JOANNE HICHENS

Author, Editor, Publisher

 

 

Where are you from, and where have you currently settled? 

I live in the sea-side village of Muizenberg, though I don’t regard any one place as home.

3 words that your friends would use to describe you?

Committed. Loyal. Creative.

What is your big, audacious dream? (that sometimes keeps you awake at night) If you are already living it, please share. 

Ah! I have been wanting to live on a Greek island for many years, but the closer I get to my dream, the more I think of it is an escape, and that in fact, I am too South African to ever make good on that intrinsic desire. Perhaps the dream is to live big, to take every opportunity, to celebrate myself, even on the ordinary days, and in places that might not seem as enticing as becoming a reclusive, sought-after author on Greek island! Of course, I want to write a bestseller. 

Can you share how your journey in your current career began, and what drew you to it? 

Story. I love story. Everyone has a story. As a child I used to read till all hours of the night under my blankets. Books have been the real escape, into other worlds, seeing the world through different eyes, being transported that way. So I worked towards becoming a writer and an editor. I have written a number of novels, and a memoir on death and dying, Death and the After Parties. 

Starting the Short.Sharp.Stories project was a culmination of wanting to bring writers together in the microcosm of an anthology – a collection of short stories captures the Zeitgeist of people in a particular time and place. The most exhilarating part of curating Short.Sharp.Stories is receiving the hundreds of emails in my inbox, reading people’s fiction, and celebrating the rich diversity of writing talent in South Africa. We’re a fractured country, so no one writer can tell the story – it takes many voices. 

As publisher of the anthologies, through my publishing imprint TATTOO PRESS, I see the stories though from their rough form, to being edited and printed in our beautiful books. I enjoy the full process, and I enjoy interacting with the writers at every level.

We all have different versions of what success means to us. What does success look and feel like to you?

More and more, I understand success to be kindness and an awareness of shared story, and common humanity. Once we really begin to listen to others, we realise that everyone has a story, and that another’s story will be connected to our own, each marked by suffering, but also joy. Success is synonymous with compassion. Success is supporting others; I want to live my best life, but I also want to make a difference to the lives of others, whether publishing writers, or volunteering at an animal shelter.

 

What does your morning routine involve? Please share how you start your day. What is the thing you enjoy doing the most, (not business related and why?)

I wish I could say I get up early to a calisthenics routine and had a smoothie at 6:00 a.m. But I don’t. I love my morning stretch, under the duvet. I listen to the schoolchildren gathering at the junior school below. There nothing as inspirational as children’s laughter. When the school bell sounds, it’s a quick green tea for me, then I get behind my desk, and scribble down a few journal entries. 

Is there a woman who stands out for you, who really inspires you? This can be someone in your close circle, or someone you don’t know personally, for example an author or podcast host, or other.

I have truly been inspired by many of my writers, published in the Short.Sharp.Stories collections. The imagination, the vibrancy, the motivation – it keeps me doing what I do. Really, I am inspired everyday by one woman or another, women making it to their jobs through the rain, or nurturing children as single parents; it is often ‘ordinary’ people who inspire me. We’re all just trying to make it through, one day at a time.

What is a personal mantra or quote that motivates you? 

‘You can do this!’ Every morning I give myself a little pep talk. And it works, this conversation with myself, the part of me that nurtures and encourages the part that wants to just lounge around all day on a sunbed on that Greek beach, drinking Aperol Spritz, working on her tan, and reading to my heart’s content. ‘People are counting on you! You are counting on yourself!’ and so on. This is how I talk to myself. I am also inspired by a Russian proverb: ‘The past is a lighthouse, not a port.’ I try to keep the ‘port’ in mind, wherever it may be.

 

What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?

I can be pretty ‘out there’, and come across as an extrovert. But really, I am shy and gentle. A true marshmallow. I truly care about my writers. I care about my country. I care about democracy, and justice, and equality.

 

What personality characteristic/s do you love about yourself? 

Tolerance. Always wanting to learn. Always willing to say ‘I’m sorry.’ 

 

What is your greatest strength, and how has it helped you in your journey? 

 

Perseverance. The writing world is tough. To make it to any degree, you have to keep working, keep practicing, keep facing the blank page or screen and know that the words will come, that writing is, after all, an exploration of self. Whether we write fiction or non-fiction, we bring ourselves to our work. It’s too easy to give up. I keep the faith.

 

What does self-confidence mean to you, and how have you cultivated it?

 

More and more, I have realised that confidence comes with being who I am, that I don’t have to measure up to anyone, that self-belief inspires me write what is authentic to who I am. Confidence comes with authenticity.

If you could share a piece of business advice for someone starting out, what would it be? 

Be organised. Spend time doing the admin. Have a system in place for the admin. It’s easy for the hum-drum admin to become overwhelming. Enjoy the fantasies, but focus on reality. 

What is a piece of advice you would give to your younger self? 

I’d tell this to my forty-year old self, who was too aware of starting a new career, and wanted to rush things along: ‘Be brave! But slow down. Enjoy every bit of the process. Don’t worry about publication; rather focus on taking time to explore the stories you want to tell. Have fun!’ 

If you have a website link, please share it. 

joannehichens.com

 

Short.Sharp.Stories can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/ShortSharpStories/

How did you feel being photographed? 

At first I was stiff and a little anxious. It took me a while to defrost under the lights, and then, when the shoot was over, I wished we could start all over again! I’m part of a generation that is not supposed to celebrate the self. For the few hours of the shoot, I loved posing, and feeling audacious, and good about myself. 

And what feelings emerged when you saw your portraits for the first time?

Relief! That somehow the best version of myself had shone through, and been captured in the images. And grateful, that the entire experience had been so affirming.

I knew I was in good hands. Monica, you were welcoming, thoughtful, gentle; I immediately felt at ease arriving at your studio. Donna, the make-up artist, was warm and professional. 

 

Hair and Makeup: Donna Hay

Thank you, Joanne for spending the day with us.  We had a beautiful time getting to know you.  And my brother, Gareth and I really enjoyed your book launch at The Booklounge in Cape Town, and seeing you light up the room, and captivate everyone with your presence.