Nadya Williams: From where I’m sitting, you’ve had a banner couple of years: you published a book, you’re written hundreds of essays (literally, hundreds, including a lot of them for Current and Arena!), and you continue to be very engaged in scholarship to boot. I was excited to hear about your new project, Orange Blossom Ordinary, which launches on July 30th. How does it fit into your own intellectual journey?
Elizabeth Stice: Thanks, that’s very flattering! This project is a way to build more of the kinds of spaces I want to exist. When you look at people who are doing what they really love and succeeding in their area, they often get to that point by making their own way and building their own spaces. I love reading books and reading about books, both academic and not. Many people I know feel the same way. There are a lot of great reviews and websites already, but I think there’s room for one more. I think it’s important to have a really book-centric space and also a space that has room for both established and newer reviewers. I also think that having a regional element is a special strength. The review won’t be entirely regional–we already have reviewers from other places–but I think acknowledging place and making space for it is important.
NW: On a related note, what is your vision for this review publication? Who is your target reader? And why do you feel that this review is needed now?
E.S.: In my classes, my motto is “all the reading, all the time.” That’s kind of the vision for this, as well. All kinds of books with reviews that help us use books to better question and understand the world around us. The best books help us understand ourselves and our surroundings, the best reviews show us how books do that. That is part of why we want to review academic and non-academic books, fiction and nonfiction, etc. My ideal reader is anyone who cares about books and ideas. I think people who appreciate good writing will also like the site, because the reviews will be engaging in themselves.
N.W.: What is the story behind the name, Orange Blossom Ordinary?
E.S.: The “Orange Blossom Special” was a famous train that went from the northeast to Miami and there are some famous songs about it and people still use that name for different websites and social media accounts, etc. “Orange Blossom Ordinary” acknowledges that heritage and captures some of its spirit, but it’s also more modest and consistent with the vision of everyday life lived with books. Our posts will be special, but also regular. We plan to have reviews up every Tuesday and every Thursday. I also wanted to acknowledge that we have one foot in Florida and one foot in the life of the mind. It’s not a Florida-centric review, but we will be making an effort to be sure to consistently review books that are about Florida on a regular basis.
N.W.: Is there anything else you would like intrigued readers to know before you launch? How might people support your work? Are you looking for more reviewers?
E.S.: It would be great if people want to check out the website, where they can also sign up for the substack–which will basically contain the website posts. I am definitely looking for more reviewers (and also book suggestions). Anyone who is interested in reviewing or has a book suggestion can email orangeblossomordinary@gmail.com I would love to hear from people.