Fantastic Frank interviews Louise Mathewson

Louise Mathewson holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. An author and award winning poet, her work has appeared in numerous literary journals and magazines in both the U.S. and abroad.

        Born and raised in Chicago, she had a dark childhood - the kind that writers pray for - giving her rich material for her work. She is descended from a long line of Italian psychic women, and these gifts inform her poetry.

Over the years Louise has facilitated support groups for children dealing with the challenges of loss, including grief over loss of family members, divorce and parental alcoholism. Her work in this area inspired her to write articles in support of children dealing with some of life’s most difficult challenges. Many of her works have been published in children’s and family magazines.

Louise has always loved to write about sacred moments in everyday experiences, but today those experiences hold even deeper meaning. In February 2003, Louise emerged from a 2-week coma following an auto accident in which she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Though she struggled to write at first, Louise resumed writing as soon as she was able. Since the injury she prefers to write poetry. The left side of her brain, which holds the executive skills of organization and planning, was injured in the accident, so she has more difficulty crafting prose.  Since poetry is a right-brain activity, it allows her to get to the heart of the matter and use the part of her brain that is free from injury.