We had the good fortune of connecting with Bri Stokes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bri, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“…to be free is not to have the power to do anything you like; it is to be able to surpass the given toward an open future.” – Simone de Beauvoir,

I often remind myself of this quote when I’m trying or stepping into something new, and I’m feeling a little bit uncertain. The goal of our lives as living, breathing beings is to regularly and consistently “surpass” ourselves, and often, that process can feel scary or uncomfortable. But when I remember that growth is supposed to be uncomfortable, it helps keep me grounded and gives me the courage to move forward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Primarily, I’m a writer and poet. I started taking my poetry seriously in 2020, and since then, I’ve consistently worked to find and lean into my artistic voice, and to regularly hold the necessary courage to put myself out there. These days, I spend a lot of time writing about love, heartbreak, mental health, and the esoteric relationship I share with nature. I also write fantasy, horror, sci-fi and speculative fiction. One of the reasons why I love storytelling and world-building is because of the elements of escapism they offer, and I hope to provide that to audiences through my own work.

Getting to where I am today has been a constant dance between my own capacity and the imposter syndrome I often have to work through in order to feel comfortable with being “perceived” or “seen.” Maintaining a sense of self-awareness through regular journaling, therapy, a spiritual practice and a strong, supportive community has helped me tremendously.

The two biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way are to take risks and remain open, always. Risk-taking allows doors to open up for you left, right and center. Remaining open gives you the strength to walk through those doors as they present themselves to you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
1). The Salt Eaters: An incredible Black-woman-owned bookstore in Inglewood that sells books, comics and zines by and about Black women, girls and femmes.

2). Clifton’s Republic: A venue, bar and speakeasy complete with live music, taxidermy animals, and all the ambiance and atmosphere of a Broadway musical stage.

3). Black Market Flea: A curated flea market that sells goods (and vibes) made by Black artists and vendors.

4). Soap Plant/Wacko: A gift shop in Hollywood with lots of weird, offbeat, amazing stuff.

5). It’s not around anymore (sadly!), but I’d love to make some commotion for the Redondo Fun Factory. I miss the dusty carnival rides, the old arcade and the scent of salt water from the ocean mere feet away. Good times.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a huge shoutout and all the love in the world to the L.A. Public Library! As a writer, the librarians at my local branches have been absolutely invaluable to me in terms of providing me with resources, a platform to share my work, and an overall sense of support. They make the world go around!

Website: bristokes.com

Instagram: @bri_stokes_writes

Twitter: @bristokeswrites

Other: Threads: @bri_stokes_writes

Image Credits
Salima Allen, Nousha Salimi, Amber Nichol

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