Meet Tanya Thamkruphat | Poet and author

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

Hi Tanya, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk-taking, I think, is a positive thing. Without taking risks in life, we might be missing out on wonderful opportunities and connections. My parents took a risk by leaving their family, friends, and home behind when they moved to America in the late 1970s in hopes of a better future for themselves. So, risk-taking has been in my blood.

I’ve always had a passion for writing, and I wanted that to be part of my life. Without any formal training or knowledge, ever since I was young, I submitted my writing (e.g., essays, poetry, etc.) to any place that had an open call for submissions. I’m glad I took those risks because it made me a better writer, it made me feel less scared about being vulnerable, and I’ve connected with people I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I can definitely say that it has been quite the journey to get to where I’m today as a poet. I loved writing poetry from a young age. I remember winning my first poetry contest when I was in sixth grade. That was a big deal! When I was older, I wrote personal essays and freelanced for major newspapers and magazines. However, I returned to poetry and began focusing on that. Writing poetry made me feel free and it gave me a lot of room to play around with language and visuals in order to better express myself. Of course, returning to poetry as an older adult with no formal creative writing background has been a challenge. A majority of my work experience has been STEM related. But, I didn’t let that stop me from becoming a poet. I learned that when there is a will, there is definitely a way. Over the last seven years, I’ve learned as much as I could about poetry through classes, workshops, books, my peers, and other resources.

These days, my poetry focuses on mental health, balancing multiple identities, battling body image, sexuality, pondering culture and heritage, language, family, and relationships via my Thai-Vietnamese American diaspora experience. I usually like to write surreal/dream-like poems as well as slice-of-life poems. My current interest is visual poetry and how I can expand the written word beyond text and create a more interactive relationship between the speaker and the reader of the poem. So, I’ve been researching and dabbling on how I can do that.

My writing appears in The Orange County Register, Button Poetry, Honey Literary, The Cincinnati Review, Rio Grande Review, and elsewhere. I’m also the author of the poetry chapbooks, Em(body)ment of Wonder (Raine Publishing, 2021) and It Wasn’t a Dream (Fahmidan Publishing & Co., 2022). Lastly, my third poetry chapbook, CARE INSTRUCTIONS, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press in 2024!

All of this to say that never give up on what you’re passionate about!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Palm Desert, California and we have a lot of major attractions right in our city. We are home to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Also, if you’re into theater, make sure to visit and catch a show at the McCallum Theatre. If you want to do a bit of shopping and fine dining, visit the El Paseo Shopping District. Also, if you want major entertainment, make sure to check out who’s in town at the Acrisure Arena. Lastly, depending on the time of the year, make sure to check out any local seasonal events. Of course, if you’re into golf, there are plenty of golf courses!

However, my itinerary usually revolves around food, so I would suggest eating at some of my favorite places in Palm Desert: Wilma & Frieda’s Cafe, Sherman’s Deli and Bakery, Oceana Restaurant, Alps Village, and Goody’s. For dessert, I love getting a sweet treat at Lappert’s Ice Cream and/or Swiss Donuts.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My major shoutout goes to my close friends and family members who have supported and cheered for me, especially when I didn’t believe in myself. I also want to give a shoutout to my poetry mentor, editor, and friend, Jose Hernandez Diaz, who has been nothing but encouraging, helpful, and kind since I’ve known him. He really inspired me to start writing poetry again. His first poetry book, The Fire Eater, helped reignite my passion for poetry. And, of course, the Twitter writing community has been such a blessing. I’ve met so many folks I wouldn’t have otherwise and who have been kind, supportive, and filled with knowledge.

Website: http://tanyasangpun.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madamewritelyso/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadameWritelySo