{"id":5353,"date":"2024-06-24T19:26:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T19:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microcosmpublishing.com\/blog\/?p=5353"},"modified":"2024-06-24T20:25:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T20:25:13","slug":"a-qa-with-justine-norton-kertson-author-of-utopian-witch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microcosmpublishing.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/a-qa-with-justine-norton-kertson-author-of-utopian-witch\/","title":{"rendered":"Read an excerpt of Utopian Witch, and Q&A with Justine Norton-Kertson!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once upon a time, Justine Norton-Kertson corrupted young minds by teaching high school history, civics, and economics from a leftist perspective, then spent almost a decade as a community and union organizer. Nowadays, Justine continues working to corrupt the youth, primarily as a publisher, author, screenwriter, and podcaster. They founded Android Press and Solarpunk Magazine<\/em> in 2022 and are editor-in-chief for both.

Most recently, Justine wrote Utopian Witch<\/a>, a book of solarpunk rituals, spells, and practices for radical action towards a positive future.

Read on for our interview with Justine, where they talk about writing, working with us Microcosm folks, and what they’re working on next. Below that, check out an excerpt from the book!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


What inspired you to write your book?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utopian Witch<\/a><\/em> is inspired by a deep sense of urgency and a profound belief in the power of community and individual action. I\u2019ve always been passionate about environmentalism and social justice. I\u2019ve also been a practitioner of witchcraft for decades, and early on was inspired by the feminist and social justice oriented craft taught by Starhawk. I began to see clear connections between the principles of solarpunk\u2014a movement that envisions a sustainable and equitable future\u2014and the transformative power of magick. I also noticed quite a few other folks in the solarpunk movement who practice some type of witchcraft or other new age spiritualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea that we can blend practical, real-world actions with spiritual practices to effect change is incredibly empowering. In solarpunk, I found a philosophy that not only addresses the ecological and social crises we face but does so with a spirit of radical hope and creativity. It\u2019s about imagining and building a world that works for everyone and respects the Earth. In the same way, as a witch I\u2019m familiar with the power of intention and ritual in shaping our reality. By combining solarpunk ideals with magickal practices, I saw an opportunity to create a resource that could inspire others to take action, both spiritually and practically. I wanted to provide tools and spells that could help people feel empowered to make a difference, to feel connected to a broader movement, and to envision a utopian future where humanity lives in harmony with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing this book was my way of weaving together my passions for the environment, social justice, and magick into a cohesive guide that could help others on their journey. It\u2019s about creating change on both a personal and collective level, using the power of witchcraft to fuel our dreams for a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What was it like to publish with Microcosm?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publishing with Microcosm has been such a great experience. This is my first time publishing a book from the author’s side of the table. I\u2019m also editor-in-chief at Android Press, so I know how challenging the editorial process can sometimes be. But working with the folks at Microcosm has been so easy and enjoyable. My editors were incredibly helpful in so many ways, from working through the best way to structure the book to helping ensure the prose reads well and has the intended impact. I can only hope my future publishing experiences as an author are equally positive.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What was the submission\/query process like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought the submission\/query process was easy and straightforward. The Microcosm website outlines really clearly how to submit a query. I was actually surprised how quickly I heard back with a positive response, because I know how long the query process can often take. Whether it\u2019s with agents or publishers, they usually have no less than a mountain of queries and manuscript submissions to sift through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else have you written?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I actually spend a significant amount of my free time writing. I\u2019m about 40,000 words into the first draft of a book about the influence of nerds and the evolution of nerd character tropes in horror movies. I also write a lot of fiction, actually more than I write nonfiction. I recently had a short story called \u201cRabbits, Rivers, and Prickly Pears,\u201d published in World Weaver Press\u2019s Solarpunk Creatures<\/em> anthology and another short story called \u201cDo Me Out<\/a>\u201d that was published by Utopia Science Fiction Magazine. That one\u2019s an apocalyptic hopepunk story set in Oregon\u2019s Columbia River Gorge. I\u2019ve written a couple novellas in the climate fiction and horror genres that are in various stages of revision or querying, and I\u2019m currently co-authoring a climate fiction novel that blends surrealism, zombies, and solarpunk\u2019s focus on DIY culture and climate solutions. But wait, that\u2019s not all! I\u2019ve also co-authored a horror script that is about to start being pitched to producers. Fingers crossed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you currently reading? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve definitely been on a horror kick lately. I\u2019m currently reading an eldritch horror novella by P.L. McMillan called Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em>, about a cult of nuns who grow their own grapes to make a mysteriously intoxicating wine. And they really hate the Catholic Church. I also just bought Paul Tremblay\u2019s latest novel, Horror Movie<\/em>, which just published this week. I haven\u2019t started reading it yet because I\u2019m trying to finish Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em> first, but I\u2019m really excited to dive into Tremblay\u2019s latest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the best book you read in the last year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full disclosure, this is a book my publishing company, Android Press published, but even if that weren\u2019t the case, this would still be my favorite book I\u2019ve read this year. The book is a novella called \u201cThe Year of Return<\/a>,\u201d and it\u2019s the debut by Ghanaian author Ivana Akotowaa Ofori. It\u2019s a chilling yet hopeful ghost story about the ghosts of Africans who were captured and died during the Middle Passage who rise up from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to seek various forms of revenge on the ancestors of their captors and killers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s next for you?\u00a0<\/strong>
I recently finished the manuscript for a follow up to Utopian Witch<\/em> that\u2019s about using tarot cards as a community tool in the fight to build a better world. And I\u2019m really excited about diving into the editorial process for that next book. I also recently helped start a production company called Nerd Horror Media (@nerdhorror on TikTok and Instagram), and am keeping my fingers crossed that we\u2019re able to secure funding to produce our first independent horror film.

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Utopian Witch<\/strong> called “Radical Hope, Radical Politics, and Punk Magick”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Before we move on to solarpunk spiritual practices and spells, a look at the relationship between radical hope, radical politics, and magick deserves something of its own discussion. Over the years, one question I\u2019ve heard with some frequency, particularly from those who are discovering solarpunk for the first time, is how a genre that\u2019s all about utopia qualifies as punk. It\u2019s a fair question. Afterall, aren\u2019t punks rude people who listen to loud and angry music? Aren\u2019t punks those crude and obnoxious anarchist kids sitting in the gutter with ukuleles and face tattoos, asking for change and leftovers? Even in science fiction literature and fantasy literature, -punk is all about resisting, rebelling, and fighting against corruption even if the odds are insurmountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


So where\u2019s the punk in utopia?<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The first part of the answer to that question is, despite its utopian focus, solarpunk is no different than other -punk literary genres in that resistance and rebellion are foundational elements. In his 2014 article, \u201cSolarpunk: Notes Toward a Manifesto,\u201d Adam Flynn, one of the early writers and thinkers on the solarpunk genre, asserts that \u201cThere\u2019s an oppositional quality to solarpunk, but it\u2019s an opposition that begins with infrastructure as a form ofresistance.\u201d28 This is evident in the genre\u2019s focus on dismantling fossil fuel infrastructure in developing and expanding renewable
energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Seven years later, in the summer of 2021, \u201cA Solarpunk Manifesto,\u201d was published online by Regenerative Design, a permaculture training, consulting, and design firm. That article
places the -punk in solarpunk within the well-established tradition of resistance. \u201cThe \u2018punk\u2019 in solarpunk,\u201d it says, \u201chas to do with rebellion, counterculture, post-capitalism, decolonialism and
enthusiasm.\u201d That statement reflects solarpunk\u2019s well-established stress on the expected parts of punk: nonwestern cultures and radical, liberatory political theory and praxis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last couple words in the above quote\u2014\u201cdecolonialism and enthusiasm\u201d\u2014 point us in another direction, toward the idea that hope is punk as fuck and is capable of representing the -punk in solarpunk all on its own. In that vein, Regenerative Design\u2019s solarpunk manifesto continues: \u201cWe are solarpunks because optimism has been taken away from us and we are trying to take it back,\u201d and \u201cwe are solarpunks because the only other options are denial or despair.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since we live in a dystopian reality, we\u2019re robbed of our optimism and often see hope as naivete. As a result, we\u2019re engaged in a struggle to restore that hope, because without it, we can\u2019t win. Put more simply: in a world full of despair, hope is an act of rebellion in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


But the hope of solarpunk isn\u2019t a naive hope. We aren\u2019t talking about blind faith or uncritical Pollyanna optimism. Rather, the hope implicit in solarpunk is what University of Chicago philosopher Jonathan Lear termed \u201cradical hope,\u201d and what NYU research professor Jos\u00e9 Esteban Mu\u00f1oz argued is a key component of queer utopianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


So what is radical hope? It\u2019s the kind of hope earned through oppression and struggle, and in the face of annihilation, at the hands of seemingly insurmountable force. It\u2019s a hope that, faced with cultural or environmental collapse, enables us to keep moving forward day after day, to keep working toward a better world, to keep demanding utopia, and to keep resisting and struggling, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While on the surface this may seem like naive optimism, it\u2019s not. Instead, radical hope is the realization that if we\u2019re to go on at all, then hope in resistance and radical system change is our only option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


That sure sounds punk as fuck to me.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radical hope doesn\u2019t only fit the punk ethos and drive the activist spirit. It\u2019s also an extremely valuable tool for solarpunk witches and the practice of punk magick. There is, in fact, a direct relationship between radical hope and practicing magick.

At its most simple, magick involves four basic steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. feeling a strong, guttural, and visceral desire for something,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. generating the willpower to make it real,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. using those feelings to build up a bunch of powerful energy,
    and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. focusing that energy into a visualization related to the
    target of your magickal work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n


    For witches, radical hope provides a source for the guttural, visceral desire that is fuel, fire, and spark for our magickal spellwork. When your spiritual hope draws its strength from a lifetime of struggle and oppression against insurmountable odds\u2014a reality for most witches\u2014you\u2019re more likely to have a deep well of strong feelings, desires, and righteous anger to draw upon when building energy
    and power for your spells.

    And that is the punk magick of radical hope.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n



    Justine Norton-Kertson lives in rural Oregon with their\u00a0partner, puppies, cats, goats, and bunnies, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, writing, and making short films. They can be found online on     Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> @utopianwitchcraft, or at www.justinenortonkertson.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Does a radical, solarpunk utopian sound like your jam? Check out Utopian Witch.<\/a>
    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Once upon a time, Justine Norton-Kertson corrupted young minds by teaching high school history, civics, and economics from a leftist perspective, then spent almost a decade as a community and union organizer. Nowadays, Justine continues working to corrupt the youth, primarily as a publisher, author, screenwriter, and podcaster. They founded Android Press and Solarpunk Magazine… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[14,11],"class_list":["post-5353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogifesto","tag-books","tag-interviews"],"my_excerpt":"\n

    Once upon a time, Justine Norton-Kertson corrupted young minds by teaching high school history, civics, and economics from a leftist perspective, then spent almost a decade as a community and union organizer. Nowadays, Justine continues working to corrupt the youth, primarily as a publisher, author, screenwriter, and podcaster. They founded Android Press and Solarpunk Magazine<\/em> in 2022 and are editor-in-chief for both.

    Most recently, Justine wrote     Utopian Witch<\/a>, a book of solarpunk rituals, spells, and practices for radical action towards a positive future.

    Read on for our interview with Justine, where they talk about writing, working with us Microcosm folks, and what they're working on next. Below that, check out an excerpt from the book!
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


    What inspired you to write your book?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Utopian Witch<\/a><\/em> is inspired by a deep sense of urgency and a profound belief in the power of community and individual action. I\u2019ve always been passionate about environmentalism and social justice. I\u2019ve also been a practitioner of witchcraft for decades, and early on was inspired by the feminist and social justice oriented craft taught by Starhawk. I began to see clear connections between the principles of solarpunk\u2014a movement that envisions a sustainable and equitable future\u2014and the transformative power of magick. I also noticed quite a few other folks in the solarpunk movement who practice some type of witchcraft or other new age spiritualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The idea that we can blend practical, real-world actions with spiritual practices to effect change is incredibly empowering. In solarpunk, I found a philosophy that not only addresses the ecological and social crises we face but does so with a spirit of radical hope and creativity. It\u2019s about imagining and building a world that works for everyone and respects the Earth. In the same way, as a witch I\u2019m familiar with the power of intention and ritual in shaping our reality. By combining solarpunk ideals with magickal practices, I saw an opportunity to create a resource that could inspire others to take action, both spiritually and practically. I wanted to provide tools and spells that could help people feel empowered to make a difference, to feel connected to a broader movement, and to envision a utopian future where humanity lives in harmony with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Writing this book was my way of weaving together my passions for the environment, social justice, and magick into a cohesive guide that could help others on their journey. It\u2019s about creating change on both a personal and collective level, using the power of witchcraft to fuel our dreams for a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What was it like to publish with Microcosm?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Publishing with Microcosm has been such a great experience. This is my first time publishing a book from the author's side of the table. I\u2019m also editor-in-chief at Android Press, so I know how challenging the editorial process can sometimes be. But working with the folks at Microcosm has been so easy and enjoyable. My editors were incredibly helpful in so many ways, from working through the best way to structure the book to helping ensure the prose reads well and has the intended impact. I can only hope my future publishing experiences as an author are equally positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What was the submission\/query process like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I thought the submission\/query process was easy and straightforward. The Microcosm website outlines really clearly how to submit a query. I was actually surprised how quickly I heard back with a positive response, because I know how long the query process can often take. Whether it\u2019s with agents or publishers, they usually have no less than a mountain of queries and manuscript submissions to sift through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What else have you written?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I actually spend a significant amount of my free time writing. I\u2019m about 40,000 words into the first draft of a book about the influence of nerds and the evolution of nerd character tropes in horror movies. I also write a lot of fiction, actually more than I write nonfiction. I recently had a short story called \u201cRabbits, Rivers, and Prickly Pears,\u201d published in World Weaver Press\u2019s Solarpunk Creatures<\/em> anthology and another short story called \u201cDo Me Out<\/a>\u201d that was published by Utopia Science Fiction Magazine. That one\u2019s an apocalyptic hopepunk story set in Oregon\u2019s Columbia River Gorge. I\u2019ve written a couple novellas in the climate fiction and horror genres that are in various stages of revision or querying, and I\u2019m currently co-authoring a climate fiction novel that blends surrealism, zombies, and solarpunk\u2019s focus on DIY culture and climate solutions. But wait, that\u2019s not all! I\u2019ve also co-authored a horror script that is about to start being pitched to producers. Fingers crossed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What are you currently reading? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve definitely been on a horror kick lately. I\u2019m currently reading an eldritch horror novella by P.L. McMillan called Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em>, about a cult of nuns who grow their own grapes to make a mysteriously intoxicating wine. And they really hate the Catholic Church. I also just bought Paul Tremblay\u2019s latest novel, Horror Movie<\/em>, which just published this week. I haven\u2019t started reading it yet because I\u2019m trying to finish Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em> first, but I\u2019m really excited to dive into Tremblay\u2019s latest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s the best book you read in the last year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Full disclosure, this is a book my publishing company, Android Press published, but even if that weren\u2019t the case, this would still be my favorite book I\u2019ve read this year. The book is a novella called \u201cThe Year of Return<\/a>,\u201d and it\u2019s the debut by Ghanaian author Ivana Akotowaa Ofori. It\u2019s a chilling yet hopeful ghost story about the ghosts of Africans who were captured and died during the Middle Passage who rise up from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to seek various forms of revenge on the ancestors of their captors and killers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s next for you?\u00a0<\/strong>
    I recently finished the manuscript for a follow up to Utopian Witch<\/em> that\u2019s about using tarot cards as a community tool in the fight to build a better world. And I\u2019m really excited about diving into the editorial process for that next book. I also recently helped start a production company called Nerd Horror Media (@nerdhorror on TikTok and Instagram), and am keeping my fingers crossed that we\u2019re able to secure funding to produce our first independent horror film.

    Here's an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Utopian Witch<\/strong> called \"Radical Hope, Radical Politics, and Punk Magick\"<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Before we move on to solarpunk spiritual practices and spells, a look at the relationship between radical hope, radical politics, and magick deserves something of its own discussion. Over the years, one question I\u2019ve heard with some frequency, particularly from those who are discovering solarpunk for the first time, is how a genre that\u2019s all about utopia qualifies as punk. It\u2019s a fair question. Afterall, aren\u2019t punks rude people who listen to loud and angry music? Aren\u2019t punks those crude and obnoxious anarchist kids sitting in the gutter with ukuleles and face tattoos, asking for change and leftovers? Even in science fiction literature and fantasy literature, -punk is all about resisting, rebelling, and fighting against corruption even if the odds are insurmountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    So where\u2019s the punk in utopia?<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    The first part of the answer to that question is, despite its utopian focus, solarpunk is no different than other -punk literary genres in that resistance and rebellion are foundational elements. In his 2014 article, \u201cSolarpunk: Notes Toward a Manifesto,\u201d Adam Flynn, one of the early writers and thinkers on the solarpunk genre, asserts that \u201cThere\u2019s an oppositional quality to solarpunk, but it\u2019s an opposition that begins with infrastructure as a form ofresistance.\u201d28 This is evident in the genre\u2019s focus on dismantling fossil fuel infrastructure in developing and expanding renewable
    energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    Seven years later, in the summer of 2021, \u201cA Solarpunk Manifesto,\u201d was published online by Regenerative Design, a permaculture training, consulting, and design firm. That article
    places the -punk in solarpunk within the well-established tradition of resistance. \u201cThe \u2018punk\u2019 in solarpunk,\u201d it says, \u201chas to do with rebellion, counterculture, post-capitalism, decolonialism and
    enthusiasm.\u201d That statement reflects solarpunk\u2019s well-established stress on the expected parts of punk: nonwestern cultures and radical, liberatory political theory and praxis.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The last couple words in the above quote\u2014\u201cdecolonialism and enthusiasm\u201d\u2014 point us in another direction, toward the idea that hope is punk as fuck and is capable of representing the -punk in solarpunk all on its own. In that vein, Regenerative Design\u2019s solarpunk manifesto continues: \u201cWe are solarpunks because optimism has been taken away from us and we are trying to take it back,\u201d and \u201cwe are solarpunks because the only other options are denial or despair.\u201d
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since we live in a dystopian reality, we\u2019re robbed of our optimism and often see hope as naivete. As a result, we\u2019re engaged in a struggle to restore that hope, because without it, we can\u2019t win. Put more simply: in a world full of despair, hope is an act of rebellion in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    But the hope of solarpunk isn\u2019t a naive hope. We aren\u2019t talking about blind faith or uncritical Pollyanna optimism. Rather, the hope implicit in solarpunk is what University of Chicago philosopher Jonathan Lear termed \u201cradical hope,\u201d and what NYU research professor Jos\u00e9 Esteban Mu\u00f1oz argued is a key component of queer utopianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    So what is radical hope? It\u2019s the kind of hope earned through oppression and struggle, and in the face of annihilation, at the hands of seemingly insurmountable force. It\u2019s a hope that, faced with cultural or environmental collapse, enables us to keep moving forward day after day, to keep working toward a better world, to keep demanding utopia, and to keep resisting and struggling, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While on the surface this may seem like naive optimism, it\u2019s not. Instead, radical hope is the realization that if we\u2019re to go on at all, then hope in resistance and radical system change is our only option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    That sure sounds punk as fuck to me.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Radical hope doesn\u2019t only fit the punk ethos and drive the activist spirit. It\u2019s also an extremely valuable tool for solarpunk witches and the practice of punk magick. There is, in fact, a direct relationship between radical hope and practicing magick.

    At its most simple, magick involves four basic steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. feeling a strong, guttural, and visceral desire for something,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. generating the willpower to make it real,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. using those feelings to build up a bunch of powerful energy,
      and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. focusing that energy into a visualization related to the
      target of your magickal work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n


      For witches, radical hope provides a source for the guttural, visceral desire that is fuel, fire, and spark for our magickal spellwork. When your spiritual hope draws its strength from a lifetime of struggle and oppression against insurmountable odds\u2014a reality for most witches\u2014you\u2019re more likely to have a deep well of strong feelings, desires, and righteous anger to draw upon when building energy
      and power for your spells.

      And that is the punk magick of radical hope.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n



      Justine Norton-Kertson lives in rural Oregon with their\u00a0partner, puppies, cats, goats, and bunnies, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, writing, and making short films. They can be found online on       Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> @utopianwitchcraft, or at www.justinenortonkertson.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Does a radical, solarpunk utopian sound like your jam? Check out Utopian Witch.<\/a>
      <\/p>\n","my_excerpt_rendered":"\n

      Once upon a time, Justine Norton-Kertson corrupted young minds by teaching high school history, civics, and economics from a leftist perspective, then spent almost a decade as a community and union organizer. Nowadays, Justine continues working to corrupt the youth, primarily as a publisher, author, screenwriter, and podcaster. They founded Android Press and Solarpunk Magazine<\/em> in 2022 and are editor-in-chief for both.

      Most recently, Justine wrote       Utopian Witch<\/a>, a book of solarpunk rituals, spells, and practices for radical action towards a positive future.

      Read on for our interview with Justine, where they talk about writing, working with us Microcosm folks, and what they’re working on next. Below that, check out an excerpt from the book!
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


      What inspired you to write your book?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Utopian Witch<\/a><\/em> is inspired by a deep sense of urgency and a profound belief in the power of community and individual action. I\u2019ve always been passionate about environmentalism and social justice. I\u2019ve also been a practitioner of witchcraft for decades, and early on was inspired by the feminist and social justice oriented craft taught by Starhawk. I began to see clear connections between the principles of solarpunk\u2014a movement that envisions a sustainable and equitable future\u2014and the transformative power of magick. I also noticed quite a few other folks in the solarpunk movement who practice some type of witchcraft or other new age spiritualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The idea that we can blend practical, real-world actions with spiritual practices to effect change is incredibly empowering. In solarpunk, I found a philosophy that not only addresses the ecological and social crises we face but does so with a spirit of radical hope and creativity. It\u2019s about imagining and building a world that works for everyone and respects the Earth. In the same way, as a witch I\u2019m familiar with the power of intention and ritual in shaping our reality. By combining solarpunk ideals with magickal practices, I saw an opportunity to create a resource that could inspire others to take action, both spiritually and practically. I wanted to provide tools and spells that could help people feel empowered to make a difference, to feel connected to a broader movement, and to envision a utopian future where humanity lives in harmony with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Writing this book was my way of weaving together my passions for the environment, social justice, and magick into a cohesive guide that could help others on their journey. It\u2019s about creating change on both a personal and collective level, using the power of witchcraft to fuel our dreams for a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      What was it like to publish with Microcosm?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Publishing with Microcosm has been such a great experience. This is my first time publishing a book from the author’s side of the table. I\u2019m also editor-in-chief at Android Press, so I know how challenging the editorial process can sometimes be. But working with the folks at Microcosm has been so easy and enjoyable. My editors were incredibly helpful in so many ways, from working through the best way to structure the book to helping ensure the prose reads well and has the intended impact. I can only hope my future publishing experiences as an author are equally positive.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      What was the submission\/query process like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I thought the submission\/query process was easy and straightforward. The Microcosm website outlines really clearly how to submit a query. I was actually surprised how quickly I heard back with a positive response, because I know how long the query process can often take. Whether it\u2019s with agents or publishers, they usually have no less than a mountain of queries and manuscript submissions to sift through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What else have you written?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I actually spend a significant amount of my free time writing. I\u2019m about 40,000 words into the first draft of a book about the influence of nerds and the evolution of nerd character tropes in horror movies. I also write a lot of fiction, actually more than I write nonfiction. I recently had a short story called \u201cRabbits, Rivers, and Prickly Pears,\u201d published in World Weaver Press\u2019s Solarpunk Creatures<\/em> anthology and another short story called \u201cDo Me Out<\/a>\u201d that was published by Utopia Science Fiction Magazine. That one\u2019s an apocalyptic hopepunk story set in Oregon\u2019s Columbia River Gorge. I\u2019ve written a couple novellas in the climate fiction and horror genres that are in various stages of revision or querying, and I\u2019m currently co-authoring a climate fiction novel that blends surrealism, zombies, and solarpunk\u2019s focus on DIY culture and climate solutions. But wait, that\u2019s not all! I\u2019ve also co-authored a horror script that is about to start being pitched to producers. Fingers crossed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What are you currently reading? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019ve definitely been on a horror kick lately. I\u2019m currently reading an eldritch horror novella by P.L. McMillan called Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em>, about a cult of nuns who grow their own grapes to make a mysteriously intoxicating wine. And they really hate the Catholic Church. I also just bought Paul Tremblay\u2019s latest novel, Horror Movie<\/em>, which just published this week. I haven\u2019t started reading it yet because I\u2019m trying to finish Sisters of the Crimson Vine<\/em> first, but I\u2019m really excited to dive into Tremblay\u2019s latest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What\u2019s the best book you read in the last year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Full disclosure, this is a book my publishing company, Android Press published, but even if that weren\u2019t the case, this would still be my favorite book I\u2019ve read this year. The book is a novella called \u201cThe Year of Return<\/a>,\u201d and it\u2019s the debut by Ghanaian author Ivana Akotowaa Ofori. It\u2019s a chilling yet hopeful ghost story about the ghosts of Africans who were captured and died during the Middle Passage who rise up from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to seek various forms of revenge on the ancestors of their captors and killers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      What\u2019s next for you?\u00a0<\/strong>
      I recently finished the manuscript for a follow up to Utopian Witch<\/em> that\u2019s about using tarot cards as a community tool in the fight to build a better world. And I\u2019m really excited about diving into the editorial process for that next book. I also recently helped start a production company called Nerd Horror Media (@nerdhorror on TikTok and Instagram), and am keeping my fingers crossed that we\u2019re able to secure funding to produce our first independent horror film.

      Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Utopian Witch<\/strong> called “Radical Hope, Radical Politics, and Punk Magick”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      Before we move on to solarpunk spiritual practices and spells, a look at the relationship between radical hope, radical politics, and magick deserves something of its own discussion. Over the years, one question I\u2019ve heard with some frequency, particularly from those who are discovering solarpunk for the first time, is how a genre that\u2019s all about utopia qualifies as punk. It\u2019s a fair question. Afterall, aren\u2019t punks rude people who listen to loud and angry music? Aren\u2019t punks those crude and obnoxious anarchist kids sitting in the gutter with ukuleles and face tattoos, asking for change and leftovers? Even in science fiction literature and fantasy literature, -punk is all about resisting, rebelling, and fighting against corruption even if the odds are insurmountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      So where\u2019s the punk in utopia?<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      The first part of the answer to that question is, despite its utopian focus, solarpunk is no different than other -punk literary genres in that resistance and rebellion are foundational elements. In his 2014 article, \u201cSolarpunk: Notes Toward a Manifesto,\u201d Adam Flynn, one of the early writers and thinkers on the solarpunk genre, asserts that \u201cThere\u2019s an oppositional quality to solarpunk, but it\u2019s an opposition that begins with infrastructure as a form ofresistance.\u201d28 This is evident in the genre\u2019s focus on dismantling fossil fuel infrastructure in developing and expanding renewable
      energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      Seven years later, in the summer of 2021, \u201cA Solarpunk Manifesto,\u201d was published online by Regenerative Design, a permaculture training, consulting, and design firm. That article
      places the -punk in solarpunk within the well-established tradition of resistance. \u201cThe \u2018punk\u2019 in solarpunk,\u201d it says, \u201chas to do with rebellion, counterculture, post-capitalism, decolonialism and
      enthusiasm.\u201d That statement reflects solarpunk\u2019s well-established stress on the expected parts of punk: nonwestern cultures and radical, liberatory political theory and praxis.
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The last couple words in the above quote\u2014\u201cdecolonialism and enthusiasm\u201d\u2014 point us in another direction, toward the idea that hope is punk as fuck and is capable of representing the -punk in solarpunk all on its own. In that vein, Regenerative Design\u2019s solarpunk manifesto continues: \u201cWe are solarpunks because optimism has been taken away from us and we are trying to take it back,\u201d and \u201cwe are solarpunks because the only other options are denial or despair.\u201d
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Since we live in a dystopian reality, we\u2019re robbed of our optimism and often see hope as naivete. As a result, we\u2019re engaged in a struggle to restore that hope, because without it, we can\u2019t win. Put more simply: in a world full of despair, hope is an act of rebellion in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      But the hope of solarpunk isn\u2019t a naive hope. We aren\u2019t talking about blind faith or uncritical Pollyanna optimism. Rather, the hope implicit in solarpunk is what University of Chicago philosopher Jonathan Lear termed \u201cradical hope,\u201d and what NYU research professor Jos\u00e9 Esteban Mu\u00f1oz argued is a key component of queer utopianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      So what is radical hope? It\u2019s the kind of hope earned through oppression and struggle, and in the face of annihilation, at the hands of seemingly insurmountable force. It\u2019s a hope that, faced with cultural or environmental collapse, enables us to keep moving forward day after day, to keep working toward a better world, to keep demanding utopia, and to keep resisting and struggling, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      While on the surface this may seem like naive optimism, it\u2019s not. Instead, radical hope is the realization that if we\u2019re to go on at all, then hope in resistance and radical system change is our only option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      That sure sounds punk as fuck to me.
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Radical hope doesn\u2019t only fit the punk ethos and drive the activist spirit. It\u2019s also an extremely valuable tool for solarpunk witches and the practice of punk magick. There is, in fact, a direct relationship between radical hope and practicing magick.

      At its most simple, magick involves four basic steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. feeling a strong, guttural, and visceral desire for something,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. generating the willpower to make it real,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. using those feelings to build up a bunch of powerful energy,
        and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. focusing that energy into a visualization related to the
        target of your magickal work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n


        For witches, radical hope provides a source for the guttural, visceral desire that is fuel, fire, and spark for our magickal spellwork. When your spiritual hope draws its strength from a lifetime of struggle and oppression against insurmountable odds\u2014a reality for most witches\u2014you\u2019re more likely to have a deep well of strong feelings, desires, and righteous anger to draw upon when building energy
        and power for your spells.

        And that is the punk magick of radical hope.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n



        Justine Norton-Kertson lives in rural Oregon with their\u00a0partner, puppies, cats, goats, and bunnies, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, writing, and making short films. They can be found online on         Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> @utopianwitchcraft, or at www.justinenortonkertson.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Does a radical, solarpunk utopian sound like your jam? Check out Utopian Witch.<\/a>
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