Let me first extend a thank you to Ashley Capes, who tapped me on the shoulder to take part in this self-interview thread, started by Ivy Alvarez. I am not sure that my next project, ‘I, Land’ will be a ‘big thing’, but I am excited about it, so thought I would take a swing at the questions.
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What is the title of your book?
I, Land
What genre does your book fall under?
Poetry
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A long poem that explores the idea of escapism and ‘the island’s’ liminal zones.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was going through a particularly uncertain period in my work life (people losing jobs, having to reapply for my own position), so to deal with this, I took myself to ‘the island’.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I wrote the original 10 parts of the poem in just two weeks at the end of 2010. Since that time I have revisited the poem on many occasions and it is now a poem in 15 parts… many of the original parts have either been completely deleted or so significantly rewritten that they bare little resemblance to the original work. There are however, some parts that remain untouched.
So in short, it has been simmering for about 2 years.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Discomfort was the spark for this poem… For me, this is where most ideas come from. The idea that discomfort leads to new learning is at the heart of much of what I do in life.
My wife (unbeknownst to her) was also my spiritual companion on ‘the island’.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I know it’s not what the question asks, but I have a serious quibble with the term, ‘self-published’ as no-one ever truly ‘self-publishes’, by which I mean, does absoluteluy everything themselves… there are always other people involved which is why I prefer the term, ‘independently published’. I, Land will be published by Another Lost Shark Publications (an independent publisher).
What other works would you compare this book to within your genre?
Somewhere in these words, there are echoes of Adamson, Oliver, Kerouac and Issa. These are the poets I was reading during the time of writing this poem.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
One thing I know, it wouldn’t be Tom Hanks!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
A performance of the work will be developed in collaboration with some exciting Brisbane artists. I will be sure to announce more details when they are finalised.
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It’s now my job to tap five other poets on the shoulder, so keep your eyes on this site for their responses!
