NEWS4U NOVEMBER 2024 | FEATURE
INTERVIEW WITH INVISIBLE STRINGS AUTHOR KRISTIE DAUGHERTY BY AMY BR ADFORD
K
ristie Frederick Daugherty is an
cryptic text came through, inviting me (along with
creative writing,” she shares. “I’m not sure I would
other close friends) out to dinner to share big
have had the idea for Invisible Strings if I hadn’t
news. The big news? Invisible Strings: 113 Poets
been in this program.” Her advisor, Michael
Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift was picked
Williamson, played a significant role in shaping
up by an agent and auctioned off to Ballantine,
her experience, and she feels grateful for the
an offshoot of Random House. Kristie made it to
academic community that has surrounded her.
the big leagues.
With a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Vermont
Evansville resident, professor, doctoral candidate, writer, poet, and devoted
College of Fine Arts and plans to complete her The spark for this anthology happened on a
PhD in summer 2025, Kristie is already planning
Swiftie who has taken the literary world by storm
memorable night—the 2024 Grammy Awards.
her next moves. She’s had several poems
with her latest project: Invisible Strings: 113 Poets
When Taylor Swift announced her new album,
published in journals, and her work on Invisible
Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift.
The Tortured Poets Department, Kristie felt a rush
Strings has even taken her to Harvard for an
of inspiration, “It was like a light bulb just blew
invited lecture. She’s also busy crafting a novel
To know Kristie is to know how wickedly talented
in my brain, and I thought: How can poetry, how
titled The Bible of Eve, proving that her creative
and brilliant she is. I’ve had the pleasure of
can we grab this moment that Taylor is offering
wellspring knows no bounds.
knowing her for several years, we worked
poetry with so much visibility? And it just came to
together in the education field and became fast
me.” Kristie’s “educator roots” were on full display
As a poet herself, Kristie is eager to give back to
friends. She has a warmth about her and a way
as she explained the grander mission behind the
the community that nurtured her. A portion of
of speaking that just works when it comes to
book, “Taylor has taught millions of people how
the anthology’s proceeds will support her new
teaching English and Literature, a natural born
to close-read and how to analytically read. They
initiative, The 113 Poets Foundation, aimed at
teacher. Also, and something I appreciate, she
are doing this work, and she has taught them that,
helping poets with travel grants and emergency
calls out the greatness in those around her, so
which is incredible. That’s an incredible thing for a
funds, and supporting small, independent
I was over the moon when some of the literary
pop star to be able to teach an entire fandom. As
presses, “In the age of AI, we need our poets as
greats recognized the boundless potential and
poets, we’re hoping that this anthology can create
never before”.
raw talent within Kristie. Truly, her idea was a
a new set of readers for contemporary poetry,
stroke of genius…especially considering the
because poetry is so often viewed as something
Invisible Strings is set to hit the shelves on
timing, as the frenzy that is the Taylor Swift empire
inaccessible or highbrow or high academia. But
December 3, and Kristie is thrilled by the
rises to a crescendo in pop culture.
contemporary poets are doing what Taylor does
enthusiastic response from publishers and
— it’s not like that at all.”
booksellers alike, especially independent
This genius idea is none other than a one-of-
bookstores. “It’s incredible to see how quickly this
a-kind anthology featuring the work of 113
Drawing from her research on how Swift’s lyrics
has all come together,” she says. The book isn’t
contemporary poets, including six Pulitzer Prize
intersect with poetry, Kristie reached out to
just for poetry aficionados; it’s also for Taylor Swift
winners, who each crafted an original poem
some of the best poets in the world, asking them
fans who may not typically dive into poetry. Kristie
inspired by a specific Taylor Swift song. Invisible
to respond to Swift’s songs without using her
hopes that readers will engage with the poems
Strings is a celebration of both poetry and the
lyrics directly. The response was overwhelming,
much like they do with Swift’s lyrics—looking for
music that resonates so deeply with millions of
and the poems that emerged are nothing short
those little “Easter eggs” that hint at the songs.
fans around the globe.
of breathtaking.
While I knew her well enough to know she was
The journey to creating this anthology has been
die-hard Swift fan, get ready to dive into this
“up to something”, I could not have fathomed the
remarkable. Kristie credits her time in IUP’s
one-of-a-kind anthology that celebrates the
level of success all her late-night writing sessions
Literature and Criticism doctoral program for
power of words and music, all while inviting
would bring. In fact, I had no idea what she was
much of her inspiration. “The faculty and the
readers to explore the magic hidden within the
even writing. Yet one evening this past summer a
critical discussions have rejuvenated my own
lyrics we love.
So whether you’re a poetry enthusiast or a
12 | NOVEMBER 2024 • Bad Yorkie Media, LLC