What inspired you to start writing poetry, and how has your journey as a poet evolved over the years?
I think I started simply as a way of expressing what I was feeling but felt unable to say. I could see my thoughts on paper, and that made them easier to deal with. Over the years, maturity, life experiences, and reading other poets has been key in my own evolution as a poet and person.
Your book, “World By Design”, explores profound themes. Can you share the inspiration behind the title?
It just came, as most thoughts often do, as something random that popped into my head. The more I thought about it and the more it rolled around up there, it became something I couldn't easily shake. It was the wondering of the world we see and live in, and our place in it. How much of it was there before us, and what are we creating for ourselves within it? I still don't know if I have a concrete answer to that.
In “World By Design”, you touch on themes of change and transformation. What role do you think change plays in your poetry?
Like I mentioned earlier, maturity and evolution are important. I couldn't have written this book at age 20 or even 30. You have to experience real change before you can clearly tackle the topic of it. Change is often the driving factor in the choices we make, and how we adapt to life in front of us. We have to keep up with and sometimes outpace ourselves if we're going to be the person we truly want to be, and poetry is no different...it's an extension of that.
How has your upbringing in Buffalo, NY, influenced your writing and perspective on the world?
In my experience I think Buffalonians have their own spin on the world at large, for better or for worse. We carry an underdog mentality, a feeling of being disrespected at times, but we're also a caring and loving people. Even though I'm not in Western New York anymore, you'll never be able to take it out of me. It's in my brain, my heart, and my spirit, and I hope that's evident in my work.
What do you hope readers take away from your poems in “World By Design?”
Good question, but I don't think that's for me to answer. Ten people can read one poem and take it ten different ways. In general all I hope for is that it makes them think, and maybe see the differences between us are something we all share in ways that make us unique. In this day and age the word "empathy" has taken a lot of fire, but it's something we need from everyone in order to be a better-functioning society. I know it's a lot to ask for, but I still remain hopeful.
Poetry is often a reflection of the world around us. How do you see the relationship between your poetry and the current state of society?
I can only see what I see, whether it's on social media, television, or on walks around town. Within that, I know I can only control what I can control. All I want to do is give a voice to that, to what I observe and what I'm feeling. Currently there's too much hatred and division in the world, and I'm but one person just trying to do my best in whatever I'm doing. If we can do more listening and less trying to shout over others, we can affect real change toward a more positive society.
Do you have a specific writing routine or process? How do you approach creating a new poem?
I really don't have an actual process. Poems often start for me with observations, and thoughts that swirl around them. Sometimes that leads to an entire poem, but often it's the thought written down separately that I can come back to when I'm ready and expound upon.
How does living in Cortland, NY, inspire or influence your work today, compared to your time in Buffalo?
When I first moved out to Cortland, it was a different world to me than I was used to. I was also going through a lot of changes at the time and dealing with a new reality almost entirely on my own. Western New York had become confusing to me, too crowded in a way mentally, and it was producing a lot of anxiety. Getting away from that was really important to me in becoming who I am now and how I work, although it hasn't changed the actual way I work. The change of scenery inspired maybe stronger material in my opinion, but there are other factors at play too like maturity and different experiences.
Many of your poems touch on the complexity of identity and existence. How do you navigate these complex topics in your writing?
Well, I'm closing in on 50 years on this planet, and I still don't have all the answers to that. There are days where I still don't know what the hell I'm doing, or if I'm comfortable enough in my own skin. All I can do with that is put a voice to these struggles, and see how they sound. Sometimes I get a stronger sense of self from it, and sometimes I continue to confuse myself. The reward from that is hearing how other people have responded to how I've addressed these complexities, and we all get a sense that we're not alone in these situations. Whether we like it or not, life is a communal existence; we're all in this together.
How has your style of poetry evolved from 100 to Mutants and now to “World By Design?”
It's hard to say, because I don't see the evolution so much. It's like looking in the mirror every day and not noticing how you're changing or aging from day to day. But looking at something from 10 or 12 years ago and comparing it to today, you see the differences big and small. I'd like to think I've become a little more succinct and at times straightforward, but still a bit murky and clouded. I've retained my sense of self, but that sense has changed over the years and I think it's a little more confident, smarter, and capable of managing emotions than I was in the past. But if you ask me, I think that's an easier question for my readers to answer.
Do you have any favorite poets or writers who have shaped your poetic voice?
Richard Brautigan and Tony Hoagland are two that come to mind immediately. Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg are two more I appreciate. I've had different people compare me to popular musicians, lyricists, and other poets, but that's such high praise that I would never bestow upon myself. It's too surreal.
How does your background as a blogger inform your poetry? Is there a crossover between the two mediums for you?
I don't think there's much crossover between the two, for me at least. I've always switched from one to the other whenever I felt like I hit a wall with one. It's nice to have that to fall back on when you feel like you've run dry and need to recharge creatively.
What challenges do you face when writing poetry, and how do you overcome them?
Being able to concentrate on what I'm doing has always been something I've struggled with, especially in poetry. You've taken a topic, whittled it down to a couple finer points, and you've got to find a way to drive it home in a way that's satisfying to the reader. My mind often works in tangents, and shutting that part of my brain down is tough. Some people can write with music playing, or multitasking and editing multiple items at the same time, but I can't work like that. I need silence so I can hear myself think without getting distracted by a beat, a lyric, or a conversation. One thing at a time.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring poets who are just starting out?
I say this all the time: There are no rules. Only you can stop you from saying and doing what you want to. That's one way we're our own worst enemies in writing. And aspiring writers are going to get inundated with advice...listen, but take what works best for you, because what works for one person may not be suited to your level of intent.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
So far, it's been exceptional! I've been featured on Instagram, and I'm currently a finalist in the Cover Of The Month competition, which is something I never imagined when I entered. I know there are more features I need to take better advantage of, but overall I'd recommend using AllAuthor as part of your promotional toolbox. I've seen how other authors use AllAuthor in their promos, and the potential is exciting.
