Newness of hope,
Open your eyes,
Evidence kindness,
Love makes you wise.
Nurture through song,
One story to tell,
Each note of joy,
Lingers and rings like a bell.
Advent – 1st Poem of Christmas
Alleluia!
Dance with joy,
Vow to celebrate
Emmanuel to come,
Now and forever,
The Holy One.
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25 Poems of Christmas
I have set a challenge for myself. In the next 25 days I will be posting a poem a day based on anchor words and phrases associated with Christmas. From these words I will create acrostic poems, some super short, some a little longer. Most will rhyme, some will not.
The art will primarily come from photos I have taken of nativities and other Christmas items I have collected over the years, or new holiday arrangements I have created. In doing this I honor traditions old and new, and share my Christmas spirit, something I couldn’t do in this way without the magic of the Internet.
The featured photo for today is of a music box nativity (left), and a bisque nativity. In the center is an arrangement of frosted greens and berries in a low fire raku pot created by Ann Trott, a gift from my husband several years ago.
Have a blessed and happy Christmas. I wish each of you love, happiness, safety, and serenity in the coming year.
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Q&A With Elmo Baca: Indigogo!
Okay, this is just too exciting. I personally CAN NOT WAIT! This is directly from Elmo’s Facebook page and I am hoping I don’t miss getting one of the first 50 tickets to this stellar premier:
Announcing the sneak preview screening and opening of the Indigo Theater on December 17 with “Star Wars The Force Awakens.” The Indigo Theater officially opens on December 18 screening “Star Wars” with multiple shows through the day and through the holiday season. Advance tickets are now available through Indigo’s new crowdfunding campaign at Indigogo. Please visit http://igg.me/at/indigotheater. Please also see our Facebook page at Indigo Theater and website at www.indigotheater.rocks for more information and links to the Indigogo campaign. Advance tickets for “Star Wars – The Force Awakens” are currently only available through Indigogo. May the Force be with you!
In the following Q&A about the Indigo Theater Elmo talks about this project and his commitment to creating something unique that enhances the quality of life in Las Vegas.
Q. In one sentence tell readers who you are.
A. Elmo Baca is a native of Las Vegas, interested in community revitalization, art, writing, history, historic preservation, photography and cinema, not necessarily in that order.
Q. What is a boutique theater?
A. Boutique refers to a smaller, more intimate and perhaps more eccentric experience. In the cinema, boutique refers to a smaller theater that offers a more direct interaction with the picture and sound.
Q. Why Las Vegas and why now?
A. Obviously there is a business opportunity for a new cinema in Las Vegas, and having some theater management experience in my tool box, I decided to make an investment. But I also I feel that the timing is right, an optimistic feeling is in the community. Finally, I strongly advise other communities to revitalize their theaters, and so I felt compelled to apply that same advice to my hometown.
Q. What is the inspiration for Indigo?
A. I like the color Indigo, the word, the feeling and associations, the music, and the mood. The deep blue violet is a shade in the sky just before nightfall, which is sometimes the same time that a movie begins. Indigo has been celebrated by great artists like Matisse, Sinatra and Duke Ellington, and it seemed like a good name for a theater. The color also offered some interesting design opportunities.
Q. How does film and theater contribute to a community’s vitality?
A. If you look at cities throughout history, the theater is one of the building blocks of society. Even in the frontier west, every new boom town had a church, a saloon and an opry house. A theater is fundamental to a town’s vitality, imagination and social quality. In today’s lifestyle, with the dramatic improvements in digital film making, sound, photography and internet technologies, more and more people have become amateur filmmakers, posting their videos and photos to social media. In a sense, film making has become more democratic and universal. So having a theater that provides the opportunity for a town to stay current with advanced technologies and give local people a venue for self-expression is essential.
Q. What makes you hopeful about Las Vegas’ future?
A. I’ve seen Las Vegas gradually bounce back from generally deteriorating economic conditions and building infrastructure that were prevalent maybe 40 or 50 years ago. I have also seen some new residents who have a real passion for the community and willing to settle here and make contributions to the community. I think there’s some new leadership in the community and it gives me confidence to start the Indigo Theater. But we must also be aware that Las Vegas and northeastern New Mexico are losing population, and so we can’t be complacent.
Q. Talk about Las Vegas and historic preservation
A. I grew up in Las Vegas, which is a magical environment with its remarkable buildings and public spaces. But I didn’t always appreciate it. I sometimes joke that I ran away from home and went to college. Later of course, as one matures and experiences other places, the special qualities of Las Vegas come into clarity and focus. I learned guerrilla and grassroots historic preservation in Las Vegas, sometimes having to do projects or change perceptions with little or no money. Changing attitudes about rundown old buildings and a depressed economy is not easy. But I met and have worked with some special people here in Las Vegas along the way. I think one important lesson I have learned is that it is important to take the long view in this work. Cities take time and one must be patient. There is no silver bullet, just hard work, determination and some imagination. Sometimes miracles happen, and a catalytic project gets done or a new leader or entrepreneur moves to town. I have seen it happen several times in Las Vegas. When this happens, there is a window of opportunity when change can happen. Sometimes these moments last for a few years and sometimes they are gone, and sometimes the community doesn’t act in time, the moment is lost. I feel that the current time is a moment of opportunity and positive change.
Q. What are you hearing about the Indigo?
A. Well the community has been very positive and encouraging me. I think there’s some curiosity about the project itself, the building of a new cinema in an old building. I’ve heard that people will be glad they won’t have to drive to Santa Fe for a movie all the time. But I think the basic excitement is partly to have a current movie in town, to feel modern, contemporary, and connected to the movies and stories that the world is discussing and enjoying.
The Indigo Theater is scheduled to open on December 17 with the new Star Wars The Force Awakens movie. (See above.)
For more information on the Indigo Theater, please see the theater’s Facebook page and website: facebook/IndigoLas VegasNM and www.indigotheater.rocks.
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Why NaNoWriMo?
I’ve been writing since I was able to hold a pencil. My brain sizzles with ideas and bubbles with story lines. And then I sit down at the computer. It’s like turning off a faucet. The pencil was so much more productive, a direct connect to my brain. This lapse in creativity at the computer isn’t permanent, and the ideas will begin to flow again, but will the flow end up in one bucket or flood all over the place? I think at this point I don’t care, I’m just happy with the flow wherever it goes. For me writing is fun. At one time it was important that I be paid, and that’s nice when it happens, but the reason I write has little to do with a burgeoning bank account, which is fortunate. I’ve never made much with this gift God have me, but I continue to be enriched by it in other ways.
What does this have to do with NaNoWriMo? November is National Novel Writing Month. The website sets the stage for writing a novel in 30 days, yes, 30 days. I’ve made a smattering of attempts to do this over the years, with little success. I was easily distracted or felt intimidated by sitting down in front of the computer and knocking out 1500 to 2000 words a day to reach the 50,000 word goal. The expectation is that at the end of the month you will have the bones of a good story, which you can turn into a finished novel.
This year I am all in. I’ve already written more than 30,000 words and expect to finish ahead of schedule. Maybe. Or maybe I’ll be working on it until the last day. Regardless, I will complete the challenge, and then complete the book.
So, why NaNoWriMo? This isn’t something that happens in November and then goes away. Like a cyber muse it enters your life throughout the year reminding you to let go of your inner editor and just write. It has programs for young writers. It provides stimulus when everything else seems destined to divert you from the discipline of sitting your butt in the chair and just getting with it.
I’m half-way through the challenge, but I’m going to give a little advice on why it’s important to sign up and participate. It’s more than what you do right now, it’s how you embrace the concept and apply its strategies day after day.
Why NaNoWriMo?
- NaNoWriMo flat out tells you to write. Period. Don’t self-edit, don’t second think, don’t curb the creative flow. Write.
- Set goals. If you say, “I’m going to write today,” with no goal in mind, it’s easy to get distracted by just about anything you can think of, including, “I just don’t feel like writing.” Make yourself do it or you will never get anywhere.
- During November you will get pep talks and support. It does help, believe me. There is other inspiring encouragement throughout the year.
- The forum offers all kind of help, some you didn’t even know you needed. World building, character building, writing helps and more.
- It is a free site. Really, absolutely free. A wealth of help and inspiration for free. I can tell you that maintaining NaNoWriMo isn’t free to the people who are doing it. Buy their stuff and donate. Help keep this fabulous thing going.
NaNoWriMo has gotten me off my procrastination pedestal and it can help you too. Sign up, even at this late date. It’s possible you can get well into your next writing project and have the satisfaction of supporting an awesome writing site.
A disclaimer here, other than participating in NaNoWriMo, I have no connection with the site builders and promoters. I just like it and want to let fellow writers know it’s there, available, and a great help.
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Q&A With Lisa Ellison: Paying it Forward
Q. In one sentence who is Lisa Cooper Ellison?
A. I’m a person who believes in the power of stories and the importance of helping others.
Q. Your bio says you come from a family where everything is communicated through a narrative arc. Talk about what that has meant to you as you make career choices.
A. I come from a family with a strong oral story telling tradition. We spent a lot of time telling tales during Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s house. I was particularly fascinated by her ability to bring stories to life through voices, pauses, and unusual vivid descriptions.
I don’t know when I fell in love with writing, but I have many memories of sitting on my bed as a teenager composing poems or short stories. I studied creative writing while getting my bachelor’s in English, but chose to pursue jobs in the helping professions because it seemed more secure. I continued to write and read in my spare time. When I contracted Lyme disease and had to slow down, I reflected on how quickly life changes and the importance of following your passions. Deep down, I knew that writing would heal me. And, it did.
Q. I was drawn to your work by the article you wrote about your brother. It was moving, painful, and real. Talk about where you had to go inside yourself to write that article.
A. I felt led to write the article “My brother had mental health issues and committed an awful crime. But I love him,” for The Guardian, because the number of families experiencing similar losses was increasing. I wanted to join the conversation regarding mental health crises in order to help those who grieve difficult losses and to challenge some of the misguided viewpoints regarding the complexities of addressing mental health problems.
Writing the article required me to tap into the intense grief I felt regarding my brother’s death, courage to speak publicly about such a personal event, and compassion for my brother, his victim, my family, and everyone this incident touched.
Q. Your writing and blogs convey a desire to provide hope and help. Talk about why this is important to you as a writer and as one who has had to cope with illness and loss.
A. Throughout my life I’ve experienced some significant struggles, including leaving home at age 17, my brother’s suicide, and contracting chronic Lyme disease. Many people provided assistance and hope at crucial moments. Now, I try to pay forward the gifts I’ve been given. Writing is an effective tool for transmitting hope.
Q. I am intrigued by your description of the book-length memoir you are working on. Tell briefly the premise of the book and why you were inspired to write it.
A. I contracted a debilitating case of Lyme disease, which was complicated by an MTHFR gene mutation, at age 38, the same age my mother was when she became disabled by a fall at work. She struggles with a variety of complex health conditions including lupus, gastro paresis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Her mother retired at 58 and also struggled with unexplained symptoms and diseases, as did her mother before her. After leaving home I was compulsive about my health and determined not to get sick like them. But then I did. When I found out that part of the problem was in my DNA, I knew it was time to write a book.
This memoir takes place in Elmira, New York, a town devastated by massive flooding during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The place never recovered, which makes it an apt setting for a memoir about seeking higher ground. On a microcosmic level, the story is a coming-of-age tale about my life in two households—one with my grandmother who never let me leave the house and one with my mother who had a more free-range approach. On a macrocosmic level, it’s a story about the jobs and opportunities that receded with the floodwaters, leaving behind a murky world where unemployed fathers looked to the local prison for opportunity, mothers joined the workforce, and everyone had their desperate and beautiful ways trying to find hope.
Q. What is mindfulness-based writing, a writing discipline you teach?
A. Mindfulness-based writing is a practice that helps writers silence their internal editors, generate more work, and tap into their authenticity. It combines mindfulness meditation, free association writing, and the sharing of unedited work, which often contains kernels of the writer’s deepest truths.
Q. Other than financial, in what ways is being an editor rewarding and satisfying.
A. There’s something magical about helping writers find their voices and develop their ideas into something that adds to the larger conversation about our world.
Q. You are in remission from a mini-bomb of illnesses that led you to create the Body Inflamed website. What has this meant to your healing, and what reactions have you had from readers?
A. During the throws of my illness misery, I made a promise to myself that I would help others if I got well. Body Inflamed is my way of fulfilling that promise. I’m amazed by the courage I’ve seen from writers who contribute to the Messages of Hope section, and the words of encouragement and gratitude I’ve received from those who also struggle with chronic illness. People struggling with chronic illnesses have incredible perseverance, though they are often underestimated. It’s part of why I want to celebrate their voices.
Q. In what ways has writing changed who you are, or has it?
A. Writing helps me make sense of the world and myself. If anything, writing allows me to be my authentic self.
Q. As a freelance writer, what is the best advice you can give other writers about getting published?
A. • Read and write a lot
• Understand your intentions for writing a story or article. Once they’re submitted, they belong to the world.
• Treat your subjects with love and kindness
• Expect to get rejected A LOT
• Don’t take rejections personally—they may not be a reflection of your work
• Stay humble and be willing to revise one more time
• Always meet your deadlines
• Treat editors with the utmost respect.
Q. What are you currently working on and how can readers reach you online?
A. I’m working on second draft revisions for my book and a few short essays. I also provide editorial feedback on essays, short stories, and book-length projects and co-facilitate a mindful writing group.
There are three ways to contact me:
· Check out my website: www.lisacooperellison.com
· Send me a message through the contact page on my website.
· Join me on twitter @LisaEllisonspen
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Q&A With S.L. Shelton: Influence by Creativity
Q. In one sentence, who is S.L. Shelton as a writer?
A. S.L. Shelton is a soldier, wrapped in a tech, inside a writer; there is no fiction, only exaggerations.
Q. You are a prolific writer and active blogger. How do you schedule time for both?
A. It’s difficult when both need to be done. But for the most part I only blog between writing on the novels. Blogging is a good way to network and to satisfy my need to write when I‘m not pounding out a first draft or crawling through the carnage of a developmental rewrite.
Q. At what point did you think, “Enough of being a techie I think I’ll go for a more risky way to earn a living and become a writer?”
A. I sold my tech company a few years ago. My intent was to farm and build heirloom furniture going into my early retirement. But an unfortunate incident with a Frisbee and weak ankles left me sitting in the house for an extended period of time. I have always been a writer, but the freedom of unlimited time and enslavement to a damaged foot conspired to give me this opportunity. I’m grateful for it every day.
Q. In what ways has writing satisfied or fulfilled you as a person?
A. Well if it weren’t for writing, all these voices in my head might start getting violent… I’d rather not have to deal with that in the pharmaceutical realm. Honestly though, creativity and influence go hand in hand. It’s an odd combination to simultaneously be introverted enough to create universes in your mind, but want to move the minds of the masses. There are few other mediums that do that as well as writing and it satisfies both those desires very well if one is attentive and reflective at the same time.
Q. You’ve had a variety of experience. How has that shaped the development of the protagonist in your novels?
A. I have done a lot of different things in my life and my bio only touches on a few of them. I owe that to my short attention span. Having such varied experiences allows me to tap into firsthand knowledge in a lot of areas of expertise. I keep those traits separated into various characters throughout all my stories, but I imbue Scott Wolfe with many of the imperfections that sort of scattered existence brings about.
Q. In your bio you say you are at odds with a need to kick the legs out from under those who abuse their power (political, economic or super). Talk about what that means in the context of story structure.
A. Wanting to change the world…ah. Wouldn’t that be nice. Fiction readers wish to be entertained first and foremost. That creates a dilemma for the fiction author; no one wants to be preached at, especially when trying to enjoy a story. I lean towards placing my message in a broad context, encompassing the story as a whole and then use it as the framework for the fiction. That way, you never have to go back and apologize for being too political, judgmental or coercive (except for food—people definitely need to eat better. JK)
Q. How does your protagonist in the Scott Wolfe series mirror your own life?
A. The series doesn’t really mirror my life except in eclectic bits and pieces. I spent a lot of time in the military and a lot of time in the tech industry, so certain funny or impactful anecdotes will migrate into the pages from my life, but for the most part, the Scott Wolfe Universe is all about me writing a story I’d like to read (or see as a movie).
Q. In what ways have you been changed by writing about this character, or have you?
A. I’m more aware of my own duality now than I was—or perhaps, going into such depth with my characters has made that duality more pronounced. We all have at least two faces; who we are to ourselves, and who we are to the world. Having an awareness of that helps bring a character to life but it sharpens your understanding of it in yourself.
Q. What do you wish people knew about you as a writer?
A. We read the reviews. Every author does, even the big ones like Brown, King, etc. We read them and take them to heart, even when we shouldn’t. Each one feels like a personal message written to us as an individual but posted for the world to see—and we crave them. Reviews are a sort of fuel to continue writing. The only thing better on the reader side is when someone posts a message to their friends, tagging us as someone worth reading. When that happens, I feel ten feet tall.
Q. The book cover for this series contains a repeat image overlaid or filled with different images and backed with different background color. Talk about how that developed and the ways you were involved in the design.
A. The early covers were just compilation photos. Constructs using pieces of my own photography and bits & pieces of other items. I’ve always pushed to improve the look of the covers, and enjoy doing the design.
Q. As an indie author, what do you think is most important to spend money on, editing or book design?
A. I design my own covers. I do it because I would rather spend my money on editors and proofing. As the series has become more successful, I’ve gone back and added additional rounds of proofing. The goal is to have a perfect product on release day, but when resources are limited and you can only afford two or three proofing passes, it’s nice to be able to go back later and update with more.
Q. Tell us what you are working on now and how people can connect with you online.
A. I’m in mid stroke of releasing Predator’s Game; the 6th novel in the Scott Wolfe Series. There’s only one left in the initial series. Aside from Scott Wolfe, I have six or seven other novels that I’ve been working on, but always set to the back burner when It’s time for a Scott story. As for connecting online. Twitter, Blog and Facebook are the best way to connect. I work hard connecting online and pride myself in being responsive to readers.
https://twitter.com/SLSheltonAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/SLShelton.Author/
https://wolfeauthor.wordpress.com/
Q&A With Rebecca Lee: Object Lessons
Writer Rebecca Lee lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has published with The Noctua Review, Cleaver Magazine, 
Existere Journal, The Rusty Nail. Her blog is at www.AWordOfSubstance.com
Q. Tell readers about yourself and your writing goals.
A. Writing is my #1 passion in life. I’ve been writing since I could pick up a pen. My main writing goal for the future is to publish a collection of short stories and vignettes.
Q. Your blog is an eclectic collection on a variety of topics. Comments from some readers refer to it as being quirky and original. Talk about the premise of the blog and why you started it.
A. My blog is mostly about objects personified. When I first started the blog I wanted to be able to write about anything and make it interesting. I hope that’s what I’ve been able to accomplish.
Q. Why write about what some would consider irrelevant, I mean power outlets? How can this be relevant?
A. Lately I’ve been writing about any kind of object that I think relates to a news article. The power outlet seemed like a perfect fit for the news surrounding college rape. Words have a way of seeping through the subconscious mind and piecing themselves into a way that makes sense. Even if those words are describing objects, one can still grasp the deeper meaning.
Q. “Object enthusiast. Fiction writer. Six word stories on twitter.” That’s you’re Twitter profile. What does it all mean?
A. I’m a big fan of inanimate objects. If something isn’t alive, you can create and attach any sort of feeling to it. Who’s to say a silver spoon doesn’t feel a certain way? We’ll never know.
As for the six word stories – I came across Hemingway’s story and was inspired. He wrote: For sale: baby shoes, never worn. In just those six words, he said it all.
Q. In one sentence, describe yourself as a writer.
A. For sale: words with hopeful promise.
Q. What do you find most challenging, concept development or writing?
A. Depends on the writing and the concept. In general I find poetry to be the most natural form of writing and essays to be more challenging. Depending on the topic, my feelings can change.
Q. What do you wish people knew about you as a writer?
A. I write about everything. My blog focuses mostly on stories surrounding objects, however I write non-fiction and poetry as well.
Q. You have been published in a number of literary journals for your short fiction and nonfiction. How do you decide where you will submit your work and how do you handle rejection?
A. I read a lot of literary magazines. I spend a lot of time on Duotrope. I take writing classes with other students who also submit their work to various places. I always have an eye out for publications.
In terms of rejection, I think I might be a rejection addict. When I was eleven, I asked a boy to dance with me at a school social and he turned me down. It was love at first sight. Rejection gives me an energy that encourages me to try harder.
Q. What encouragement would you offer writers about getting published?
A. Read a lot of literary magazines. Find the best one that fits your style and keep trying.
Q. What are you working on now or what would you like people to know about your work and where they can find it?
A. I am working on a collection of short stories and vignettes as well as a memoir. My published online writing is available at Linden Ave Literary Journal, Haggard and Halloo Publications, Chicago Record, *82 Review, and in the next issue of Cleaver Magazine. For print publications, I have been featured in The Rusty Nail, The Noctua Review, and Existere Journal. For regularly updated writing, please visit www.AWordOfSubstance.com
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Q&A With a Truth Seeker: Kathleen M. Rodgers
Q. In one sentence, who is Kathleen Rodgers?
A. I am a seeker of truth, and I use storytelling to try and find it.
Q. What do you wish people knew about you?
A. I am empathetic to those who struggle. Because I’ve overcome many obstacles in life, I try and encourage others not to give up. I joke that “HOPE” is my middle name. I try and offer hope in my stories.
Q. In writing Johnnie Come Lately you use grim themes about bulimia, addiction, and betrayal. Talk about how the complex story line developed?
A. My protagonist, Johnnie Kitchen, came to me many years ago while I was working on my first novel. At the time, I knew she was a woman who had overcome eating issues that developed from neglect she suffered as a child. Raised by loving grandparents who lost a son in a tragedy that stunned them to silence, Johnnie must find her way in the world while also dealing with an absentee mother. As a young wife, she carried these issues of abandonment and neglect into her early marriage, and years later her loyal and hardworking husband learns about an old betrayal. I also address the issue of military service during a time when our nation is at war. My challenge was to write about how the trauma of war can affect generation after generation. I’m continuing this theme in the sequel, Seven Wings to Glory.
Q. Your characters are down-to-earth. You don’t take the easy way and make some inherently good and others identifiably bad. Where did you get the inspiration for these very relatable people?
A. Nobody is all bad or all good. Every human being is flawed, and I work hard to remember that when I create characters. In all of my fiction, my characters are sometimes composites of real people and other times they come fully formed in my imagination. For instance, Aunt Beryl in Johnnie Come Lately might be considered an antagonist. She’s a bossy busybody, and yet, she is also the truthsayer and the person in Johnnie’s life who finally tells the truth about who her father was. I also think about Johnnie’s husband, Dale. Dale is tasked with the job of trying to figure out how to forgive his wife. The fact that Dale initially withholds forgiveness from Johnnie makes him human. This character flaw intrigued me and helped propel the story forward. Even Granny Opal and Grandpa Grubb, as good as they were, had their own flaws and secrets, and Johnnie suffered because of it.
Q. This family has some obstacles to overcome. Without giving away the plot, talk about your journey to get from the telling moment of betrayal to resolution.
A. As I stated in the last question, Dale is such a good man. But even good men can hold grudges. The challenge for both Johnnie and Dale is how to move forward in their marriage and heal a hurt that cuts deep and affects every member of the family, even Brother Dog. And Dale, despite being a hard worker, has been holding Johnnie back from wanting to return to college. He uses money or lack of money as an excuse for his wife to pursue her dreams. There’s a scene in a restaurant when Johnnie discovers the truth about why Dale resists the idea of her going back to college. I cried when I wrote this scene because I hurt for Dale and the pain that followed him through life, no matter how successful he became. That’s a theme I write about a lot, how our past still affects our present and our future.
Q. Who do you identify most with in the story?
A. Johnnie’s two sons, D.J. and Cade. One is an artist and pacifist and the other is hell-bent on joining the military and going to war. (I continue this theme in the sequel.) Brother Dog, the family pet, is the glue that keeps this family together, and I relied on him to guide me through the story. And then there’s Mr. Marvel, the portly airline pilot who is Johnnie’s mysterious neighbor. I identify with Mr. Marvel because no matter how successful he became professionally, he still suffers from a childhood tragedy and the guilt that follows him. Mr. Marvel is every misunderstood person that gets marginalized or profiled or labeled. I have a deep abiding love and respect for this character. He taught Johnnie many lessons, and he lives on in both of our hearts. (And yes, I think of Johnnie as a real person.)
Q. You use journaling and writing letters to people you want to “speak to” but, for various reasons can’t. How does this method advance your story?
A. I have always loved the letter form. I used a series of letters in my first novel, The Final Salute, to cover a period when some of my characters went off to war and others stayed home. Letters and journal entries in fiction have the opportunity to pull readers deep into the story because they feel a personal and emotional investment with the characters. Because I received so much positive feedback from readers who loved that section of the novel, I decided to make Johnnie Kitchen a “closet writer” in Johnnie Come Lately. When she can’t share her deepest thoughts with the living and the dead, she turns to her journal and pours her heart out on paper. The reader discovers many secrets about beloved family members, old lovers, and Johnnie’s deepest fears and dreams for her future and that of her family. By parceling out tidbits of information here and there in the journal entries and in class papers Johnnie writes when she returns to college, we are able to piece together the missing pieces of the puzzle that makes up Johnnie’s life and the lives of the other story people (both the living and the dead).
Q. You’ve done quite a lot of writing and been published in various magazines. What challenges you about writing fiction?
A. I reached a point as a freelance writer when the subject matter stopped feeding my soul. Plus, I was limited by the confines of nonfiction and I wanted to explore so many more themes and subjects. And the only way to do that was to turn to fiction.
Q. How is writing fiction different from writing nonfiction?
A. With fiction, I can “write outside the lines.” I can use real life experiences and give them to my characters without letting actual events dictate how the story is told. My stories are full of emotional truths and themes that are dear to my heart, and my characters take on the issues and themes that I might not feel comfortable writing about in a nonfiction book or magazine article. Plus, I love to incorporate a touch of magical realism into my stories, and I’m not brave enough to deal with that in nonfiction. Writing fiction teaches me to be brave. I find courage by exploring deep and serious issues through my story people.
Q. What do you hope people get from reading Johnnie Come Lately, which by the way I thought was a wonderful story from beginning to end?
A. Thank you, Sharon. I hope my readers are able to apply some of the story lessons from the novel and apply them to their own lives. Most of all, I hope they are entertained and finish the book feeling hopeful for their own lives and the lives of their families.
In any of my novels, I want my readers to laugh and cry with my characters. I want fiction and reality to blend into a seamless dimension where my characters know they are real people and my readers think they are my characters.
Current news about Kathleen
Kathleen is working on Seven Wings to Glory, the sequel to Johnnie Come Lately.
Sequel concept: After sending her youngest son to war in Afghanistan in 2009, Johnnie Kitchen finds herself battling a war of racial injustice in her small hometown of Portion, Texas. Will she back down after being threatened for speaking out? Or will she do the right thing and pursue justice? And will her Army son, who took an oath to protect ALL Americans, return home safely to Portion?
Click here to read Kathleen’s blog.
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More about Kathleen from her website: Texas based author Kathleen M. Rodgers is a former frequent contributor to Family Circle Magazine and Military Times. Her work has also appeared in anthologies published by McGraw-Hill, University of Nebraska Press/Potomac Books, Health Communications, Inc., AMG Publishers, and Press 53. In 2014, Kathleen was named a Distinguished Alumna from Tarrant County College/NE Campus. Three of her aviation poems were featured in a new exhibit at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, NY. More…
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Q&A With Kate Barnwell: An English Poet
Kate Barnwell is a creative writer of modern, romantic poetry and lyrics. Her work reflects a desire to touch the soul; find new and beautiful ways to enhance and describe life. For more about her go to katebarnwell.com.
Q. In one sentence, who is Kate Barnwell?
A. An English, romantic poet and writer; living a variety of lives in and amongst the diversity and beauty of the city, sea and countryside.
Q. How is writing poetry different from writing lyrics?
A. Songs are essentially poetry put to music. A poem will stand alone and requires no accompaniment. Lyrics are enhanced by music and require the work of a composer.
I have worked with two composers: one classical and one young modern. I found it fascinating to see the different ways they interpreted and experienced my words.
The classical composer took the words and added a deep orchestral score, which when performed by a mezzo soprano, at an International Composers Festival, received a standing ovation with many members of the audience in tears. For me, this was both surprising and somewhat gratifying!
The modern composer took another set of lyrics and turned them into a guitar lead folk approach. This was perfect for me as I was able to connect my work and the appeal of the words to different listeners, age-groups and styles.
With lyrics I don’t feel you have the opportunity to explore the same depth of feeling as you are conscious of needing to make an impact rapidly. With poetry there is more time to create imagery. I spend time working with the imagination exploring the use of metaphors and similes, life and nature and enjoy the process of presenting the world and emotions in new ways.
Poetry can be read time and time again, at different stages in your life; it has more layers and depth of meaning and can be a great companion.
Q. I love the poems read on your website www.katebarnwell.com. Talk about your reaction to hearing your work read by someone else.
A. We recorded both CDs in a professional London recording studio – so the silence of the soundproof room made the impact even greater.
On the day we recorded I was busy working with the actors, ensuring the emphasis and understanding was as I wanted it – as well as suiting the right actor with the right poem. It may sound obvious but some poems are male and some are female and you have to make sure which is which! When we had finished I was exhausted but the next day I returned to the studio and the recording engineer played me the finished works. We sat together in silence as the words came out of the speakers and I was overwhelmed. These were my words, my work; I felt part of the poetry world; these pieces belonged, they were complete and they felt alive – taken off the page and into sound, gave them life and truth.
It just isn’t possible for me to read my poems with the same effect as a highly trained actor. The actors brought both gravitas and humour as appropriate and I thought the effect was wonderful. I write with many voices and ages; my poems can appeal to men and women; they cover a wide breadth of emotions – romantic, humorous, heartbroken and happy as well as descriptive passages.
Q. You have a wonderful blog that is part history and part free ranging thought, all related to poetry. Where do you get inspiration for your posts?
A. I travel a great deal and live both beside the sea on the south coast of England and in central London (which are greatly contrasting lives). My academic background is in History of Art and I love to read classic stories and collections of poetry. When I discovered poetry was my oeuvre I realised that suddenly so much of what I was doing and seeing became an inspiration for my work. The more I write, the more I see, the more I take photos of objects, places and people, so the more inspiration I find and ideas develop. I like to incorporate areas of knowledge, a sense of humour and occasionally use the blog as an opportunity to impart facts I find interesting. Most of all I love words and I enjoy using them to their full effect; often words come together naturally (romantically and playfully), occasionally I enjoy extending their meaning into the body of my blog.
Q. Your poetry feels like breathing out and breathing in, natural yet ethereal. Do the words and pacing come effortlessly or do you spend hours fine-tuning your work?
A. Some poems do come just naturally; others require an enormous amount of work, with painfully intense concentration. Sometimes I enjoy the restriction and challenge of sonnet form (a 14 line poem, 10 syllables per line, with a rhyming structure) and then I prefer to work in free verse, allowing ideas to flow more freely without limitations or precision.
I have, on occasion, found it hard to sleep having spent hours over just one verse or section, feeling I have really got nowhere (this is very frustrating). However, generally, time is never wasted and new directions and ideas can form quickly. I also find that walking by the neutrality of the sea, or through the intensity of cityscape, both can affect the ease with which ideas, perceptions and impressions are conceived. The fine tuning is always alone, just me with paper and a pencil – I write everything longhand first – notes and scraps of paper all over the place!
Q. I like the description of your writing that reads, “…find new and beautiful ways to enhance and describe life.” Talk about why this is important to you.
A. I think the modern working world is an extremely hard and competitive arena for everyone and it isn’t getting easier. My generation has watched our parents working themselves so hard. In some cases it is seen as a badge of honour or status symbol to be working all the hours possible. You used to be able to walk into a cafe, meet people and talk, yes talk. Now everyone is too busy on their computers, iPads, Kindles, mobile phones or discussing business strategies that the art of sharing yourself and ideas and being with new people is lost. No one knows how to talk or write and express themselves to one another anymore. We are happy to extend our lives in the world but our feelings and emotions have dissolved into texts and replaced by abbreviations or quick emails.
I believe we have to stop for a while, running on the working wheel, and take a look around us. I try to find areas in which beauty can be brought into a working life; it doesn’t allow itself to be excluded. I try to be the voice in people’s heads that is whispering, ‘look at life, see the beauty of the world, try to find time for yourself, your life and the people you love and care about.’ Aspirations in life must be not just the desire for a good job, but for a good life; this is the balance.
Poetry offers respite in a busy and often emotionally inarticulate world.
Q. You focus on themes of love, romance and romanticism. In a world with strife on every side, talk about why these themes are or can be a balm in a hurting society.
A. The first poem in my first book was called ‘Tell Me of England: Soldier to Mother.’ It is a letter written from a war zone by a son who misses home and all the warm memories of childhood and being safe. I wouldn’t want to sound like someone who only writes love poetry. This letter to his mother is poignant and moving. Crawford Logan, the excellent actor who read this poem brought an enormous depth and quality to it. In fact when I heard the reading I was slightly taken aback at the intensity of the words: the gentleness and the pain, the anger and the assurance, reflecting a soldier’s fear and loneliness. Sometimes the simplest words and rhyme can have the strongest effect. I didn’t realise, until I heard it read by a man, the powerful impression or influence of this poem.
When no other form can quite express what one feels and thinks, for that moment there is always poetry.
Q. What has influenced your work most?
A. I travel extensively and meet and talk to new people of all ages and generations, giving me a terrific insight to different lives and people’s perspective. I like conversation (so much has gone with the advent of Smart everything). I am restless by nature and writing has been a great source of expression and allowed me to act as many people in my own style. My main home is a Georgian house (1796) in Hastings Old Town in East Sussex. It has a tremendous history and has been visited by every famous British artist and poet: Dante Gabriel Rossetti who married Elizabeth Siddal in our local church; Lord Byron and John Keats have visited; Rudyard Kipling lived half an hour away.
Q. You seem to have an artistic and creative soul. How has that shaped who you are as a person?
A. History of Art has had a profound impact on my work and my observations on life and the beauty of language and description. I revel in the major art works, whether artistic or written and have found my world of poetry to be a great source of expression. I am certainly sensitive and thoughtful; maybe a bit of a dreamer, and a romantic in every sense. I am only too aware of exposing myself by sharing my poetry – not all responses are favourable and criticism can be harsh. In everything I do, I am constantly learning and evolving. I am particularly fond of the word soul or spirit; this is the inexplicable, magical part of us. This is essentially the part that connects us to other people, and should be nurtured to grow and shape us.
Q. What is the one thing you wish people knew about you?
A. A few years ago at sunset I visited India Gate in Mumbai. It is a very popular late afternoon location for Indians and tourists to stroll. On this evening I was approached by one group of young Indians after another asking if they could have their photograph taken with me. I must have been in 30 different photographs – it was an unusual experience (I missed the sunset, but I did feel more and more like a movie star!). A minute of fun fame went to my head – I think it was my new flashy sunglasses!
Q. What’s the latest news in your career?
A. I am currently in the final editing stage of my first adult short story – this genre is rapidly gaining popular momentum. The story is unlike anything I have written before and it has been an exciting new area.
My books and recordings are currently being studied in a private school in China for lessons in Modern English as prep for International English University entry – ‘Poetry exaggerates the natural rhythms of English speech, which are very different from the Chinese.’
I’m hoping to have more of my work read and listened to in other countries, particularly the USA. Richard Blanco (President Obama’s Inaugural Poet) received and acknowledged my book.
Link to YouTube video: http://youtu.be/9yK8e0trvrQ Tobias Menzies reads ‘In Fields’
The beautiful English countryside, minutes from the writer and poet Rudyard Kipling’s home, with the words of my sonnet and a small stream of music. This video has received over 2800 hits and made a huge number of female Tobias Menzies (Game Of Thrones, Outlander) fans happy!
My WordPress blog: katebarnwell.wordpress.com has gained a wide global interest. My website www.katebarnwell.com for Books, Readings, Lyrics, Reviews, Contact, and a daily flow of news via Facebook, Twitter: @KBarnwellPoetry and Blog.
Sharon Vander Meer 