Sincerely Art: Interview Series

Interview # 14:   John Patrick Robbins         Sy Albright interviews John Patrick Robbins --- poet, author, editor His latest poetry release Smoking at the Gas Pumps https://www.somapublishing.com/2018/11/smoking-at-gas-pumps.html     SA: First, let me congratulate you on the major E-book release of “Smoking at the Gas Pumps.” I was fortunate to get an advance peek at the manuscript. I was struck immediately on how well these poem/stories read and how the hard life you describe is beyond stereotypical expectations. Did any of this cross your mind when constructing poems of extraordinary content? JPR: Honestly this book went together extremely quick. After the struggle I went through to get the first one finished which took several years. I was eager to get another one out there. I was fortunate this opportunity came about and challenged myself to complete this book on a very tight deadline. And believe the product i...

Sy Albright interviews Ryan Quinn Flanagan    ----- poet & author     SA: I noticed a number of Canadian poets have an almost beatnik view of the world. It reminds me of America from the 1960’s. But in this manner, you still retain a sense of social conscience. The combination makes for an interesting artistic result. Is there something in Canadian society or artistic history that fosters this atmosphere? RQF: I think Canadians are always a little behind the times on most things and don’t really have a problem with that.   We also tend to be quite timid and courteous so that is probably why a social conscience is still retained.   Most of all, there is this strange thing that Canada and Canadians do not define themselves by what they are, but rather what they are not.   And what they are not is American.   Beyond that, I don’t really think Canadians have a sound fleshed out idea of who they are as I noted in my poem Canadi...

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 ...

    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 ...

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 conqueri...

  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, Chan...