Sincerely Art: Interview Series

Sincerely Art: Interview Series Sy Albright interviews Karlo Sevilla----    poet/author His latest poetry release Metro Manila Mammal https://www.somapublishing.com/2018/05/metro-manila-mammal.html   SA: I distinctly remember reviewing your incredible book “Metro Manila Mammal” a few months back and remarking how it was rare to read work from Asian males. I think in general women out number men in writing. Do you have any thoughts on why this occurs? KS: I’m not sure what the exact ratio is between men and women writers in the Asian continent, haha! That’s also how I perceive it, though, that, “in general women outnumber men in writing” – particularly here in the Philippines. Perhaps women are generally more sensitive and have more compelling reasons to express themselves through writing. In any case, Penguin Classics recently published works by three iconic Filipino writers, who are all “incidentally” males: The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical G

    Sincerely Art: Interview Series   Sy Albright interviews Adam Levon Brown --   poet/author/editor     SA: You are the first writer in this interview who is openly gay. From an academic standpoint I don’t believe there is a difference between gay writing and straight writing. But I am curious if as a gay writer do you face pressures different from non gay writers in the publishing sense? ALB: First of all, I want to thank you for interviewing me, Sy. It’s an honor to be interviewed. As far as gay writing goes, the majority of my poems focus on mental illness, but I have two yet to be published chapbooks on my sexuality. Writing about my sexuality can be painful at times, but it’s well worth the effort, as I think that more LGBTQIA+ voices should be heard. There isn’t so much a problem in getting published as a queer writer, it’s the amount of avenues available that are specifically aimed at LGBTQIA+ persons. Sure, you have Crab Fat and Damaged Goods Press (Love

Sincerely Art: Interview Series Sy Albright interviews Cristina Bresser de Campos --- poet/novelist   SA: Latin American culture in general can be very masculine. How does a female writer rise above all of that to become a relevant voice? CBDC:   The subjects I explore in my books are of Universal interest. My second novel, “HAND LUGGAGE” is about to be launched in English by the Canadian publisher Ricky’s Back Yard/ Czykmate Productions. In this novel, my main character, Roberta, struggles with abusive relationships, alcohol addiction in her family, love, friendship and losses. The book is about human different nature, reconnections and making up. She deals with very hard issues in a light (and sometimes even funny) way and she doesn’t give up to love and being loved. This type of humor and perspective, although being from a woman’s point of view, attracts both women and men.  In my point of view, we, Brazilian female writers, have been conquering our space with o

  Sincerely Art: Interview Series   Sy Albright interviews John L. Stanizzi – poet/author/educator   SA: These mini-story poems of yours have such a simple but unique structure I can’t even understand why no one has not explored this before. You have created a refreshing and recharging format. How did this come about? JLS: I’m not entirely sure how these pieces came about.   When I was teaching I remember reading about a writing contest for shortest story ever, or some such thing.   The story could not go beyond 50 words.   For a while I had my students try their hands at these tiny tales.   However, many years ago, I abandoned assigning these “short” stories to my students, and I stopped exploring the form myself.   Until recently. I have always loved to explore form in my poems.   I tried my hand at all the usual suspects – villanelle, sestina, pantoum, triolet, garland, ghazal, et al.   My most recent book, Chants (which will be published by Cervena Barva next

Sincerely Art: Interview Series   Sy Albright interviews Sofia Kioroglou --- poet/author/humanitarian   SA: I might have heard or read about you doing important charity work out in Egypt for the Greek church. How does that critical mission impact your devotion to writing?  SK: Yes, it is true. As a pilgrim, I  traveled for the first time to Jerusalem in 2010 to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and embark on a journey of prayer and faith. I absolutely had no idea what was in store for me as on my visit to the Holy Sepulcher I was met with a slew of miraculous incidents which are actually the reason why I have written my second book " Mystagogy in the Holy Land" which is slated for publication in January. This book is a revelation and I never expected it would ever see the light of day. Now, Egypt came later and now there is Africa, where poverty abounds. All these spiritual experiences could not have been repressed so they found their way out through writi

Sincerely Art – Interview Series   Sy Albright interviews Siddharth Sehgal writer/poet/editor-in-chief Indian Periodical http://indianperiodical.com   SA: First allow me to congratulate you on your nomination for poetry at Best of the New Awards. When did you start writing in your life? SS: Thank you very much, I’d also like to thank Sincerely Art for consider me for this prestigious series. I’d say my interest in reading eventually developed into writing. When I was a kid, my parents thought that surrounding me with books will keep me away from video games. I would always get pocket money for books but never for video games, it was a sort of starting point. When I was in college, sometimes I’d write poems or experiences of growing up in an Indian middle-class family, but I never thought about submitting them to any journals. It was only when I came to United States as a student to pursue graduate studies at University of Alabama at Birmingham that I though