Meet Erika Abbott | Budding YA novelist

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

Hi erika, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks in my life? definitely worth it. it’s also much scarier than deciding to have brain surgery to stop my Epilepsy than to beat myself up for using the wrong image. my brain works much faster now, so I tend to overthink everything, as I have for the past 50 years. When I was growing up, there were no Epileptic characters. I didn’t know until Alice in Wonderland, that the phrase “falling down a rabbit hole” had anything to do with Epilepsy.
As a part of the disabled community, I didn’t see my experience In mainstream media, therefore decided to write my poetic autobiography, PORGY’S REVENGE, which is not only in the Library of Congress, it’s also in the library at Texas Tech University, the Montclair State University Libraries, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, in the Philippines.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always knew that I wanted to write. I loved storytelling. It was not only the best part of my day, I got to travel around the world, without ever having to pack a suitcase. on a moment’s notice, I could be on a raft with Huck Finn, or deciding when to visit Heidi and her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.
I loved poetry. it seemed as though the only poetry I’d never write, were sonnets. too many rules.
Although I didn’t know it yet, I’d come to appreciate rap(a longer version of poetry). in fact, I wrote my own “rap”, a poem called Shames, a poem about children and what they learn from their parents, a poem that I wish would become less relevant, and unfortunately hasn’t.

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.
As a reader, writer, I would take my friend to my favorite Barnes and Noble, which co-incidentally happened, once upon a time to be a movie theater. The marquee actually says Barnes and Noble. after we perused the bookstore, Depending on how long we spent there, I’d take her to a local restaurant for Happy Hour.
We’d reminisce over coffee in the morning.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my ride and die “posse.” Angela, Aaron, Monica, Jenny, my godfather, Joel.

Instagram: erikasepilepticlife

Facebook: erika’s epileptic life

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