Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Jeremy Michael George

originally from Northwood, New Hampshire, USA currently resides in Victorville, California, USA.  His passion for poetry began in his high school years, being a part of him ever since.  After a long, life-induced hiatus from writing, Jeremy has dedicated himself to sharing his heart with the world.  His work is often raw, gritty, sensitive and filled with joy all at the same time.  This dichotomy is meant to capture the breadth of human experience as best as possible.  Jeremy loves spending time in community, enjoys movies of a wide variety and just sitting down with a good book.

Mr. George now has two self published collections of poetry available via Amazon.com, Exposing Darkness and My Pen Comes to Life. He has also been blessed to be placed in the top 10 of the 10 Pen Modern Poet’s Chart twice; also currently having nine short pieces featured by The Poet’s List on Instagram.  Recently, he has been honored as a silver strip poet by The Poets of the New Era and will have work included in their annual anthology. Beyond his work as a poet, Jeremy’s regular job at Victor Valley Rescue Mission serves the community of the High Desert with a wide variety of valuable resources.  Like his poetry, Jeremy seeks to make a positive impact on the world with his whole life.

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I began writing poetry in high school, my freshman year being 1994. During my middle school years I wrote stories mostly and I really enjoyed the creative process, even at that age, something about just exhilarated me.  As I began high school, I was introduced to poetry through English courses and in my sophomore year I elected to take a creative writing class. This is where my passion for poetry ignited. At first, it was simply that. The passion for poetic form and expression. What I realized very quickly was that poetry was actually an outlet for all the things I couldn’t put into verbal expression. So, poetry first, was avenue for me to purge my heart of struggles, pain, anger, frustration and even love. I had a hard time as a child expressing emotions, but poetry gave me the ability to do what I hadn’t been able to do otherwise.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

My freshman year English teacher, did a whole segment on Shakespeare. I did not ever write in Iambic pentameter but I fell in love with the flow and beauty of the emotions expressed through his writing. Then later in my sophomore year, my creative writing teacher introduced a number of different poets, one of which impacted me by showing the raw side of poetry, Charles Bukowski

2.1 What do you mean by “the raw side of poetry”?

Well, I began to realize that poetry did not have to be “polished”, i.e. perfect line breaks and spacing, always rhyming, etc. I guess I was introduced to what is called free verse. It’s such a wonderful open format. I felt the tangible release of emotion as I realized my poems did not have to meet some particular standard to be considered poetry. Personally, I edit my poetry, but I tend to leave them purposefully unpolished sometimes. I believe this raw aspect communicates the emotion connected to the piece in a way that “over-editing” and extra “polishing” sometimes loses.

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

I was aware, at the time of several different poets, Shakespeare, E.E. Cummings, Kerouac, Angelou, Bukowski. Of course, most of these are pretty main stream, although they represent both traditional and contemporary styles. As for now, I am not overly aware of the mainstream of the poetry world, but I am very connected, via social media, to an amazing family of incredibly talented indie poets. There are so many that I could never list all of them, but to name a few, Rihan Mustapha, Mike Ristic a.k.a. The Word Nerd, Alahana Isgrigg, Kenneth Bryant, and I could go on and on.

I feel like the general population of the world thinks of poetry in terms of my first list and is, for the most part, missing the current heartbeat of poetry, from my second list and many others.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

Although my life does have routine to it, like anybody I suppose, I’m not a routine type of writer. I do write everyday, but I tend to allow inspiration to strike me and then write. My habit is to have several different notebooks in a number of different places; home, car, work, this way I can pick one up wherever I am and write. I also compose a lot on my phone, which is always with me. I do my best to write things out as soon as I feel that stirring. I am not what people may call Orthodox in any way.

5. What motivates you to write?

That is a big question for me… I’ll try to condense it to a two fold answer. My writing is, honestly, first and foremost for me as an outlet and a way to process my life. I would go as far as saying it is a therapy for me. With that being said, my writing is also intended to bless and encourage others. I’ve learned that if I write what is real to.me, it will also be real to other people. I am intentional about trying to capture all the aspects of my life, struggles, joys, angers, happiness and frustrations. My motivation behind this is to encourage people that they are not alone in the battles of life. We all struggle, we all fight but the point is we can’t give up thinking we are alone, because we aren’t alone at all!

6. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I would say their influence on me today is found in the uniqueness of my style. In reading different types of poets, it’s never been my goal to emulate a particular person or persons. Rather, as I saw their differences it gave me freedom to pursue finding my own style. Freedom to experiment with words and formatting, which all led me to be the writer I am today.

7. Who of today’s writers do you most admire and why?

There are a lot of current writers that come to mind and differing reasons for appreciating and admiring their work.  One person I value is Mike Ristic of Word Nerd Ink. His work is unflinchingly honest and his word play is nothing short of amazing. Then there is also Kenneth Bryant, whose style is more traditional but you’ll be hard pressed to find someone with a wider vocabulary and an strong grip on the heart beat of poetry. And of course, I also admire Rihan Mustapha, her knowledge and mastery of the short poetic forms is  thoroughly amazing and her boldness to take risks with her content grows with each piece she writes!

8. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

For me, writing just makes sense. I do play guitar as well, which I enjoy as a creative outlet, but writing is my first love. Words are precious to me and have always held a special place in my heart. And so, I use them, in the hopes that those words will strengthen someone else as they strengthen me too. I believe that words are the universal currency of all human beings and they, therefore have an incredible power among us.

9. What would you say to who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

The first thing I would say is find your passion. Writing can be learned but passion has to come from within a person. Personally, I never sought to become a writer, I believe I always have been. So, it was a matter of pursuing the passion I had for words and finding my voice to do so. The best way to “become” a writer is to write; good, bad or great, just write. Not everything I put to paper makes it to  my social media or print.

Secondly, I would say, believe in yourself.  There will be times that others won’t believe in, and they may not even like what you write, but if you’re persistent and you believe in what you are doing you’ll find your audience.

10. Tell me about any writing projects you’re involved in at the moment

Apart from my normal writing, as inspiration comes, I do have a particular project I’ve been working on. It will be a collection of short poems, i.e. no more than 2 to 3 stanzas each and not more than 8 to 10 lines per stanza.  It is meant to be a journey through a painful situation told from the perspective of the person walking through the emotional fallout that happens. I’ve contrived a further twist to the perspective of the pieces though. They are actually told through the perspective of the pen that is being used to write the poems, as though the pen itself is experiencing this pain for the first time.

My intention is to make it feel like a poetic diary. The reader will walk through the moments of pain with the narrator and experience the width and breadth of each emotion as they pass through it; from anger, frustration and rage to hope beginning to blossom again. The shortness of the pieces will move the collection along quickly.

My hope is to release this book by the middle of this year.  It’s been in the works for several months now and I am quite excited about it. It will be my third self-published release since October of 2017 when my first volume came out.

I also have a couple of storylines for some short story, possibly novels in the works as well. Little known fact, I enjoy writing stories too. They just take quite a bit more time than poems.

Thanks for taking the time to interview me. I am truly grateful for the experience. Many blessings to you!

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Sharon Larkin’s pamphlet “Interned at the Food Factory” was published by Indigo Dreams Publishing on 7 January 2019.  In October 2020: the collection focusing on relationship is called ‘Dualities’ and published by Hedgehog Poetry Press. It’s for sale on Amazon or from her website https://sharonlarkinjones.com

Sharon’s Website – Coming Up With The Words:  https://sharonlarkinjones.com

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

The first poem I wrote was as a school kid. It was, I suppose, a political protest poem at a time of social change … the 1960s. Prompted by public anger at the railway closures, the poem was entitled ‘Dr Beeching’s on the Move’. I can still recite the three stanzas which were very much of their period … rhymed and well scanned with an appropriately jaunty rhythm.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Early influencers on my writing were, predictably my parents and siblings (reciting nursery rhymes, tuning in to ‘Listen with Mother’, reading children’s poetry books … not forgetting the Rupert annual). Coming from a mixed church/chapel-going family, and with religious school assemblies a daily reality, the language of the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and Hymns Ancient and Modern, were also pervasive influences in my early life. Later, some influential teachers secularised my repertoire of memorised poetry, notably my English teacher, Mr Griffith-Jones (a Welshman, obviously) with his love of poetry and drama. Under his direction, our school put on a production of Dylan Thomas’s ‘Under Milk Wood’, which was pretty audacious and ambitious at the time. Consequently, I was very aware during my teens of Dylan Thomas, as well as the Metaphysical Poets, William Blake, the Romantic Poets … and Shakespeare, of course. An annual competitive verse-speaking festival at school (which I now realise was an ‘Eisteddfod in exile’ for ‘Griff’) introduced me to Thomas Hood, T S Eliot, Patric Dickinson and others.

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

The early exposure to Dylan Thomas, especially, gave me an ear for the musicality of words and I still tend to slip, rather too easily, into assonance/alliteration and fusing unpredictable word-partners together. I also detect some lingering Biblical legacy in my writing, in terms of in rhythm and reference, but by my twenties and thirties, I’d also read a lot of Eliot, Yeats, Pound, Plath, Hughes, Heaney, Ted Walker, Peter Porter, Philip Larkin, R S Thomas, Roger McGough, Brian Patten, Adrian Henry etc, picking up new lexicons and new poetics en route. Somehow I managed largely to avoid the poets of the First World War, but have latterly come to appreciate the poetry of Edward Thomas. I specialised in languages for A level and beyond, dabbling with Racine, Rimbaud, Verlaine, Lorca and Pasternak, but my knowledge and appreciation of poetry in the English language was kept alive by taking English A Level later, and an Open University BA Hons which included a course in 20th Century Poetry (as well as the 19th Century Novel, Drama and Art History). In the last decade, I have acquired an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, specialising in poetry … and a second BA refreshing my French and Spanish. I also learned the Welsh language to an advanced level, gaining an appreciation for Welsh poets writing in both languages, and a particular admiration for those who master cynghanedd and traditional Welsh forms such as the englyn and cywydd. This has brought another wave of temptation to overdo the assonance and alliteration in my own poetry, which my ‘internal editor’ has had to temper!

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t have a writing routine. The trigger to write will invariably be something I see, read, hear or feel intensely enough to want or need to ‘offload’ … on screen or in print. Writing is often a way to declutter or clear ‘headspace’ … backing ‘data’ up to a separate ‘hard drive’, if you like, while the ‘main processor’ (brain) whirrs worryingly on, ruminating about the state of the world and my part in it. In theory, this ‘back-up method’ frees up further thinking space, or allows me to revert to child-like awe at the beauty and wonder still to be found in the natural world – and, to some degree, in science. I always have my smartphone with me and invariably thumb lines or whole poems into Notes when I’m out and about during the day. Or I might record ideas for poems in Voice Notes for working on later … often late in the evening, during the night, or early in the morning. I don’t seem to need as much sleep as I used to. Perhaps my biggest motivation to write is the emotional or psychological imperative to try to make sense of human relationships. I find some behaviour and motives extremely difficult to interpret and handle, but poetry seems to help me make sense of some of it, thanks to all the rumination that goes on in my head, trying to give my reactions and feelings some rational context, some form, some ‘rhyme and reason’.

5. What motivates you to write?

I’ve had approaching 150 poems published or accepted for magazines and anthologies, and a pamphlet entitled ‘Interned at the Food Factory’ was published by Indigo Dreams early in 2019. It’s dedicated to those who might describe their relationship with food as ‘problematic’ … and touches on issues such as eating disorders, bullying and abuse, factory food production, vegetarianism, appetite confusion, addiction … and possible ways to alleviate food-related dependencies. The pamphlet is pretty much ‘stand-alone’ with subject matter that is quite distinct from topics that usually interest me: the natural world, relationships, Wales and Welsh. Spirituality remains in the mix too. More recently, politics have been creeping back in, especially given the momentous turns in domestic and world politics over the last two-three years.

6. What is your work ethic?

My work ethic can range from ‘All’ to ‘Nothing’ depending how urgent the ‘making sense of the world’ becomes. I can become fully immersed (uninterruptible without irritation) when captured by an idea for a poem – or trying to perfect one. Concentration can prove difficult if there is an atmosphere of conflicting priorities around me. Strangely, I often work best in a café, over a coffee or two. There is something about being ‘in company’ but having no demands made upon one by that company. At other times, especially when other people are expecting or hoping for some interaction, I just have to abandon any idea of work and go with the flow until the ‘demanding hordes’ (which may be just one or two people!) have dispersed, and there is relative calm again. Another disruption to creativity is if the weather suddenly turns marvellous and my camera is shouting at me for an outing. Taking photos is not quite the obsession that writing poetry is … but it almost is. While poetry can be ‘done’ in any weather; capturing the natural world in pixels is best undertaken in the right light conditions and with minimum precipitation. Occasionally, taking photos will trump poetry but, more often than not, words will win over pictures. Increasingly, though, I find myself wanting to combine them … in photopoems.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today

Please see what I have already written about having to be on my guard about unconsciously emulating Dylan Thomas!

8.  Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

I still read a great deal of poetry, and there are many poets I currently admire: David Morley for his affinity with the natural world; Pascale Petit for similar reasons, but also for her global sensibility and love of art and myth; Gwyneth Lewis, Menna Elfyn, Mererid Hopwood, Gillian Clarke, Paul Henry, Owen Sheers and Jonathan Edwards for the spirit of Cymru in their work (irrespective of language) … and many, many more: Martyn Crucefix, Andrew Motion, David Harsent, Simon Armitage, George Szirtes, Frieda Hughes, Kathleen Jamie, Sharon Olds … even Billy Collins. I could go on and on. Reading and writing are habits I cannot break. My brain seems to need a constant fix, in the quest to make sense of a complicated world with puzzling people in it; or to tame raging emotions; or to gee myself up when feeling defeated by the age we’re in. It’s a psychological imperative, I suppose.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

Writing is overwhelmingly my major activity but, as I mention elsewhere, photography and learning languages, most recently Welsh, are also passions. Taking photos can act as a prompt for writing, or a complement to it.  Knowledge of other languages enriches my awareness of other cultures, as well as occasionally adding flavour to my poetry.  Learning Welsh, specifically, has not only given me a deeper awareness of my own family history and heritage, but it has enriched my knowledge of Welsh history and literature in general, and intensified my love and appreciation for Cymru in all respects.

10. What would you say to who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Advice on becoming a writer? I’d say “Read loads and loads. Write a lot. Join with other writers, IRL or virtually, in order to learn from them and benchmark your own efforts. Submit yourself to writing, and submit your writing to places publishing the kind of writing you like to read. Basically, it’s an unending circle of reading > writing > analysing > critiquing > editing > submitting > getting rejected > re-editing > resubmitting > getting work published > getting work published in better places and in better company > reading more > writing more … ad infinitum. And, crucially, if you can help other writers along the way, it will help you make further progress. I find that organizing Cheltenham’s Poetry Café Refreshed and chairing Cheltenham’s Poetry Society bring many opportunities to reciprocate and support, to give and receive … all to mutual benefit. Thus the poetry community supports itself … and thrives.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

My future writing hopes and plans include getting more work published, of course! I started a publishing outfit myself last year – Eithon Bridge Publications https://eithonbridge.com – to specialise in anthologies, but possibly venturing into publishing pamphlets and collections eventually. So far, I have published All a Cat Can Be for a cat charity (New Start Cat Rescue) and another anthology is in progress, featuring poems from fellow members on a course entitled Invisible Zoos, held at Tŷ Newydd in September 2018, tutored by David Morley and Pascale Petit. I’m also proud of the on-line anthology of poems entitled Good Dadhood https://gooddadhood.com/the-poems/ that I curated three years ago. Perhaps they might make it into print at some point in future. Personally, I have at least four or five of my own books banging on doors, impatient to gallop out in the world … but I definitely don’t want to self-publish them. The books waiting in the wings include themed pamphlets drawing on the natural world (birds, plants, water creatures). There’s also a goodly body of ‘spiritual poetry’ is longing for a sympathetic audience. Small hopes for that in these über-secular times, perhaps. But things have changed in the past … and they might change again.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

 

Amy Alexander

is a poet, visual artist, and mother living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, not far from the Mississippi River, which is very far from her hometown on the Colorado River, but still familiar, because of moving water. Her work has appeared most recently in The Coil, Cease, Cows, Anti-Heroin Chic, the Mojave Heart Review, Mooky Chick, The Remembered Arts, and RKVRY. Follow her on Twitter @iriemom.

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

I grew up in Colorado, right between Aspen and Vail, and the breathtaking beauty, extreme cold, long winters, short days, odd folklore, and vibration of that place on earth was my first experience of poetry. When I was in sixth grade, we were given an assignment to write a poem. I wrote twelve, and felt like I was at home in that medium. It is definitely a medium that one has to grow into, though, and so, for many years, I considered myself much more a musician, dancer, and artist before I thought of myself as any kind of writer.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

My mother had a way with language and always encouraged us to express ourselves. She used to record us telling stories and she read a lot of poetry to us. When I went to college at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, I had the opportunity to study with two poets who were disciples of James Dickey, who taught down the road at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia. I love the notion of poetic inheritance, and I do feel like I was gifted with some of Dickey’s ear and wisdom by Susan Ludvigson and Dorothy Perry Thompson.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

I was taught to venerate Wordsworth, Shelley, Robinson Jeffers, and the like, but many of my teachers were also keen on introducing us to poets who were living alongside us. So I got the chance to attend readings by Charles Simic, for example. After college, I moved to Tucson, Arizona, where I sought out older poets and spent a lot of time loafing at The Poetry Center and volunteering to make posters for them. As a result, I got to go to a lot of readings.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I am a mom, first, so I get my kids off to school, attend to whatever household tasks I need to, and then I settle in for a few moments of time to read and write. I often write for several weeks at a time, fervently, and then take a season off. Last year, I tried to make that more consistent, to write every day, and found myself very unmoored, emotionally. I think I need time to rest between poetic sparks, so I am allowing that to take place this year.

5. What motivates you to write?

It is either utter anguish or a really cool thing that I can research. I find that if I am not in a state of needing to really hash something out on the page, usually about my birth family, then I can go to the library or read, and often will find out something new that leads to questions, questions, and more questions that turn into poems. I’ve been a journalist for more than twenty years alongside being a poet, so research and writing feel like parts of the same process, to me.

6. What is your work ethic?

I’m descended from Mormon pioneers, but live in Louisiana, married to a Cajun. So It’s kind of work really intently and then fly off and have a really good time dressed in costumes and then return, contrite, for a Lenten fast and more hard work, all the while looking out the window and wondering what’s for supper. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up (laugh).

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I was lucky enough to grow up in a home with a lot of books. We were always reading and talking about books, and my mother was very committed to reading to us out loud. As a result, I think I fell in love with illustrators as much as writers, and particularly authors who both wrote and made art. I think that is why my latest book features colorful art. It is kind of like a children’s book for adults.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

Joy Harjo, because her writing feels familiar to me, somehow, in how it’s put together. It’s like going home. Naomi Shihab Nye, because, in a workshop with her, I learned that you can and should, as a poet, travel through time and space. She is the one who articulated that for me. Lately, I’ve been reading Tiana Clark, because she reminds me not to hide, and I am trying to put down the things that really scare me to say out loud. I really love the work of Cheryl St. Germain, because she is from Louisiana and does a good job of pairing the ragged, haunted interior life with small, external, trivial seeming details. Elisabeth Horan is my collaborator, co-editor, and friend. I get to read a lot of her work before anyone else, and it pushes me to climb outside of the narrative constraints that I cling to, maybe too much, as a journalist.

9. Why do you write?

Probably because it does not require a lot of equipment, and I am a very practical gal. It is one of few art forms that you can take with you anywhere. It requires no expensive instruments, no mess, and not a lot of space. The down–or up?–side is that you have to be willing to give it the very fiber of your being in order for it to ring true. Getting older helps it, too, so patience is essential.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

That one is pretty simple. Sit down. Write. Repeat. Don’t worry about publishing. If you write a lot, the publishing will follow, naturally. You’ll have more nerve and more material to put out in the world. So just start writing. Also, find a mentor. Not a fancy university or institution with a big name, but someone you love and who loves you. I had a wonderful teacher, Barrie Ryan, I found after college who taught at Pima Community College, in Tucson. There were high school graduates looking for an easy A, many of whom became wonderful poets, almost by accident, alongside a whole bunch of serious, older poets who knew that Barrie would create a space that allowed our poems to grow. She did that beautifully.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

I have a few. One is like therapy, so I do not work on it daily. It is shaping up to be some kind of a desert song. You can read some pieces from that sequence in the Mojave He[art] Review. Another, a set of sonnets about Typhoid Mary. And a third, a set of poems about the old pioneer cemetery on the mountain above where I grew up. I am researching each person who is buried there and writing poems about them that are both historical and personal. You can read some of those poems in Twist in Time Literary Magazine.

My book, The Legend of the Kettle Daughter, is coming out in April and you can find out more about that at www.kettledaughter.com.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.
The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Denis Olasehinde Akinmolasire

is a software engineer who has always enjoyed writing and is taking the opportunity to share his unique insights and hidden talents to the rest of the world. Denis’s perspectives have been formed through his own journey in finding love, battling to overcome the challenges and fears that have been put in front of him in the pursuit of glory and being the very best he can be at everything he does.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Love-War-Glory-Spoken-Seasons/dp/1546294503/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1542262377&sr=8-1

Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-War-Glory-Spoken-Seasons/dp/1546294503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539637527&sr=8-1&keywords=Love%2C+War+and+Glory

AuthorHouse.com: https://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=love,%20war%20and%20glory

AuthorHouse.co.uk: https://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=love,%20war%20and%20glory

More info on the book/Social Media Links: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisakinbookauthor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKmc1axyP60

Website: https://www.lovewarandglory.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovewarandglory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Love-War-Glory-Spoken-Words-For-Seasons-1979483698761774

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

I have written in the past but because of where my career and where my life took me I never had a chance to explore this avenue. An opportunity arose last year to publish my first book Love, War and Glory: Spoken Words for All Seasons which allowed me to explore my writing skills fully.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

I was introduced to poetry at my school by my English teachers. Poetry was a subject we used to explore and write about in the past.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?
I became more aware of the authors behind poetry when I got older. What I find interesting with poetry is how powerful it can be in terms of emotions. Poetry I have found on occasion can reveal the back-story behind a person.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t have daily routing at the moment as I’m kind of between books. I tend to write in the moment. As sometimes I will be inspired by a particular subject or topic and my ideas will just come from nowhere.

5. What motivates you to write?

Current events and what I experienced in my life. I choose the themes of Love, War and Glory for my first book as I was very keen on creating a message and a reading experience that many people can relate to. I also interested in writing things about areas that no one has explored before. I wrote Love, War and Glory as I felt there wasn’t a book out there that covered all 3 themes in one book.

6. What is your work ethic?

I have been the sort of the person that when I want to go and do something I just go out and find a way to make it happen. Similar to how I created my first book.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

Roald Dahl was one of my favourites; Fantastic Mr Fox was one of my favourites. I enjoyed reading Shakespeare especially Merchant of Venice; he was able to tell a story using poetic expressions which I felt was probably a little ahead of his time.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

I’m currently reading Lost Gods written by Micah Yongo; he’s an upcoming Author whom I expect the world will be hearing more about in the near future. In terms of poetry I like some of the poems that Viola Allo has done especially in Bird from Africa.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

In my day job I work as a software engineer. I took the opportunity to write my first book as I felt people in my line of work are often labelled as nerdy and not being artistic. Like for instance I went to a poetry event in September after work and one comment I received was you look too serious to be here because I was in my work suit. But when I read out my poems I think some of the audience were shocked by what I could do. People shouldn’t be defined simply because of what they do for a living on a day to day basis.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?” To become a writer I think is actually quite simple; pick up your pen/computer and get writing. The medium you write in is a different matter; that will come over time depending on how far you want to take your writing. The advice I would give to people is don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t and can do. Trust your instinct and let your imagination fly. I believe writers are at their best when they let their ideas just flourish.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.
At the moment my focus is on two fronts; promoting my current book Love, War and Glory: Spoken Words for All Seasons. I’m also preparing to write my second book. My second book is going to be a fiction book on the subject of slavery. I’m keeping the title to myself for the moment . All will be revealed in due course.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Dawn Marie DiMartino

has lived most of her youth in New York, but has been a native of Florida for over 20+ years. She is recently separated, a mother of 2 adult children and is a retired analyst. Her passion for writing and drawing started at a very early age. She has continued through her adult life taking a pen to hand and compiling her innermost thoughts, feelings and expressions on paper. Her writing and drawing keep her in a calm frame of mind when putting it all down. Some/Most of her writings can tell you about her personal story. She has published 4 poetry books, 3 children’s books, and have been involved in 4 anthologies.

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

My father had inspired me by his writings.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

My father and the teachers at the schools that I attended.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

Very. I loved Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe when I was young.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t have one. I write when I feel compelled to do so.

5. What motivates you to write?

My motivation for writing is life, my own feelings, and some images and\or art works.

6. What is your work ethic?

Being retired, I work when I choose: less stressful that way.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I read a book called, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein when I was in Elementary School. I loved his style of writing and the messages in the poetic stories.
My children’s books are tailored the same way.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

I love Nora Roberts’ stories, Kathy Reich’s quirky plot twists, Anne Rices’ use of past mythology, JK Rowlings’ take on young witches, and Stephen Kings’ sick mind.

9. Why do you write?

I write to express my feelings in a poetic manner. With my children’s books, the thought comes so I write.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you, “How do you become a writer?”

I don’t believe that one becomes a writer, you just are. If you feel passionate enough to put it down on paper, within the latest grammar/spelling guidelines, then you are.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

I am currently putting together two children’s books. One will be a compilation of many child orientated learning poetic stories. The other book entitled, ‘Hacksaw Jim’, I am currently waiting for my brother to finalize his drawings.It will be published through the Independent Publishing portion of Amazon. The books will be available in both the Kindle and Paperback versions.

 

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

 

Rihan Mustapha

is the author of ‘For a Spectacular Friend’ and ‘Prose and Poetry for My Phenomenal Daddy.’ The former is a dedication to dear friend of hers who died suffering from cancer. The latter is a special tribute to her late father. Moreover, she has contributed to 3 poetry books for children and contributed to a book about love and New York. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics & TESOL and a Diploma in Translation. She has been working mostly in teaching and occasionally in translation. A big fan of both self and professional development and has a passion for languages and different cultures.

My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyWordsinPro…(less)

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

A dear friend’s poetry inspired me to write. I was impressed by his heartfelt poems in English; I decided to start writing my own. I appreciated his writings and told him that I wanted to write poems too. Then, I started my journey of experimenting with words, phrases, stanzas and rhymes.

And here I am. With lots of friends’ help and encouragement, my sweet dream has come partially true. I am looking forward to polishing my style and trying to write various kinds of poetry.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

We studied few poems in my native language (i.e. Arabic) back in school, but the first time I was introduced to poetry was when I visited my uncle in Lebanon. He showed me his bookcase and invited me to read whatever I like. I found loads of poetry volumes in Arabic. I took one of these books whose dominating theme was love, and I started to read one poem after the other. I enjoyed reading the poems but never thought of writing poetry at that time.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

I studied about some of them in college, such as Poe, Shakespeare, John Donne, William Yeats, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, E.E. Cummings, Ezra Pound, to mention a few. I liked to read and to analyse lots of their works. Every and each one of them added something special to the poetry realm. I think that some of the modern poets look up to them.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I do not have a specific daily routine as at times when I am overwhelmed by job tasks, I write nothing. I usually take a fifteen-minute break to write in the evening. If ideas flow smoothly, I continue writing. If not, I stop and do anything else I like (watching a movie, translating, learning a language, and the like).

5. What motivates you to write?

It is basically a state of emotion that drives me to compose poetry. I write when I feel sad, happy, grateful, angry, etc.

6. What is your work ethic?

I may summarize my work ethic in few points:

• being honest,
• being determined
• valuing hard work
• showing respect to my fellow poets and poetesses

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I was aware that every writer has his/her own writing style. I was impressed by how ‘love’ was described differently by different writers. Every description was beautiful in its own way. Therefore, I have decided to have my own distinctive touch in poetry. I am still working on finding my way through that.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

Honestly, I do not have a favorite modern writer. I like what I read and feel or can relate to no matter who wrote it. I have joined some poetry groups on Facebook. It makes me smile to read the pieces that my fellow poets/poetesses write there. I appreciate their poems as they inspire me to write.

9. Why do you write?

It is amazing how transferring part of my ideas and emotions onto a piece of paper makes me feel happy. It changes my bad mood into a better one. It transfers my-already-good mood into a better one as well.

Besides, it is a unique experience, where my imagination swims in the ocean of words.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I am not sure if I can answer this question as I think people are not the same. What makes someone a writer is not necessarily the same thing that will make you a writer.

I can talk about what worked for me (when I first started):

• I tended to arrange and rearrange my words in a certain way to make them look or sound better.
• I tried writing a simple piece first. I liked it and wrote others.
• I loved it, so I made up my mind and went for it.
• I did lots of reading to discover what I did like.
• I asked close friends for feedback.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

Should not that be a secret ?

I had an outline for my new poetry book ready few months ago, but I had to put it on hold due to some circumstances. Hopefully, I will be able to complete it in 2019.

Also, I am thinking of joint poetry projects. Details will be revealed later.

* * *

Thank you very much, Paul. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Good day to you!

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Cathy Bryant

has won 27 literary awards, including the Bulwer-Lytton
Fiction Prize and the Wergle Flomp Award for Humorous Poetry. Her work
has been published all over the world in such publications as Magma, The
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and Stairs and Whispers. She
co-edited the anthologies Best of Manchester Poets vols. 1, 2 and 3, and
Cathy’s own books are ‘Contains Strong Language and Scenes of a Sexual
Nature’ and ‘Look at All the Women’. Cathy’s new collection is
‘Erratics’, out now. Cathy is disabled and bisexual, and lives in
Disley, UK. See more at http://www.cathybryant.co.uk

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I started writing poetry as an anguished teen. Naturally no one had
ever experienced what I was going through, so my poems were obviously
going to enlighten the world as to the human condition. Yes, those poems
were as terrible as you’d expect. I’d written stories ever since I could
read and write, but poetry was for the elite, I felt, not for me – until
I was a teen and thought I knew everything (spoiler: I really, really
didn’t, and I know even less now). The sweet thing is that two of my
teen poems made it into print eventually – one in my first collection,
and one in Magma. Maybe at least a few of those early poems weren’t as
squirmy as I thought!

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

There was no poetry in the house when I was growing up, except for
either a teatowel or a mug that had Robert Herrick’s ‘The Hag’ on it. I
loved the rhythms and movement, and the drama of it. I’m still fond of
Herrick, and ‘The Vine’ is one of those rareities, a sheerly enjoyable
sex poem.
At 14 I had a very brave English teacher, Mrs Lawton. In our strict
religious school, she chose for us to study ‘Daddy’ by Sylvia Plath.
This hit me the way the nuns did, only it was more constructive. Poetry
could do this? Naturally I became a Plath acolyte.
A couple of years later, my brother bought a copy of Penguin Modern
Poets 10: The Mersey Sound, a classic collection that influenced two
generations. Again I was surprised – were poets allowed to talk about
the things that no one talked about? Poetry seemed to be a magic key to
a place where the keyholder could explore their mind and its place in
the world, and tell their truths in whatever form was right for them.

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

I wasn’t, really, except as a vaguely exclusive presence. Rather like
the Ancient Greek writers and those who were interested in them,
traditional and older poets seemed to belong to a club that people like
me (female and with no confidence whatsoever) were not allowed to join.
I lived in a tiny village – Bolton-le-Sands – and then in Morecambe, and
the idea of a poetry event or workshop or writing group never came up.
Perhaps if I had lived in the city of Lancaster I’d have found a
literary group of some sort, but I doubt that I’d have had the courage
to join it. Our ‘O’ level poetry book was ‘English Poetry 1900-1975’,
which had prescisely two women poets in it: Plath and Stevie Smith.
Jackie Kay and Ali Smith had the same book (the 1900-1965 edition) and
pointed out that between them, those two poets cover a lot of ground,
but there was obviously a gap. Were there any poets of colour in that
book at all, I wonder? The message was very much: you need to be a
clever, white, male with supreme confidence and total linguistic
knowledge, to be a Real Poet.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

It depends on my health. Some days I can’t do a damn thing. I try at
least to take notes of any interesting ideas or images that come to mind
– heavy prescription meds sometimes help with that! On a good day, I’ll
use daytime for admin – submitting, entering, logging what I’ve sent
where – and the evening and night for creative writing. One of the best
things to do with insomnia or night pain is to write a poem, I find. The
poem isn’t usually great quality, but it can be a starting point for
something better, and it’s one of very few activities that isn’t
hampered by night thoughts and experiences.

5. What motivates you to write?

I’ve always written, I think. My childhood was very unhappy – one of
those violence-and-religion ones without leavening love – and I immersed
myself in books whenever possible. One of the best things my mother did
was to take her four children to the library every week. We got four
books each, and so I had sixteen books to read every week. I loved
anthologies in particular – all those different voices. Writing was my
way of having a voice, as I didn’t have much of one in real life. The
fact that by writing a word or image you can make a picture appear in
someone else’s head – eg a mermaid sneezing and wiping her nose with
some seaweed, which now anyone who has read that phrase will be able to
see or at least think of – is to me a magical power. I also adore making
people laugh. When I won the Wergle Flomp award, I got emails from
strangers all over the world, saying that they’d laughed until they
cried. As I have depression, I know the importance of an enjoyable
distraction. The half-hour sitcom that gets you through a half-hour and
gets you to smile a couple of times – wonderful!
There’s also very little else I can do, given my health level. What a
fabulous profession, where daydreaming and gazing out of windows counts
as work (as long as you write it down at some point).

6. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

That combination of imagination, voice, and technique gets branded into
you when you’re a child, I think. Robert Herrick’s rhythms, Tove
Janssen’s imagination (and rule-breaking), Plath’s force and openness
(and her technique, though I didn’t recognise this when young) all leave
imprints in my own work. Prose was my main focus when I was a child, but
fortunately the good stuff has pints of poetry in it anyway – Anne,
Emily and Charlotte; Jane Austen; Wilkie Collins; whoever wrote Gawain
and the Green Knight; Aristophanes and all. My collections have quite a
lot of Greek myth in them, as well as legends and stories from all over
the world. Being a voracious reader as a child means that all sorts of
interesting stuff gets filed away in the mind. Writing poetry tends to
open up all the odd files and lets the contents run wild.

7. Who of today’s writers do you most admire and why?

Dominic Berry for his honest poetry, his never-ending learning and for
being the nicest person on the poetry circuit; Cheryl Pearson for her
luminous poems (no one understands light better); Karen Little for her
originality and genius, her wild lyricism; Rosie Garland for everything
she writes, does and is; Gerry Potter for his strong voice and for
recording Liverpool’s working class history; ditto Sarah Miller for
Cumbria; Steve O’Connor for his uncompromising accessibility and
complete lack of pretension; Sheenagh Pugh for fierce intelligence and
for always finding the ideal form for each poem; Angela Smith for being
the Poet Laureate of the Fae World; Fiona Pitt-Kethley for being the
best current exponent of blank verse and for writing about minerals,
sex, cats and other subjects most poets eschew, and for being a fellow
comedian at times; my husband Keir for teaching me how to behave in a
professional way (he has lived from his writing since the mid 1990s).
This sounds as though I’m dishing out awards. 🙂 it’s in no particular
order! I’m influenced almost entirely by the poets of the Northwest
today, which is a great honour.

8. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

On the one hand, I can’t not write unless I’m very ill indeed. It’s part
of who I am.
On the other hand, no one will pay me for anything else. Over the course
of my life, I’ve made more money from poetry than any other job or
activity (that should tell you how poor I am). Before arthrtis and
fibromyalgia scythed me down, I had various jobs, in the civil service,
as a life model, selling shoes and looking after children, but I can’t
do any of those now. Poetry, particularly as I don’t follow the usual
British poet course*, is much more lucrative. I submit mostly to
American and Canadian litmags, and enter a lot of free competitions. I
write freely, edit carefully and submit in a wily manner.

* The usual British poet course: you have a choice of 1) writing and
performing autobiographical free verse, and publishing nothing but the
odd collection, or 2) writing Serious Poetry and submitting to the same
ten British litmags as everyone else in Britain (and hardly any of those
litmags pay). Either will get you a reputation; neither will get you money.

9. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I get asked this all the time, partly because of the years I spent doing
Comps and Calls, a listings site of free-to-enter writing comps and
calls for submissions. The true but irritatingly unhelpful answer is,
read a lot and write a lot. I add: finish and edit poems or stories even
if you think they’ve failed – completion is part of being a writer.
Submitting and entering require a different skillset to the actual
writing, so get learning those too. Start collecting rejections, and
you’ll learn how editors work and what they want. Behave professionally
and work hard, and your writing will improve and you should start
getting published. If you proofread your work properly, and you avoid
clichés, then you’re ahead of about a third of the writers out there. Go
to local writing groups and workshops if possible. Even if they aren’t
for you, you’ll have an interesting experience and meet some other
writers. Don’t let a negative experience put you off – two rejections
were enough to persuade me that I wasn’t a writer, and shouldn’t write,
for about 25 years. Don’t let that happen to you!

10. Tell me about writing projects you’re involved in at the moment.

• With my prose, I’m thinking of putting together a collection of my
  female-led and feminist science fiction and fantasy short stories. Now
  there’s a niche! Fortunately I have brave publishers, so I’m keeping my
  tentacles crossed.
  Re poetry, after ‘Erratics’ came out last year, I took a look at what
  I’d done so far in my collections. My first, ‘Contains Strong Language
  and Scenes of a Sexual Nature’, is chaotic and wild and patchy and fun;
  my second, ‘Look at All the Women’, is tighter, and a mix of playful and
  serious. ‘Erratics’ is more grown-up but still funny in places – and
  that’s what sets me wondering about my next collection. Should I go
  all-serious or all-comedy? A few people say that they like my serious
  side – that it yields my best work, work that matters. But most people
  love my funny stuff, and that’s what brings me fanmail and applause. As
  a depressive person, I know the value of the comic distraction – it can
  get you through the difficult hours, and remind you how to smile. But
  nobody takes it seriously! I do need to think more about the work and
  less about crowd-pleasing, perhaps. I suppose I need to sort out my own
  wishes – what do I really want to do next? Excitingly, I don’t know.

 

 

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.
The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Emma Purshouse

was born in Wolverhampton, and is a freelance writer and performance poet.

She is a poetry slam champion and performs regularly at spoken word nights far and wide. Her appearances include, The Cheltenham Literature Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Much Wenlock Poetry Festival and Solfest. She has supported the likes of John Hegley, Holly McNish and Carol Ann Duffy.

Emma has undertaken poetry residencies for Wolverhampton Libraries, The New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and The International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge.

In 2007, Emma created her first one-woman poetry play, ‘The Professor Vyle Show’. This was a fast-moving theatre piece that included puppets, poetry and quick changes. The show entertained audiences in senior schools, colleges and studio theatres. She has since created a number of successful poetry shows including the highly acclaimed site specific piece ‘Snug’ with poet and musician Heather Wastie.

Her first novel Scratters was short-listed for the ‘Mslexia Unpublished Novel Prize’ in 2012.

Widely published in small press magazines and poetry anthologies, Emma also had a CD of her performance poetry, entitled ‘Upsetting the Apple Cart’, released by Offa’s Press in 2010.

More recently Offa’s Press has also published ‘The Nailmakers’ Daughters’, which is a collection of Black Country poetry by Emma, Marion Cockin and Iris Rhodes.

In 2016, Emma’s first collection of children’s poetry was produced by Fair Acre Press. This dyslexia-friendly book is aimed at 6 to 11 year-olds and is chock-full of fabulous illustrations by the highly talented Catherine Pascall-Moore, along with top tips and ideas from Emma, for learning and performing poetry. This book won the poetry section of the Rubery Book Award.

Emma enjoys running workshops and is an experienced facilitator.   She works with all ages and all abilities, whether it be in a school or a community setting. She has a teaching qualification and an MA in Creative Writing.

In previous existences, Emma has lived on a narrowboat, worked as a taxi base operator, a sign writer, a car valeter and a Coca-Cola mystery customer!

She has been making a living from writing and performing for the past ten years.

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

In part, I was inspired to write poetry because my paternal granddad (who I never really knew) had a book of poetry he’d written. Other family members used to get it out and look at it with real reverence as if it was a very special thing. I loved reading bits of it, even though as a kid I didn’t really understand it. It was four line verse and he’d narrated imagined histories for our family’s ancestors.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Apart from the appearance of granddad’s poetry book, I remember reading Roger McGough when I was still in primary school and loving it I also remember reading poems out loud with my dad from a children’s treasury of poetry that my maternal granddad bought for me. My mum also encouraged me to send my own poems to the Brownie magazine when I was about six or seven. I had a couple of poems accepted by them and the buzz of seeing my name in print, and the idea that somebody thought what I’d done was good enough to be in a magazine was very intoxicating.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

As a teenager I was only really aware of the poets that we had to study in school…so Dylan Thomas and WH Auden were the norm. It wasn’t until I went to Glastonbury in my 20s and I saw some spoken word that I realised poetry could be many different things.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t have a daily routine as I work as a self-employed writer and performance poet. There is no routine when you’re scratting about to make a living in this way. For example, one day I might be working in a school, another day on an oral history project interviewing folk. On another day in the same week I might be travelling somewhere for an evening gig. So, I fit my own writing in around facilitating other people’s work, performing and earning a crust. I often write notes on a bus or a train and then structure them into something when I can find time to sit at my laptop.

In 2018 I re-did ‘52’, which is the series of writing prompts that the poet Jo Bell came up with a few years ago for an online project. These online prompts then went on to be published in book form by Nine Arches Press. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I wrote a poem a week last year because of that book. So I’ve usually managed to find a couple of hours to sit and do that, often on a Sunday in between catching up with emails and prep for the following week.

5. What motivates you to write?

I’ve always done it. I think it’s a compulsion of sorts. I need to express things that I sometimes can’t put into actual out loud words. Although often once I’ve written something I will learn it so that it does become spoken aloud. I like to write about the world around me, and to just say it how it appears to me. I love the Black Country and its people so that too is an important source of inspiriation.

Also getting a laugh motivates me. I have written quite a bit of humorous poetry. It’s lovely when you can make people smile or give them a bit of a giggle.

6. What is your work ethic?

I don’t stop much. I’m self-employed as I said, so I can’t remember the last time I had a day without doing some sort of work. I probably even did a few emails on Christmas day if I’m honest. That isn’t a complaint, it’s just how it is when you’re working for yourself.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I think all the stuff you read has an influence, not just the stuff you read when you are young.

You might see how somebody handled a particular form and you think, ‘Oh, I’d like to try one of them’. Or you might hear somebody that delivers in a conversational style, so you think ‘I’d like to try that’. You might also see something or read something that makes you think, ‘I wouldn’t do it like that’.

You learn about what you like I suppose, and perhaps try to mimic it when you’re very young. I wanted to write like Dylan Thomas when I was sixteen…and then one day I realised ‘he’s a bloke, a welsh bloke, and much as I love what he does I’m a woman and a Black Country woman at that…hmmm maybe I should write about what matters to me.’ It takes a long time and a lot of reading and exploring, to find the confidence to develop your own voice. Or voices.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

I can’t effectively answer this as it changes on a day to day basis. I admire so many writers for so many different reasons. If you force me to pick one, then today I’d say Liz Berry has given permission for the Black Country accent to be used as something other than the comedic or the nostalgic, and created a sort of mythology for the region…which I love.

In a minute I’m going to read some Patience Agbabi for a workshop I’m planning, so if you asked me in an hour or so I’d probably tell you that I admire her the most because of her ability to take a voice that isn’t necessarily hers and run with it. I also love the way she uses traditional form in a very performancy way.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

It gives me freedom and I meet interesting people. I can’t cope with being in a 9-5 job…I’ve tried. I tried very hard for years and it made me unhappy. I would rather live a bit hand to mouth in the way that I do and pursue my writing.

Writing is also the most democratic art form to my mind. It takes next to nothing cost wise to do it. A pen and a bit of paper and you’re away. Although getting your work published is perhaps not so democratic…nowadays social media and spoken word nights do at least give working class writers and other marginalised groups platforms on which to share their work to a wider audience which wasn’t there in the same way when I started out.

9. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I’d say that you have to work hard. You also have to read hard. You have to develop a voice and a track record. You have to overcome fear of rejection (you will get rejections…and loads of them). You learn to take criticism, and actually want to receive it. You learn to tell the difference between useful constructive criticism and people who are trying to undermine you. You plough your own course. You network. You realise that making a living as a writer isn’t about getting published.

My advice would be to write anything you are offered. If somebody offers you the chance to write a play but you think you’re a poet don’t worry about it…just say yes and enjoy it. Don’t limit yourself to genre or style. Experiment with all the vehicles available for what you want to say.

Oh…and you have to actually sit and do the writing a bit. The ‘getting your arse on to the seat’ to actually write is the one hurdle that is sometimes the most difficult 

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

At the moment I’m polishing a novel (again). It just got shortlisted for some mentoring and has had new feedback which needs to be considered.

I’ve just launched a new poetry collection called ‘Close’ (Offa’s Press) so now I have to gig and promote it. I love gigging.

I’m doing lots and lots of work with an arts collective called Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists, which myself, Steve Pottinger, and Dave Pitt set up a couple of years ago. We have been touring a show that we’ve been doing, and we want to continue doing that, but also have the intention to write a new one and take it to Edinburgh again.

I’m running various workshops. I’m running various gigs. I’m promoting things for the Wolverhampton Literature Festival. I’m about to read through the final draft of an oral history book on Sikhism that I’ve been working on. I’m writing a new poem of my own. I’m about to write another funding bid to try and get some money to offer mentoring to poets. So yeah… that’s this week sorted!

Thanks for taking an interest in what I’m up to.