What inspired you to write your very first poem at the age of 12, and do you remember what it was about?
I vaguely recall watching a love story on tv and I was so touched by it that my first poem, albeit childish in nature, came out so easily. It was a love poem.
How have your experiences and emotions over the years shaped the metaphors and imagery in your poetry?
I think the metaphors and imagery I currently use in the new poems I am writing are far more mature than they were even 5 years ago. I went from being a bit immature and naive in my expression and expectation of life and love, to being very complex and multifaceted.
What was the catalyst that encouraged you to finally publish your work after nearly 20 years of writing poetry?
The catalyst was the pandemic. Without realizing it, I had compiled a couple of notebooks of various poems written at different stages of my life since my teenage years, for fun. During the pandemic I had a very difficult time in my personal life, so I decided to start writing a poetry book about the stages that I went through at that time, as well as the lessons that I have learned throughout that experience.
How did compiling and revising your earlier works for "Memories of Self" and "Shards of Self" compare to the process of creating new material?
It was much easier to comb through earlier works and select or modify specific poems. Shards of Self is a bit like a self-help book and, although I am very proud of it, I do find some of the poems to be a bit immature and simplistic in their expression. Writing new material these days is far more daunting because it is more complex. I am no longer writing as a defense mechanism for coping with disappointments and heartbreak, but rather a more logically constructed project from beginning to end. I am currently slowly putting together a brand new book of poems so we will see which direction it will take.
"Shards of Self" is described as deeply personal and cathartic. What advice would you give to others who may be hesitant to share their own vulnerable stories?
It takes a lot of courage to put those emotions out for the world to read about and to see. Most writers and artists use vulnerability to create timeless pieces by tapping into their inner feelings and allowing the audience to also reunite with those hidden or denied emotions. By looking at art or reading poetry/stories, it allows people to step into their innermost forgotten intimacy.
What role did the pandemic play in your healing process and the creation of "Shards of Self"?
The pandemic was the reason this book and concept was born in the first place. I was in a very bad place in my life, in a terrible relationship, unhappy on many levels and I realized I was broken into many shards or pieces so I wrote about the process of putting myself back together. Being at home gave me more time to work on it and due to the highly volatile and emotional time we all experienced, the poems came together very easily.
Can you describe how the artwork included in "Of Life, Of Love, Of Self & Other Poems" complements the themes of your poetry?
I chose artwork that aligns with the idea behind each chapter of my poetry book. This also taps into the concept I created last year which is about using conglomerate forms of interpretation in art and their respective effects on what the audience perceives or feels in a given moment as they go through that artistic experience (whether that is looking at a painting or reading something).
Your love for Asian culture seems to influence your artistic pursuits. Can you share how it has inspired your writing or creative process?
Most of the artists who inspired me to write in this manner are Asian, so I think in a way I tend to mirror the asian way of thinking and living, to a limited extent of course.
As someone who enjoys painting and dancing, do you find these other forms of expression influence your poetry, or do they provide a creative escape?
I think painting can influence my poetry, although I have separated the two as of late. I think my other forms of expression can be seen as a creative escape more than a direct influence.
What has been the most rewarding part of sharing your poetry with readers, and how has their feedback impacted you?
The most rewarding part was hearing people relate to my experiences and how my books helped them in some capacity to overcome a problem or simply as an escape from reality.
When curating poems for publication, how do you decide which ones to include and which to set aside?
I look at quality over quantity so I choose poems that can resonate on multiple levels with the audience and those that carry more complex messages.
Traveling and experiencing life seem to play a big role in your work. How do these experiences enrich your writing?
Traveling opens our eyes to the world around us and gives us the opportunity to discover different ways of life. In a way it puts things in perspective and I always felt inspired to create more after a meaningful trip. However, I haven’t had any meaningful trips lately so I look forward to the future when I can use traveling as a means of artistic inspiration.
Looking back at your journey as a poet, what do you feel has been your greatest growth or transformation?
My biggest growth is happening now as I am turning 40 this year. When I read what I write these days, I notice a big transformation in my understanding of myself and how to extrapolate the complexity of my thoughts through a poem or through art.
What can readers expect from your next release, and are there any new themes or styles you plan to explore?
My next book will be more complex in my approach to writing poetry. I plan to create something that will be pleasant to read yet thought-provoking at the same time. I will stick to just poetry for my book, no art but maybe something purely artistic will also be in the works. For now this is all I can say!
What do you think of AllAuthor? Has this website been helpful to you?
I think the website is a great avenue to create more awareness, especially for newcomers like myself. I can’t say that more people have found my books yet or bought them because it is very hard to step into his industry when you are not known but I hope this interview will give readers a bit more insight into my books and art.
