Lea Camille Smith
ORP: What inspired you to begin writing or creating? Has that source of inspiration changed throughout your life?
Lea Camille Smith: Much of my work is a reflection of where I am, what I am doing, and who I spend my time with. For a long time, I was a gardener, and my pieces explored the natural world right down to the worms in the soil. I lived in Maine for most of my life, and after moving to another state, my stories journeyed back to Maine as a way to stay connected to a place that means so much to me. I look for stories every day: in snippets of conversation, in the middle of the woods, and I will never try to hide from the fact that much of my work is infused with the very same questions and challenges i was exploring in my journals as a kid.
ORP: What does success as a writer or artist mean to you?
LCS: The freedom to create without fear.
ORP: Does writing or creating energize or exhaust you? What aspects of your artistic process would you consider the most challenging or rewarding?
LCS: Both. When I have an idea, or fully realize the direction of a story, I feel expansive. After a long writing session when I've followed that idea or lead, I feel tired in a satisfied and content way - like after a long hike in the forest.
The most challenging part of my process is starting. I want all the pieces of a story to fall into place in the first draft, but it takes time to tease out the direction.
ORP: What do you hope readers (or your audience) will take away from your creative work?
LCS: A chance to walk in another's shoes.