Featured Writer: J. Michael Norris, His Gift of Relatability & the Revival of Louisiana Words

J. Michael Norris has been contributing to Louisiana Words since 2020 and has been the most instrumental person in the revival of Louisiana Words. A native of Baton Rouge, J. Michael brings a sense of normalcy to his progressive writing. He has the ability to make his readers engaged in his characters, regardless of their gender or sexuality. This authenticity transcends his writing. In 2022, J. Michael invigorated Louisiana Words by sharing a variety of diverse work that put him as the top writer 18 weeks out of 31 weeks. This inevitably led to him becoming the top Allstar for Louisiana Words: Allstars 2022!

J. Michael’s writing has many underlining themes: avoidance (“Your Very Own Robot”), duality/masks ("The Mirror Twin" & “A Visit with the Psychologist”), sexual expectations (“wassup”), love/longing (“The Last Day at Monterey Bay”), & gender roles (“A Meeting of the Presidio Library Womyn’s Book Club”). J. Michael has a true gift of creating real people in real situations. The engine behind his writing is the power of truth.

Because of J. Michael's dedication and influence to Louisiana Words, he was made host of Louisiana Words Live in late 2022. He also sits comfortably in the All-Time Top 10 with the short story, "Mirror Twins." It's likely that you will find J. Michael trending often on LouisianaWords.com throughout the year. He will be co-hosting the Louisiana Words Tour this summer with creator, Louis Toliver Jr! Let's please continue to show J. Michael support!

Comments

Come Hither (Annette Redmond Walters - Lafayette, LA)

I meant it not this way but the tears just flow and my makeup smearing all the more, leaving behind that familiar filthy residue. I may have begun to drive myself away, dragging you down as well. But it's done, I've flipped the switch and now it's dark once more. How painful is the music to my ears, I can't stand to be alone in it, yet here I am again. I pray you fly back and safely and warmly to me, though I fear I've dug the grave too deeply. As the dirt shifts within my soul, I choke on those loving words I'd meant for you. All the fragments of light I see becoming smaller and I wish to be near you in your embrace that might make me feel the warmth I'm missing. And in reality, I doubt I'd breathe another breath without you. So come hither and quickly soothe my dying heart, you are the only cure I know. I cry and cry again, come hither to heal and love me. Come hither and help me dry my tears.

Let That Fucker Burn (John Chenvert - Napoleonville, LA)

Let that fucker burn. Let the fire crackle like the whips once did— like bone meeting leather, like screams swallowed by the trees. Let the white columns crumble to ash. Not as tragedy— but as truth, unearthing itself from beneath generations of silence. Nottoway is not a mansion. It’s a mausoleum. A lie carved in stone to honor the hands that held the whip, not the backs that bore it. They called it the “White Castle.” A place of beauty. A place for weddings, for photo ops, for pretending that horror can be made elegant if the curtains match the guilt. But no paint can cover what happened there. Blood doesn’t wash out with white linens. And pain doesn’t forget just because you renamed it history. I’m not Black. And I won’t pretend to carry that weight. But I also won’t ignore it. My people—the Guanches—were taken too. Our language silenced. Our land stolen. Our names nearly erased. So yes, I know colonization. Yes, I know what it means to be disappeared. But I also know this— my skin ...

Lunatic (Lily Lechler - New Orleans, LA)

“Lunacy” comes from the moon, Who cycles through brilliance and darkness Bipolarity’s patterns are not so easily assumed Opposites not so well harnessed Who cycles through brilliance and darkness? The girl who sits in bed, wrestling with Opposites. Not so well harnessed As she thought, her brain gives reason the slip The girl who sits in bed, wrestling with Her body, depressed, her thoughts manic. As she thought, her brain gave reason the slip And gives the gift of life in a dreamlike panic. Her body depressed her thoughts. Manic Lunacy comes from the moon And gives the gift of life in a dreamlike panic Bipolarity’s patterns are not so easily assumed

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