By Curtis Gordon

Lindsay Mayhew, an English student at Laurentian, has had three of her own poems included in a new poetry book, Feminine Grit: A Collection of Northern Voices. 

The anthology includes poetry, short stories, and visual artwork from 27 local writers and artists across Northern Ontario. Feminine Grit was edited and published by Emma Daniels (the drag persona of Cory Gaudette, a former Laurentian student). 

The book celebrates femininity and encourages people to embrace their feminine qualities.

Mayhew, who has been writing since high school, says she got into slam poetry about two years ago. She then began attending Wordstock Sudbury slam poetry events.

“That is really what pushed me along in the poetry world,” Mayhew said. “That’s actually where I met the editor, Emma Daniels, at one of Wordstock’s events.”

“It’s not for everybody, especially if you have nerves, but I find these events exhilarating,” she said. “It’s nerve-wracking, my knees always shake, but it’s fun.”

Mayhew says she prefers an unstructured approach when writing.

“I really like free writing. It’s unstructured, and just kind of flows out of me,” Mayhew said. “I don’t try too hard to make it a structured poem.”

Mayhew says she has a passion for writing about mental health, feminism, and human rights issues.  

“I write a lot about mental health, politics, feminism, and stigma toward femininity or being a woman.”

After being contacted by Daniels about the book, Mayhew was thrilled to get involved with this local project. She said she thought it was a “really great idea” and gave her an opportunity to write about topics she hadn’t before. 

“It was really amazing to be published with so many local voices, feminine voices, so many different people, really amazing artists and talented poets.”

Mayhew said that she feels that it is important to amplify the voices of Northern writers and was happy that was the book’s approach.

“The vision was just really cool, and it’s so great that there were northern voices. I feel like the arts in the North is a little lacking sometimes,” She said. 

Daniels, the book’s editor, talked about the difficulties of growing up trying to display feminine qualities while also being under pressure to act like a ‘real man.’

“Men can be feminine people,” Daniels said. “I was stuck in between, not being able to please anybody.”  

Daniels also mentioned the importance that feminine voices have in creating change.

“The feminine voice has been an ally to movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too,” said Daniels.  

“These movements wouldn’t have taken place without feminine voices to support them.”

Feminine Grit has helped raise money for women escaping violence. One dollar from every copy sold goes to the YWCA Genevra House of Sudbury, a shelter for women escaping abuse. Earlier this week, Daniels made a $400 donation.  

Daniels is looking forward to making a sequel to the book next summer.

Feminine Grit is currently available for purchase on Amazon or at Bay Used Books in Sudbury.