Meet Holly Brians Ragusa | Author, Poet, Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Holly Brians Ragusa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’m not sure if I pursued an artistic career or if it pursued me! Certainly, I was called to it. Either way, I cannot escape that core piece of myself, that repeatedly propels me to document my place in the world and this living. If the muse visits with a creative, there is no escape, for whether working on the front lines, in a kitchen, or behind a desk or counter, that creative spark will find its way out. We are volcanoes waiting to erupt with our essence, often choosing to remain dormant throughout most of our life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My primary work is writing. I wake to words, whether a song in my head or a poem waiting to be written. I also serve the community, publish and bring people together. Developing into a writer, meant that I also needed to develop my speaking voice and publishing options. In both these aspects of my career I seek to break from traditional topics and formulas that have not served creatives well. Being self-directed is liberating. Generally, I begin with an idea and in many ways, it leads me to research and its implementation leads me to organization and plans. This creatively led process allows me to adapt in real time to my interests and passions in order to stay relevant. My writing work takes me to open poetry mics and features, and also turns into speaking or author events, talks and discussions that allow me out to interact with others around the process of writing and writing workshops, trauma and survivorship, advocacy, grief and healing, and other related content.

Partnering and building bridges is a key aspect of who I am and has become integral to my work, since growing my writing community has been one of the most fulfilling pieces of this professional puzzle!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my family or someone I know is coming to town, I make a mental checklist of all the places we need to go and revisit. Sometimes that planning helps me learn about a new restaurant or activity while researching. Our fair city has wondrous history and many historic stops that local authors such as Rick Pender, Molly Wellmann and Greg Hand, have written books and essays about.

I’d say off the bat, we’d have to explore the singular Cincinnati Music Hall, built in 1878 in Over-the-Rhine. Take a tour of this iconic historic structure, see a concert or just walk past the majesty of this magnificent building. We have a wonderful theatre community here, definitely check out a show in Cincinnati, I especially love The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. See our Cincinnati Art Museum, Taft Art Museum, Contemporary Art Museum and the Cincinnati Museum Center that houses our Science, History and Holocaust museums. And the new Over-the-Rhine Museum will tour you around the area and reveal their new plans! You’d absolutely need to amble about the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, especially to see our world famous hippos and ranked top zoo in the nation! But don’t forget to explore gems like the the Mercantile and Lloyd Libraries and our incredible Cincinnati Parks. I enjoy the excitement of stopping into treasured retailers and eateries like Mica, Kismet and Little Mahatma, MidCity, Salazar, Standard Beer, Lucius Q, Hart & Cru and Brown Bear in and around in Over-the-Rhine.

Pride brings a sense of ownership, and I love that this city is mine. Like a too-proud parent, I get to extend that pride by sharing what I love about our city with others- the Zoo is mine, Music Hall is mine and the parks, theatres and libraries are mine while also being yours! With a rich history, dedicated arts scene, lovely people and fantastic food, how can I not revel in being a Cincinnatian?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Books. I’d like to recognize books and all those that write, sell, read, collect, protect and curate them. These beautifully new and musty old friends are my greatest teachers, my closest confidants, my allies and mentors, and my favorite home decoration! So, aside from authors, and myriad voices that have pierced, excited and soothed my mind, I’d like to shoutout a few of my favorite hometown bookish institutions, that carry books, resources and literature across the many bridges that now face unprecedented bans. Limiting any part of society, I believe, limits it entirely.

The arrogance of someone else deciding what I can or cannot choose to fill my soul with is beyond me. I wonder if book-banners have considered being on the other side of that equation, where others insist they read what they do not want to ingest. In a democracy, it is terrifying that we do not have literacy freedom. I understand that some literature needs context, and that is why educators are key (and should be paid far more).

Shoutout, specifically to the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL), who from my earliest start, not only provided this child with access to stories beyond my imagining, but also rewarded me for reading with certificates and programs that encouraged further book-binging. Since 1874, the library has maintained a permanent place in our city, though its origins date back to 1802. With 40 branches serving over 5 million visitors a year, according to the American Library Association, CHPL is ranked second largest public library by holdings in the United States (behind the New York Public Library), and has over 11.7 million holdings in their collection! My children also benefited from several branches of this library through with many book readings, video rentals and art classes. www.chpl.org

I’d also like to call out the great work being done at The Mercantile Library in Cincinnati, which is one of the few remaining membership libraries in the country. Since 1835 this collection has grown and gathered in the spirit of spreading and attaining knowledge. The Mercantile continues to expand minds by recommending and lending out classics as well as the latest and greatest books and bringing readers together for a remarkable array of author talks and workshops. This is a second home to me and has absolutely contributed to honing my craft and sparking my creativity. www.mercantilelibrary.com

The Lloyd Library and Museum is a world renowned independent research library and exhibit space devoted to bringing science, art and history to life (from their website). Global scholars take advantage of this fantastic Cincinnati based resource. Check out their well curated instagram! @lloydlibraryofficial

Cincinnati also has a wonderful Independent bookseller culture here, with long-time favorites such as Joseph-Beth (www.josephbeth.com) along with Roebling Point Books and Ohio Bookstore, and there are wonderful newer shops to support like Joy & Matts and The Book Matters. Outstanding bookstores in the Cincinnati area!

Website: http://hollybriansragusa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mothergusa/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-brians-ragusa-91b0413b/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hbrag

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HBRWrites

Image Credits
Damon Ragusa Michelle Abernathy