Richmond-based poet and novelist Allison Titus (NEA award-winner and author of three books) was our very first interview — and the first stop on Janaka’s April book tour that later took us through St. Louis to meet up with Paul Legault, who was featured in Episode One. Allison and her partner Joshua Poteat (an award-winning poet in his own right), put us up for the night in their beautiful home, filled with dusty salvaged antiques, dreamy original artwork, and four adorable and loving rescued pugs. We did several takes of the video segment with Allison, in a few different settings, and through each one she gazed patiently, silently, and intently for minutes on end into the camera as her dogs fidgeted in the wings. Her ability to unflinchingly focus on command is impressive, and seems to be a sign of someone who can comfortably slip into their interior — or, more likely, as someone who is most comfortable there.

Episode Two: Allison Titus - Video Portrait / MP3