca
- Where, do you hail from?
I was born in the original Las Vegas, a small city in northern New Mexico. It has a rich history of old west outlaws whose legendary ghosts still haunt the city. It’s a town rich in atmosphere. Visitors and tourists are attracted to our landmarks. It’s also the location for tons of movies and its fair share of TV shows.
- What is the greatest thing about the place you call home?
I live twenty miles north of Las Vegas, in a small valley which is part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. My ancestors settled here in the 1500s when they came from Spain and Mexico, and I live on the land I inherited from the generations before me.
- What turns you on creatively?
The initial spark of an idea coming to life and forming into a new project excites me. It means I have another story to tell, another piece of my culture or another nonfiction anecdote to share with readers. Marketing feeds my need for creativity too since I create my own promotional materials for my social media platforms.
- What is your favorite word, and can you use it in a poetic sentence?
Discombobulated
Discombobulated thoughts create chaos in my head or grateful contentment in my heart. It’s my choice which.
Discombobulated is a fun-sounding word, but it also reeks of unease, like a scene from a Poe story. It describes how I’ve felt this year and has taught me that my mind can make me prisoner or set me free.
- What is your pet peeve?
What I call the de-evolution of our language is the worst. Teaching English was such a big part of my life for so long, and I learned to love words for what they can do to make language beautiful. It hurts me to see Bradbury’s fictional explanation for the deterioration of a language in “The Sound of Thunder” coming true.
- What defines Carmen Baca?
Wordsmith, educator, animal lover and woman make me who I am. I love playing with words, but I still enjoy teaching or mentoring others. Animals hold a special place in my heart, which is why my husband and I care for feral cats and adopt many. Woman is an umbrella covering so much beneath: mother, wife, grandmother, friend, and more.
- The Angel Across The Alley - December 13, 2022
- The Reaping - October 31, 2022
- Interview Q&A With Carmen Baca - January 18, 2022
