We had the good fortune of connecting with Tisha Marie Reichle-Aguilera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tisha Marie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I played it pretty safe for a long time. Mostly followed the rules. Finished college, got a job and taught at the same high school for 17 years. Took some baby risks along the way but nothing drastic until I was 44 and had been accepted to USC’s PhD program in Creative Writing. I quit my job and returned to graduate school full time in 2017. I come from working class, rural people, most of whom probably thought I was insane for leaving a perfectly good job. The assumption was that it was to make more money. It wasn’t. It was for love of the game. I had time to read and write all day everyday. To be a student again, which I’m good at and enjoy. Changing my life’s trajectory allowed me to focus on my physical and mental health in ways I had not had time to do before. I was able to focus on my writing as well. Refined my skills and revised stories, started new ones and wrote plays. In 2022, I had a dozen stories published, a ten-minute play produced for one festival, and a reading of my full-length play in another. I finished my PhD in May 2023 and my debut YA novel was published in December 2023. Along the way, I have been able to strengthen relationships with my cultural and geographical communities. Now all I have to do is wait for a university to hire me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My writing is rooted in the dirt roads of my childhood and is often inspired by family adventures. I left that environment at 17 and have lived in Los Angeles ever since. But much of my work still carries that rural sensibility, that sense of small town even in the big city. This mindset led to the publication of my first novel, BREAKING PATTERN (Inlandia Books 2023) and several successful launch events in December. Along this creative journey, there have been disappointments and challenges; however, I have always been supported by my family and friends. As a result, my success is not a solitary one. Many people think writing happens in isolation and while sometimes it can, the production of stories, books, and plays requires collaboration. Fortunately for me, I’ve embraced many opportunities to learn from others and to grow as a writer.

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.
For any friend or family member visiting LA for the first time, I would curate a combination of indoor and outdoor activities that included arts and athletics, food and music, as well as some time to relax and enjoy the weather (or as some say, lack of weather). On their first day, I would share the Becoming Los Angeles exhibit at The Natural History Museum because it is the most amazing collection of artifacts and art that depict this city’s cultural diversity. Scattered throughout the week, there’d be visits to the Santa Monica Historical Museum and Museum of Social Justice. Depending on the other person’s ability levels and interest, our week might include a hike/walk at Kenneth Hahn Park with breakfast at the Serving Spoon after and/or a bike ride from Marina Del Rey to Manhattan Beach with lunch at Playa Provisions on our way back and/or a lovely stroll from Venice to Santa Monica along the boardwalk, snacking from the various vendors along the way. We would see a play at Skylight Theater, Pasadena Playhouse, or Kirk Douglas Theatre. We would enjoy live music at some small venue — this is not my area of expertise so I would consult with my youngest brother and nephew for recommendations. One whole day would be at La Placita Olvera to eat, visit Plaza de Cultura y Arte where there is always an amazing exhibit or two or three, and wander over to gawk at the Union Station architecture. If budget permits, we would also check out a UCLA basketball or soccer game. (If the visitor is my dad, however, and I had endless funds, I would get him a box for a Rams game.) On the final day, we would hang out in my sister’s backyard and enjoy something grilled, tasty beverages, and a variety of music because Los Angeles is our home and being with loved ones is always the best time ever.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For more than ten years, I’ve been working for literary equity through Women Who Submit, a non-profit organization that empowers women and nonbinary writers to send their work out for publication, apply to fellowships and residencies, and to engage in literary citizenship for the betterment of our communities. What started as a few friends in a Los Angeles kitchen now includes chapters all over the world.

Simultaneously, I have been inspired by Macondo Writers Workshop, a socially-engaged writing community where my activism and creativity are nurtured.

Website: https://tishareichle.com/

Instagram: @writertish

Twitter: @msreichle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tisha.reichle

Image Credits
ONLY the headshot in front of brick wall: Rachael Warecki @camerarawphotography

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.