Els Kushner
2024, Writer In Residence
“While my time at the Caetani Centre was a solitary residency, I was never lonely; everything from the art on the walls and refrigerator, to the reminders of Sveva Caetani’s life in both the residency suite and the first-floor museum, to the friendly support of the Centre staff, connected me with the larger community of writers and artists, past and present.
This sense of artistic communion was a large part of what made this time a much-needed reset, a chance to allow my creative self to flourish in a beautiful, serene, and nurturing environment. It was productive, too: during my residency, I made some important structural progress on my novel, worked on revisions to the first draft, submitted a shorter children’s story to a publisher, and wrote an unexpected poem.”
Writer’s Statement: Elisabeth June Kushner
I’ve written fiction in a variety of genres and for a variety of audiences, from autobiographical short stories to young adult urban fantasy to picture books for young children. My first published picture book, THE PURIM SUPERHERO, is about a kid who resolves a holiday costume dilemma with the help of his two dads. I’m currently working on a queer young adult novel set at a dance marathon during the Depression.
Whatever the genre or format, I’m drawn to narratives about oddball protagonists navigating the tricky balance between community acceptance and personal authenticity. I believe that stories make people feel less alone, and that sharing stories can be a powerful source of joy, wonder, and a sense of belonging.
