Writer Feature: Madeira Miller
The Writer's Notebook
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The Writer's Notebook *
Madeira Miller is from Missouri, USA. She is one of IHRAM Press’s treasured writers. In this interview, she shares her musings, inspiration, and honest thoughts on her experience with us as an author and activist.
Her latest publication with IHRAM Press is On Ownership, featured in IHRAM Quarter 2 Literary Magazine: Reflections of Feminine Empowerment.
Thank you for all you do, Madeira.
Now be honest, how has your experience been with IHRAM Press? How did you find us and why did you choose to publish with us?
I found IHRAM Press through Submittable.com and was immediately impressed because of IHRAM's philosophy and values. The intersection of activism and creativity/art is powerful and effective, and ultimately a cause that I wanted to be a part of. I felt deeply honored to be published with IHRAM, especially in an edition that focuses on feminine empowerment, which is deeply important to me.
Would you recommend IHRAM Press to other writers/artists?
I would absolutely recommend IHRAM Press to other writers/artists. It is incredibly fulfilling to be able to write for a press that empowers others.
Share a couple of quotes from your written piece/s published in IHRAM Literary Magazine 2024!
“Is anything really mine if my own flesh isn’t mine?”
“I still do not know how to reclaim the bodily autonomy that has been stolen from me time and time again”
“Now, when you ask me, ‘to whom does your body belong?’ I will recite the names of nine Supreme Court Justices.”
Now for the fun questions! What compels you to pick up a pen or open your laptop to free-write? And what inspires/influences your writing, particularly when it comes to addressing human rights issues?
The somewhat sporadic creative pulse is generally motivated by a passion for the countless injustices and problems that are happening in this world, constantly. It is very easy to feel powerless in the face of complicated and seemingly unsolvable human rights issues, but one of the most powerful tools we have is our voices, and writing empowers us to speak on such issues. When I see / hear about or experience something particularly off-putting or upsetting, I feel compelled to write about it. Writing may not always come from a happy place, but it will always come from a place of passion and compassion.
The human rights concerns addressed in the IHRAM literary magazine are often complex and challenging to navigate. How do you navigate the balance between highlighting these challenges and maintaining a sense of hope or optimism in your writing?
I find it important to remember that, even when we feel powerless in the face of very complex and frustrating issues, generating discussion about them is the first step in promoting change. We may not know what a resolution to these problems will look like, but in talking about these problems, we are keeping very important conversations alive and well. If we don't acknowledge these problems (creatively/artistically or otherwise), we will never be able to address them.
How do you personally connect with our mission? Particularly on the power of art and literature to influence social change, and our values of beauty as a fundamental creative principle, sincerity, vulnerability, celebrating diversity, and opening doorways of engagement.
IHRAM's mission is near and dear to my heart because I deeply value sincerity, vulnerability, and diversity, and I feel strongly that creative voices uplift these values and promote change in a very powerful and effective way. I feel that a relevant description of this phenomenon is Oscar Wilde's quote, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." All culture and the thoughts and opinions of the general public are informed heavily by the art, literature, and media that we consume. When we as creatives make art with an important message, we are influencing the world in ways that are more significant than we may even realize.
The IHRAM magazine aims to celebrate authors contending with their identities within the context of their environments. How does your environment influence your view of the world (your home country, city, and surrounding culture)?
I have spent my most formative years living in the Midwest, but has also shown me the importance of forming my own thoughts and opinions beyond those of my environment. It is very important to me to experience, understand, and uplift all people of all communities/beliefs/cultures/backgrounds, and that is not always a priority in the small-town Midwest. I have come to appreciate my upbringing while also valuing the importance of immersing myself in other environments as much as I can, whether that be through travel, research, literature, etc.
In comparison, how does your intersectionality influence your view of the world (your personal beliefs, gender expression, religious affiliations, etc.)?
I am in a position where I can recognize that I have a lot of privilege because of my identity as a white Christian woman. I'd like to take that as an opportunity to uplift and empower other voices and learn all that I can from them. Every voice deserves to be heard and it's really important to listen and to learn. That said, I can also acknowledge that I have important thoughts and beliefs to bring to the table as a woman existing primarily in male-dominated spaces. I am always learning the importance of knowing when to speak up for myself, when to speak up for others, and when to sit down and listen to others.
Support Activist Writers
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Support Activist Writers *
Read and enjoy all of Madeira’s previously published work:
“This poem is not about pigeons” on Pine Hills Review.
“Eight Weeks” in Angels Literary Magazine.
“Hand Me Downs” in Arkana Magazine.
“Cows Like White Elephants” in A Thin Slice of Anxiety.
