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

Hi Chelsea, how do you think about risk?
I’m a very anxious person and will always be fighting worry with everything I do. But what I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that you can’t let the worry win. Life is a mix of good and bad, but you have to actively fight for the good even when it doesn’t feel natural. That’s what Muse and Manuscript is for me: choosing to fight for my creative self even when it would be much easier to just “grow up” and give it up.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Poetry is great in that it’s incredibly subjective and you kind of have to accept from the start that what you write is never going to be everyone’s cup of tea. That creates a sort of freedom. I write the words that feel like they need to get out, even if they’re about fictional characters. My poems tend to be really short and I love pairing them with an aesthetic I feel brings them out to kind of make them “pop” in someone’s feed in this digital world. I’m currently working on expanding this aspect of my poems; becoming more creative with the photos I use as backgrounds or incorporating them into collages. I’m really excited to see where they evolve from here.

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.
We’d definitely eat at El Taco Chico in Oak Park. I’m from San Diego and that is the best Mexican food I have found up here. Perch in DTLA would be awesome for rooftop drinks, and a brunch at Sagebrush Cantina in Old Town Calabasas would be a must (I LOVE brunch). Other than that I really love just hanging out at home and going to the parks near my house. Maybe some hikes or a concert if they’re ever available/safe to go to again.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Sean, who is my greatest muse and biggest supporter. I named Muse and Manuscript after him (if you move “Muse” & “and” together you can see “Sean” spelled out.

Website: CelebratoryChels.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/MuseandManuscript

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.