Nissue #45: Sejal Shah, Author.

Sejal Shah is the author of This Is One Way to Dance, a collection of essays that was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, recommended in The New York Times, and appeared in over 30 most-anticipated or best-of lists. She’s also an artist, educator, and mental health advocate living in Rochester, NY.

That last part is what connects us! We were both products of the Brighton Public School System, having graduated high school the same year. My own teenager is in the midst of applying to high schools (we didn’t have choices back then!), so it was an interesting contrast to interview someone whom I’ve known since my Brighton High years… but still just getting to know. Say what you want about Facebook, but I am thankful it’s what kept Sejal and myself in touch over distance and time.

This photo could be from 1990 or 2020.

Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sejal: A hike, an artist residency, quiet time reading, writing, and napping, and then dinner with friends and or other artists/writers. Preferably both. A long table, talking and sharing. A good meal with dessert. A walk after that. Feeling no limits on time and space, just present.

Nish: What was your worst job ever?

Sejal: Teaching four sections of “comp” (composition) while being the diversity/person of color on three college committees before I had tenure. I left that job and academia, but I learned something important from all of my jobs, even the difficult ones.

Nish: First job ever?

Sejal: Babysitting!

Nish: Best job ever?

Sejal: Haven’t had one. That’s why they call them jobs. Just kidding, writer, but that’s a vocation where it’s hard to consistently pay the bills. Some of my favorite writer gigs: fellowships/writer-in-residence at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and Luther College in Iowa. More recently, co-teaching an epistolary writing class (Dear Friend) over Zoom this past spring with my dear friend Holly Wren Spaulding through her imagination school, Poetry Forge. We are going to do it again in February 2022!

Speaking of jobs, I deeply believe in health insurance for all, and not having insurance attached to employment. That said, I’m grateful to have health insurance through my spouse, who is a huge champion of my work. He has made it possible for me to focus on my writing.

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Sejal: Procrastination and second-guessing myself.

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Sejal: Narcissism and unkindness.

Nish: What’s some advice you’d give yourself at 23?

Sejal: You are worth protecting and deserve being treated with kindness. Don’t date anyone who doesn’t cherish you and treat you kindly. Be less trusting. A healthy amount of distrust can serve you well. Get outdoors more, cultivate enjoying your own company. See art. Dance.

Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?

Sejal: Books. I bought too many during the pandemic. New eyeglasses. Room-darkening curtains.

Nish: You have exclusive dinner reservations for 4 excluding family and close friends, who are the 3 people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?

Sejal: 1) Audre Lorde 2) Toni Morrison 3) Louise Erdrich.

Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?

Sejal: Des’ree’s You Gotta Be.

Nish: What is your motto?

Sejal: Just go!

Nish: What is something you are really excited about right now?

Sejal: More people are writing and talking more openly about mental health, illness, and neurodiversity. I’m excited about writing a middle school/YA novel. This interview I did with my editor was very special to me. Oh, and I am really excited about an illustrated music playlist I did with comic artist Shebani Rao that goes with This Is One Way to Dance.

End Interview.

That’s in reference to her essay on Burning Man!

Want to read more? I’ve been lucky to interview some other wonderful authors. Make sure to check out my nissues with Matt Futterman, Jessica Anya Blau, Alia Volz and Nayomi Munaweera. One of them use to haze me in college…