Poet Jennifer Juan | Ol’ Brown Eyes Is Back

Today we are interviewing Jennifer Juan about her poetry collection, “Ol’ Brown Eyes Is Back.”

 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a writer and musician living in the UK. I've been creating stuff since I was a kid.

Describe your poetry collection, “Ol' Brown Eyes Is Back,” in a few sentences.

It's a collection of poems about finding who you are, and trying to get to a place where you can accept yourself and live freely.

What inspired you to start writing poetry?

I always enjoyed creating things, and as I read more poetry, I wanted to do it for myself.

Do you have any tips for young poets who are trying to perfect their craft?

I think the best thing you can do is be true to yourself and find your own voice as a creator. When you're just starting out, it can be difficult to find who you are, because you look at others around you and think that there is only one way to do things, but the great part about doing something creative is that you can do things in your own way, so take advantage of that.

You’re also active in the podcast world. Tell us a bit about that.

I started Sincerely, Jennifer x in 2017 because I wanted to get used to reading poetry aloud again, for some performances I had coming up, and I thought it would be an interesting way to be able to do that and interact with my audience at the same time. I had no idea at the time that it would end up where we are now, on the third seasons, and reaching countries half way across the world. I'm very grateful to my podcast audience, because they are very sweet to me, and they're a great source of feedback. I tested a lot of the material for my last book with my listeners, by premiering it on the podcast, and I was able to interact with listeners in emails and on social media to see what they thought.

Does writing your poems take you to unexpected places or reveal things you hadn’t thought about before?

I like to write about different subjects to learn a little more about them. I'll sit for hours researching things and watching videos about stuff, and then exploring it further by writing something about it. Writing also helps me to put things I've experienced myself into a new perspective sometimes. It's like I can write my own closure.

Can you tell us a bit about your writing process?

I don't really write by hand anymore, so I tend to use my phone a lot. I have access to all the projects that I'm working on, with my phone, so I can pick things up wherever I am and write something new, or edit something.

 

Jennifer Juan.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing poetry for you?

I think it can be difficult to let go of something and let an audience have it. A lot of the things I write are taken from who I am, and it can be hard to disconnect and realise that they could mean something different to someone else, who needs that.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your poetry?

I hope that they'll find something that they enjoy. I think that's the most important part of reading sometimes.

How have readers responded to your collection so far?

I've had a lot of emails about book clubs. I talked about this briefly on my podcast, but a few people have emailed saying about how they read Ol' Brown Eyes Is Back in their book club, and enjoyed it, which I thought was super cool. I love that book clubs are still a thing.

Are they any poets who have influenced your writing style?

I love reading Carol Ann Duffy, she's one of my favourite people of all time in general, really. I would say she's probably influenced me a little, but I tried to find a voice that reflected myself and said things in a way that others weren't doing too much, so that I wouldn't be too much like somebody else.

You’ve also released an EP, titled “Wildflowers.” What inspired you to release an EP? Have you always been musically inclined?

I did a lot of music when I was younger, but I stopped when I was in University, because I didn't have time, but I started creating music again in 2017, as I needed some music for a project I was working on, and I just kept creating from there. Wildflowers was the first of a series of Eps that I've worked on and released, with each taking a different idea or theme and exploring it through music. It's a really fun way to try new things and create something new each time. I'm releasing the next in that series, called Sleepwalking on the 30.

In ten years, where would you like your writing career to be?

I'd like to be creating things that make me happy, and that I can be proud of. I'm not sure about the specifics of that, but that's sort of what I'm looking for.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?

At the moment, I'm working on a project for Halloween. It's called '93 The Garden Of The Free Children '94, and it's going to be an interactive horror project with stories, poems and music. It's going to be really fun to share that with people. 

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Interview with Poet Tyler Hall about Atop the Bookshelf

Today we are interviewing Tyler Hall about his poetry anthology, titled “Atop the Bookshelf.”

Tell us a bit about yourself.
To explain myself would require not just a paragraph, nor entire chapter or book, but a library’s worth of volumes. But here are a few facts about me: As of this interview, I am a security officer with a strong sense of justice and truth. I love cats, Japanese Anime, cosplaying, acting (I have written, directed, and starred in a handful of short films), watching ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos on youtube, drawing, exploring new places and shops in my hometown of Jacksonville. Along with the annual trips to North Carolina and regular visits to Pop Culture Conventions, one could say I am a man of many tastes and interests. 

Describe your anthology of poetry, “Atop the Bookshelf,” in a few sentences.
“Atop the Bookshelf” is my attempt at the poetry genre. While I see myself as more of a novelist, even the best writers cannot limit themselves to one genre or one format. I believe a writer should be versatile in their craft. That is why I have chosen to write in every type of poetry imaginable and in every genre imaginable. Focusing on one type of poetry or genre of fiction is, in my opinion, self-limiting. 

Who do you think would most appreciate your anthology?
Depends on whom I inspire with my words and who desires to read my work. If anything, Atop the Bookshelf covers every genre, and do I mean every genre! If you like adventure, it’s got adventure. If you like fantasy, it’s got fantasy. If you like a little science fiction, I added that as well! For those who enjoy reading religious texts, I have poetry that covers religion as well! I've even added a few comical poems for those who enjoy a good laugh! In short, there is something for everybody in "Atop the Bookshelf"! 

What first got you interested in poetry?
I would have to say my interest in poetry would stem from the brief, yet vivid descriptions of the events and situations of the overall text.

Your anthology contains a variety of styles, from haiku to traditional rhyming. Do you have a favorite type of poetry?
I cannot simply choose a favorite style as every style has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, while Haiku is very vivid in so few words, it is also simplistic. Traditional rhyming is considered to be the “standard” of poetry, however it’s very limiting with the constant rhyming. 

Tyler Hall.

Where do you get your inspiration for your poetry?
For me, inspiration would have to come from everything I like. Be it nature, history, art, or what strange things my mind can cook up! If you could see my fantasies and my thoughts, it would outlandish and farfetched! Oh trust me on that! 

I would like to be, for once in my life, the guy who lives in a big palace with a lot of people...a wacky, wizard inventor, a lot of cute girls in legwarmers and oversized t-shirts, a few elves, fairies, ninjas, professional wrestlers, space aliens, a couple of soldiers, cats, super heroes, a robot,, a Christian pastor and a French chef to go along with it...why all this? I do not know! Let's add a library, a film studio, a theater, and a giant kitchen complete with a stockpile of food to go with these people as well! Oh, and did I forget the people in this fantasy live on island which is also its own country among other things? No? Well, now you know! This is just to help you visualize my intense imagination! 

Usually my work does slide between silly; for those moments I chose to be funny, to those moments where I chose to be extremely serious. 

Who is your favorite poet?
I do not have a favorite poet as I am more of a novelist than a poet. However, if I had a number of poets whose works I need to read more, they would include Walt Whitman and Lord Byron. Perhaps there are more, but for the time being, I am going to stick with those two. I also want to read “The Odyssey” in its entirety. 

Does writing ever take you to unexpected places or reveal things you hadn’t thought about before?
Absolutely! There are so places a many writer or reader can visit in words. Perhaps the same can be said about the various peoples, cultures, and nations one can meet in the words of a writer. The sad truth, however, is while these places are amazing, readers and writers alike will never be able to visit these worlds for real. 

And that is not just limited to locales either! Experiences such as meeting someone out of the ordinary or a sentient being who isn’t human! Now that would be an encounter in itself! As I said before about having my life go from mundane to magical, meeting someone like that would be awesome. 

Earlier, I said something about wanting to live in a big house with a lot of unusual characters like ninjas, elves, and a wacky inventor. While something that may never happen to me in real life. In the realm of fiction, however, anything goes. Perhaps I could write a novel about something like that! 

Do you have a favorite poem in your collection?
That’s hard to choose because I love every single one of my poems. If I had to choose which poems were the best write, I would have to choose "Sinking of the Mary Lee" because of its tragic story, "Joker Junction" on account of the hilarious tale behind it, "Sylvester the Firebeard" largely in part of its title character and its events being so life like. (One can feel the heat of the flames and smell the scent of gunpowder!) 

I also enjoyed writing "Tapestries", and "Atop the Bookshelf" (the poem for which the anthology is named for), mainly as they took two seemingly mundane objects and turned them into something worth observing closer. "Sniper", because it depicts a soldier in a battle. "A Man Named Paul", "Judas", and "The Apostle Peter," would have to be listed because they were all in relation to the three men mentioned and their Biblical importance. 

As for "Elizabeth", is a poetic rendition of the Tad Cummins Case. It was one of those poems I knew I had to write because of how the news of that crime affected me. Just as there have been poems and songs written about historical events and people. Which is mainly why I wrote “Orville and Wilbur” as it was about the Wright Brothers’ flight in Kitty Hawk. Lastly, “Aurora Borealis” was written because seeing the polar lights is something on my bucket list.  "A Fan Named Ann" was something I wrote to reflect about a football game where I once provided security. 

Now, the fun poems to write were the haikus and the quatrains. Some were foreboding and others were light hearted and positive. Believe me, those were the best to write! You could see so much in so little words!

I am quite certain there are a number of poems I’ve left out. Time constraints do not allow me the opportunity to explain every poem in Atop the Bookshelf. Yet, I will say that most of my poetry was written because I felt strongly about a topic or something was on my mind.

Now if I had to name one of my poems that had a good premise, yet a poor delivery, would have to be “K’Yakcha”. I wrote it as a means of recapturing the epics of Old akin to “Beowulf” and “The Iliad”. Yet, “K’Yakcha” seems to have missed the mark. Those who read it may say it was reminiscent of those epics, but I just feel it’s not up to par.

Do not get me wrong though, I enjoyed writing “K’Yakcha” because creating a modern day epic was a challenge in itself. However, I feel by its stilted prose, “K’Yakcha” simply doesn’t measure up to the classics. What I will say to my readers is if you are put off by the awkward wording found in “K’Yakcha”, let me just say it helps to think like a translator. Intelligent readers will understand the meaning of my words. 

“Ode to David” was a decent one to write as well. However it is not as good as it should have been. “Oasis”, “Waiting Room”, “A Date with Death”, and various others would also fit in this latter category.  By that, I mean poems that were good ideas, but not the best written. 

Perhaps it is best if I let my readers decide which poems were my best and which poems were my worst.

Can you tell us a bit about your writing process?
I love writing at night. I do not know why, but there is something about its tranquility that appeals to me. The same can be said about writing on a rainy day. Another tactic which helps is listening to music and ambience to help with visualizing a scene or dialogue.  

What was the most challenging aspect of writing poetry?
The most challenging part of poetry is showing the most with the least amount of words. I've had to remove words which felt out of place. Another challenging aspect of poetry is the plot, theme, and subject matter. I've even had to remove poems from "Atop the Bookshelf" because I felt they were not good enough. 

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your anthology?
That would ultimately depend on what my readers desire from my words. Some of my readers are probably seeking entertainment. Others are most likely desiring a deeper meaning. 

How have readers responded to your anthology so far?
Sadly, there have not been many readers. One of the many tragedies of being a writer is not having any readers. More than fame and riches, a writer should be more concerned with gaining readers FIRST and FOREMOST.

In ten years, where would you like your writing career to be?
I would like to have at least some of what I desire to create to be published by this time. Believe me when I say that would be a major advancement in my career.  

As of this interview, I am working on creating my facebook fanpage so fans of my work can congregate and keep up with the latest about my work. 

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I am divided on the issue of ebooks. For me it is a two-edged sword with its pros and cons. For the pro side of ebooks, they are environmentally sound in reducing the consumption of resources. However, when it comes to the cons, one of the most upsetting attributes of ebooks is how they are reducing the concept of brick and mortar book stores. 

For me, going to a physical location for books and tests is more appealing than computerized ebooks. I say this because of the personal interaction with fellow readers and aspiring authors. 

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I cannot further disclose much about what I have in the works. The reason being is I have learned it is best not to announce your plans or goals. It is mainly because if I were to do that, I would be less motivated! For any future projects I have in store, one will have to wait and see!  

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your anthology?
I choose not to disclose that as I would rather let my readers discover for themselves. To say much more would ruin it for my readers.

More Information
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Grace Black, Three Lines: All That's Left

Today we are interviewing Grace Black about her poetry book, Three Lines: All That’s Left.
 
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I mingle with words as I navigate this realm, and writing is my way of understanding, discovery. When not writing you can find me in my garden with muddy knees and hands full of earth. Nature is my solace.

Describe your new poetry book, Three Lines: All That's Left.
Three Lines takes loss and love and mingles misadventure of the heart into a woven form of poetic understanding. The digestible sized poems are meant to be read and enjoyed as stand-alone works or coupled to tell a larger story.
 
Who do you think would most appreciate this book? 
Anyone who has ever experienced love, loss, or heartache will hopefully find something relatable in Three Lines.

What inspirations contributed to Three Lines: ?
Poetry is what exists in everyday life; it’s the visceral response to our daily interactions. The inspiration for this collection of poetry was siphoned from my soul.

You employ a minimalist style in your poetry. What drew you to this style?
I favor a quality over quantity and have found less to be more. Life is filled with complications, and I try to simplify the meaning without diminishing the visceral effect. We often read a sentence or fragments in a book that linger with us longer than the whole of the story. This is what I have tried to accomplish with the poems in “Three Lines,” a sense of completeness in each of the brief offerings. My aim is to emote a feeling that is consumable and easily relatable with few words.  

Poet Grace Black

Do the poems in your new book revolve around a central theme?
Yes, the theme is simply love and its ability to give and take pain in equal measure. The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. And I’ve always said, “A forgotten love does not exist.”

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished poem?
I dabble in word play and hold the weight of words on my tongue.  I spend a lot of time immersed in nature and allow my mind escape. That’s when the words come, and the poetry begins to take form. I am always jotting down notes and drabble for later tinkering.

Are there any poets who have influenced your writing style?
Many poets and writers have influenced my style. I’m sure pieces of all I’ve read are woven into my fabric as a writer. A few of my favorites are Baudelaire, Bukowski, Don DeLillo, and Anaïs Nin.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
Well, I always have several things going at any given time. I write short-stories, also know as flash fiction (brevity seems to be a theme), and have a few in an upcoming anthology due out in June of this year. Also, I am compiling my next book of poetry, a collection of prose poems, haibun, and haiku all rolled into one.
 
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I wrote Three Lines over a two-year span of time and many individuals inspired me along the way. The book is dedicated to all of—you. 

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Jeannie Croichy, Author of Four Reasons for Each Season

Today we are interviewing Jeannie Croichy, author of the children's book Four Reasons for Each Season.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Sure!

I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey to Caribbean parents. This makes me a first-generation American. I am also a first-generation college graduate. Currently, I am earning a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership. In addition, I am an adjunct professor. In regards to my interests, I love to write. Writing is my heart’s passion.

Describe your new children’s book in a few sentences.
My new children’s book is my very first published book. It was important for me to develop a book for children, but also for all ages. The book consists of four haiku poems for each of the four seasons. Four Reasons for Each Season is a wonderful glimpse of the beauty of the Earth’s seasons. Each haiku provides a descriptive visual of the exquisiteness provided by winter, spring, summer, and fall. This children’s book will allow children and their parents to admire nature’s gift to the world as a family.

What inspired you to write a children’s book about the beauty of the four seasons?
That’s a beautiful question. Personally, I was inspired by nature. I love walking in the woods with my dogs, Sweetie and Rosco, and just admiring everything – the scent of the air, color of the trees, touch of the green grass, and the taste of the snowflakes. These are enjoyable aspects of the four seasons. I thought it would be great and educational to share my admiration of nature with families – in hopes of children creating their own admiration and love for nature.

Why did you decide to tell this story with haiku poetry?
I believe telling this story of the four seasons with haiku poetry would allow children to make an instant connection with the words. Haiku poetry provides a beautiful description of feelings and images – and this is especially manifested with the theme of nature in my book.

How do you hope your book will impact people?
Personally, it is crucial to create an impact in the world. The future of our world is in the hands of our children. Through my book and other nature-related resources, our children will continue the legacy of appreciating nature and its seasons. However, it is important for parents to introduce this appreciation to their children. This will allow children to create their very own appreciation for the seasons, nature, and our beautiful world.

Growing up, I was taught to appreciate the Earth. In school, there was a magnificent day called “Earth Day” and this celebration of the Earth still continues today. 

My deepest hope is that Four Reasons for Each Season would create a very special place in children. At times, nature is something that is taken for granted and it’s truly important to educate our children in appreciating nature and appreciating our seasons. Whether it’s cold or hot outside, we should all have something to appreciate about each season.

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process for this book, from the initial idea to the finished book?
Sure! The creative process was quite an adventurous journey. Since this is my very first book, I am undeniably so amazed at the extraordinary stages of the creative process.

Writing the haiku poetry was the very first step. Inspiration was definitely in nature. At times, hiking or simply looking out of my beautiful window developed my inspiration. In regards to looking out of my window, I have a spectacular view of the woods on a hill, which is definitely inspirational.

After the development of the poetry, the artwork was crucial. I am blessed to have two wonderful and artistic brothers, Jean Croichy Jr. and Joel Croichy. Both of my brothers worked very hard on creating beautiful artwork for each poem and the book cover. I am truly grateful of their artistic input in the overall process. 

What do you have in mind for your next project?
Wonderful question! I have plenty of exciting projects in mind. I am definitely going to create more nature-themed children’s books. I am in the process of developing an animal and nature children’s book as well.

In the future, I am looking forward to undertaking themes that will teach children about social issues in a creative way.

Overall, I am just super excited to use my writing to inspire children and to possibly use my writing to create cherished memories. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Most importantly, I would like to thank potential readers in believing in the message of this book. I am delighted to share this message with the world. It is important to educate our children in the value of appreciating nature. Four Reasons for Each Season is a breathtaking book not only for children, but also for all ages. This book will allow individuals to create their own appreciation for each season and nature.

Four Reasons for Each Season is available as a Kindle format on Amazon. I’m looking forward to the printed version in the future.

Short excerpt from Spring:

The budding green leaves
Tulips and daffodils
Refreshing spring breeze

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