Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start writing.
I’ve been writing since age 16, so 26 years. It was something I started doing around the time I took a creative writing class at Penn State. Very therapeutic. All my emotions were buried inside at the time. Poetry was a chance to be a more authentic version of myself. At times, I stepped away from it, since it is not the most practical way to spend your time. But I always came back to it. Other types of writing like fiction, screenwriting, blogging, writing articles, I’ve been doing all along as well. I’ve also taught writing at seven different universities in the NYC area, so I guess you could say this has been a major emphasis of my existence.
Describe your writing process? Is there anything unique about it?
Very little unique about my writing process I would presume. I write the first draft in a sort of free-spirited, non-linear kind of way. Then I go back and revise–if needed. Sometimes I show the work to friends and associates for feedback and do further revisions. Other times I let it sit in a drawer for a while, then revise after I see it more clearly. I try not to get too rigid in my methods. As long as the work gets done I’m okay with it.
Have you published any books or do you have a desire to do so?
My two latest books are poetry collections. “Butterflies Lost Within The Crooked Moonlight” and “Feast of Sapphires.” They are a great chance to get a feel for a wide range of my poems. If you buy the book, and send me a copy of the receipt, I will write you a personalized poem on any subject. I tried to make the poems relatable and easy enough to grasp while still offering a degree of insight into the world around us.
Do you have any favorite poets or authors?
I definitely enjoy authors who are a bit countercultural and satirical. Brett Easton Ellis, Denis Johnson, Charles Bukowski, Voltaire, Henry Miller. I also like writers who construct a story well. One of my favorite books ever is Robinson Crusoe. It’s just expertly written. In terms of poetry, I like Emily Dickinson, William Blake, Arthur Rimbaud etc. Emily Dickinson is probably my favorite poet, just because she does so much in so few words. Also, on the sentence level, her constructions are memorable, and, for me at least, I come back to them at random times. A stanza like “Success is counted sweetest, by those who never succeed, to comprehend a nectar, requires sorest need,” has so much in it. She gets to human motivation, but in an eloquent way. That’s what I love about poetry. It has phrases you keep coming back to when you need them. Another great one, by Auden is, “the hour glass whispers to the lion’s paw.” Love that. That says it all. You could just say the brevity of time compels us to be brave, but it wouldn’t have the same resonance.
Poets are spiritual teachers in a way.
Do you have a favorite book of poetry or poems?
One of my favorite books ever is Robinson Crusoe. It’s just expertly written.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Gerald’s Game” by Stephen King, since I enjoyed the Netflix movie. I’m also reading the book, “Lost Soul” by Donna Siggers, a friend of mine.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Full-time job, pets, hobbies?
I am obsessed with Stanley Kubrick. Lol. I’m in all these Kubrick Facebook groups. His movies fascinate me and I’ve watched them all countless times. I like games, Stratego, online games, casino games (blackjack, craps), arcade games etc. I also am an actor, a standup comedian, an educator, and, at least once, tried my hand at filmmaking. So I keep busy. Traveling is probably my favorite avocation of all though. Nothing better.
Are you working on a current project?
Right now I’m working on both a collection of short stories and a book of humorous pieces.
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