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Penelope Scambly Schott

 

Penelope Scambly Schott received the Oregon Book Award for her verse biography of Puritan dissenter Anne Hutchinson, A Is For Anne. Her most recent book is How I Became An Historian. Penelope lives in Portland and Dufur, Oregon where she teaches an annual poetry workshop.

What’s your creative process?

Early in the morning I climb Dufur hill with my dog Lily. I sit on my favorite rock and look at the east side of Mount Hood. I turn in a circle and study the whole horizon. I walk down the hill letting my head and mouth fill up with words. Back at the house I scribble on a yellow pad. After I have something, I put it on the computer. Every hour or so all day long I revise it.

Who inspires you?

When I was a girl I read Joseph Conrad and wanted to be a hero. My favorite poet is Lucille Clifton.