It was a scorching 90 degrees on a Friday night in the Motor City. It was soon to get hotter as Thea Hillman took the stage at A Woman's Prerogative Bookstore, in Ferndale, MI. All eyes were on her as she walked on stage. Aside from being an extremely beautiful woman, she carries the kind of sex appeal that makes everyone, man or woman, want her. Hillman's voice was sweet and innocent yet held the attention of her listeners as she performed her poem about masturbation. If anyone in the crowd was shocked (or, perhaps, pleasantly surprised) they were about to get more than they bargained for. Hillman continued her personal tales of love and sexuality with pieces including Having Holly. Lines such as, "I don't want to be sexual with Holly unless I can knock her socks off", had the crowd in a frenzy.

After Hillman's poems on sex came a set on family. She touched the audience with What The Dead Do To The Living and Poem to My Mother on the Way to School I Had Peanut Butter on My Face. Hillman's compassionate poetry and delivery explains why she is considered a master of the stage. Her ability to share many personal moments and feelings kept the audience wanting more.

Elizabeth Stark (left) and Thea Hillman (right) at The Woman's Prerogative Bookstore.

In Dear Elizabeth, Hillman confesses, "Girls get in so deep. That's why I'm queer. It's not that they're any sexier than men, it's that they break my heart better." She mentions her love for "Jana" who battled a heroin addiction. "I kept wondering what I said wrong. Then I remembered she'd done heroin the night before. Then I started thinking about all those times on the phone we'd be talking and she'd drop the phone and started puking uncontrollably and I never knew why and I was so sympathetic and I just thought she got sick a lot."

The final set of Hillman's poetry focused on public transportation. She performed the New York related poem Kids along with one that San Franciscans can relate to titled Muni 2 which described one of many adventures in the Civic Center station.

At the end of her performance, Thea Hillman took time to answer questions from the audience and sign books. She demonstrated why she is considered one of the most promising writers today. Hillman is a true master at work.

To find out about up coming events and the history of Thea Hillman, visit her web site at: www.theahillman.com.

Depending On The Light is now available at your local bookstore.

A Woman's Prerogative Bookstore is located at 175 West 9 Mile Road, Ferndale, MI (248.545.5703)
 

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