{"id":9018,"date":"2024-03-01T11:39:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T11:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/?p=9018"},"modified":"2024-03-08T10:32:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T10:32:14","slug":"jasmin-thien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/2024\/03\/01\/jasmin-thien\/","title":{"rendered":"Jasmin Thien"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jasmin is part of SPINE Festival 2024<\/a>, along with an incredible team of poets they’ll be leading workshops and arts activities for children in Libraries and schools across London this Spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Describe yourself in 3 words\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Socially anxious extrovert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspires you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Disabled people being badass, women being badass, people of colour being badass, immigrants being badass, and any brilliant writing that makes my palms tingle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about your worst ever gig?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I showed up with poems for 7 to 11 year olds and found an audience of mostly 3 to five year olds. Like a true amateur I had not prepared anything as backup. Tried desperately to be as big and flamboyant as I could to compensate but the poetry went straight over the little ones\u2019 heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your number one poetry pet peeve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rhyming using the exact same words. Doesn\u2019t happen often but always makes me inwardly cringe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whose words do you love at the moment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I keep going back to Carol Ann Duffy, Patience Agbabi and Joseph Coelho. Limiting it to just one is just cruel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Try everything; something will stick eventually. Call your friends. People who say they love you probably do, so believe them. Try not to worry so much; things will start to make more sense after 25. When in doubt, jump on a bouncy castle, ride a roller coaster, watch some Winnie the Pooh, or do something your child self loved \u2013 she needs love too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Escaping into imagination land was my way out of an abusive and traumatic upbringing (climbing up the Faraway Tree, and going on my own Pokemon adventures were particular favourites). I still retreat to imagination land today to help cope with difficult times in life, like not being able to sleep at 3am. Also, magic + imagination = Disney = one of my favourite things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Watching families make meaningful memories through creating art and having fun together. There\u2019s nothing more precious. Also, children say the most insightful, quirky, and hilarious things \u2013 I treasure every one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you prefer breakfast, lunch, or dinner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Definitely dinner. You can have breakfast for dinner. But you usually don\u2019t have enough appetite to appreciate dinner for breakfast. More options = a happier me.<\/p>\n\n\n