~ Finding yourself, finding a life... an identity that intensely is yours ~
Though this page serves as the “ABOUT “ for this newsletter Fantastic Struggle, it will also be its first writing, first submission on Substack. Just a little intro here…
The above quote was my opening imprint to my first book, This Fantastic Struggle: The Life & Art of Esther Phillips (’02). And it has been a guiding force in all of my work, all that I do since the early 90s, if not long before as a child.
I have been and always will be a writer, musician, teacher, activist. My website, one that I also share with my husband’s band (us as dark rock duo) shows that best, extensively: www.lisamilesviolin.com But in these pages, I hope to find a new means by which to simply share and express anew that which has already been communicated in my books, my original music, my creative teaching and counseling, and also my strong testament that Artists are Workers, first introduced in the cultural essay that essentially was also Esther’s biography.
Here you will find in coming weeks mainly writings, but also music and more, especially speaking in some way to the self-designed creative life that I have led, only with fantastic struggle, and that I believe we all are meant to find.
Not that we all are artists. But that all can live a life of one’s choosing. Creating… at times simply accepting… who we embody, who we are in this world.
One plan for sure is to serialize (chapter by chapter) This Fantastic Struggle in these pages, as well perhaps my other book. But this will be interspersed with other writings, observations, images, audio.
I tried blogging from my website years ago, even trying later a different email newsletter campaign. Maybe the community that is Substack — with both creative and political writers that I have enjoyed, will be a nice landing spot for work adelante, moving forward.
Don’t expect regularity of posts nor standard submissions! Nor all posts to even indirectly address the topic of a self-designed life. At times, I will surely take advantage of the opportunity to publish a recent-written article, recommendation or music review. But that is all a part of my life, my creative work… and never should one feel as if they need to segment off parts of their existence to fit into a regular world.
I have been inspired by fellow writer/ teacher ancestralist Mary Beth Bonfiglio and the amazing counsel of Sarah Blondin (both on Substack and beyond) to write, at this point in my life, at leisure.
I researched and authored two books, an ebook anthology, essays and articles. I write and submit now for me, but in hopes that some of it may reach others, as I have found with all of my creative life’s work. Even in smallest measure, that is always the highest gratification.
