KaToya Ellis Fleming
Where I live: The SoMa district of downtown Little Rock.
Occupation: I am the 2019-2020 Oxford American Jeff Baskin Writers Fellow. Established in 2017 to honor the memory of North Little Rock librarian Jeff Baskin, the fellowship has given me (a temporary transplant from Georgia) the opportunity to serve a nine-month apprenticeship in Little Rock with my favorite magazine while writing my debut nonfiction book, which I enjoy calling a "bibliomemoir." Right now, I'm taking notes on Sarah M. Broom's beautiful book The Yellow House for the discussion I'll moderate with her during the OA's South Words reader series which kicks off next month.
My favorite space is: My "office."
Why? I have a fabulous antique writing desk near the window in an area of my living room that I call "the office" because I have designated it to be exclusively for work. I'm surrounded by pictures of my mother and my son and posters of my favorite issues of the Oxford American. Though the space is tiny, it's full of positive energy. Plus, there's a lovely view of the Villa Marre and, because the window is so high, light just pours in making it an inspiring and invigorating place from which to create.
If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: Make it an actual office. I'd wall it in so that the space could be more intimate and shut off from the outside world. But, because it's such a quiet area, it's pretty perfect as it is.
— Sean Clancy
HomeStyle on 09/21/2019