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Summer 2005 - Aug
Table of Contents
Poetry
Poem Review
Book Review
Interviews
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by
Joseph Farley
West Meets East, East Meets West
Interview Conducted by Andrew Angus
Email interview received on June 29, 2005, Wednesday.
Part I. Your Opinion.
1. AA: Why do you like to compose poetry?
JF: In Poet's Market I'm quoted as describing literature as a form of mental illness. I write because I feel an inner need to do so. There is some intellectual pleasure, but it is primarily a sense of release driven by an inner need.
2. AA: Is it necessary to join literary organizations or poetry organizations? Why?
JF: No. While there may be some benefit from getting to meet or communicate with like minded - or similarly infected - individuals, a stronger argument can be made for going it alone. Only by going it alone can you truly develop your own voice.
3.. AA: Are poetrybooks difficult to sell? If yes, why?
JF: Yes. It is not a genre of literature that is popular. It is not beach reading. It requires involvement of your mind and emotions.
4. AA: Have you experienced judging poem contests before?
JF: No. I've never judged a contest.
5. AA: What makes a poetrybook a bestseller? Is your poetrybook a bestseller?
JF: I am not the one to decide if my book is a best seller. What is a best seller? To break even or make a profit would be nice. But, it is perhaps more realistic and equally gratifying to receive good reviews, positive comments, a sense of appreciation or recognition that what you are doing has value. As a poet, you know you must and will write, no matter what is said or written by others, but it is good to get a pat on the back now and then. The more the better. I doubt a poetry book can be a best seller in the New York Times sense unless it is written by George Bush or Jennifer Lopez, which would place it in the same category of publishing curiosity as Where's Waldo or a crossword puzzle collection.
6. AA: . Do you like to travel? Do you think traveling improved your poetry?
JF: I love to travel. Travel definitely has an impact and an influence on my writing. Whether travel has made my work better is a matter of debate.
7. AA: Is Shakespeare the greatest poet who ever lived? If yes, why? If no. why?
JF: No. He is a great playwrite. His poetry was great for its time, but it doesn't always work today.
8. AA: Do you like to read your poems in front of the audience? How does it feel?
JF: I like to read in front of audience. It is like a stand up comedy act, although the audience tend to be miniscule.
9. AA: Did you stay in China? Is yes, what did you do in China?
JF: My wife is Chinese. I've made 2 trips to China, one of 5 weeks and one of 7 weeks, in 1989 and 1993.
10. AA: Should children be encouraged to read poetry? Why?
JF: Yes. It teaches could public speaking and good writing. Keep it brief. Get your point across.
11. AA: Is poetry a spoken art or a literary art? Why?
JF: Both. There is a visual and audio aspect. Poetry is music, emotion and thought. Different aspects can be emphasized. Tastes may differ. Some will like one type more than another.
12. AA: Have you written a single poem with more than a hundred stanzas? If yes, what is the title?
JF: No.
1. AA: Were you interviewed in a literary ezine or printed magazine or newspaper before?
JF: ___x___Yes ______ No
AA: If Yes, can you name the literary ezine or newspaper which interviewed you?
JF: I can't recall; it was small
AA: If yes, when or what year?
JF: _________
2. AA: Were you featured/interviewed in a radio before?
JF: __x___Yes _____No
AA: If yes, what radiostation?
JF: a small station in Camden, NJ.
AA: If yes, what date or what year?
JF: 1994 0r 1995
3. AA: Is "Suckers " your first full length poetrybook? If No, what are the titles of your previous full length poetrybook ?
JF: __x___Yes ______ No
4. AA: How many pieces of the poetrybook "Suckers" have you sold so far? If you don't mind answering the question.
(You may skip the question if you don't like to answer this question.)
JF: over 100 copies were distributed so far of which approximately 15 were sold
5. AA: At what age did you start writing poems?
JF: 10
6. AA: At what age did you start writing poems seriously?
JF: 17
7. AA: Who encouraged you to write poetry?
JF: Louis McKee and teachers in high school and college.
8. AA: Why do you write your poems in free verse instead of rhymed verse?
JF: rhyme often seems stilted and unreal - I want something more immediate
9. AA: Who are your favorite dead poets ?
JF: Lowell, Roethke, Etheridge Knight, Blake, Williams, Dr. Seuss, Bukowski
AA: Why?
JF: I just like them.
10 . AA: Do you have a favorite living poet? If yes, can you name the living poet?Why do you like this particular living poet?
JF: ______ Yes _x____ No
11. AA: Who among the poets (dead/living) influenced you?
JF: Those previously mentioned, McKee, Clark and prayers and psalms.
12. AA: What awards have you received related to poetry?
JF: none worth mentioning
13. AA: In your opinion, why is it big publishing firms do not accept poetrybook manuscripts from new poets?
JF: They want a name with a ready audience and big purchases from colleges and libraries to guarantee a profit.
15 AA: Is self-publishing the best path for first-book poets? If yes, why?
JF: Not always, but it should not be frowned upon. Williams and Whitman did it.
16. AA: Is your latest poetrybook - self-published or published by a big publishing company?
JF: I consider Cynic Press to be a real small press - I don't just publish myself - but I am editor and publisher of Cynic Press.
17 . AA: Do you write other literary genre? Check if Yes. Check as many as applicable.
JF: A. short stories____x__ B. novellas___x__ C. novels ___x_____ D. essays x_______
E. plays __x_____ F. nonfiction __x______
18. AA: Which of your literary works were published?
JF: A. Short stories __x___ B. novellas ______ C. novels _____ D. essays __x___ E. plays __________
F. Non-fiction____x______
19. AA: Do you make bookreviews before and now?
JF: Yes __x____ No ________
20. AA: Have you published a book that is not a poetry book?
JF: Yes _x______ No _________
AA: If yes, Can you name the title of these non-poetrybooks?
JF: For The Birds - short stories
21. AA: When do you plan to publish your second full-length poetry book?
JF: within the next 3 years
22. AA: Did you contribute literary articles (poems, short fiction, essays, etc.) to middle school or college newspapers, community newspapers?
JF: yes
23. AA: What is your favorite poem in Middle School? College? Why?
JF: I liked them all at the time; though my latest was my best. I'm more embarrassed than proud of my high school and college writing now.
24. AA: What are your favorite hobbies/recreation aside from reading poetry?
JF: martial arts
25. AA: Are you single or married or divorced or widowed or remarried?
JF: married
AA: If married, what is the name of your wife?
JF: Juan Xu
AA: If married, how many children?
JF: 2
26. AA: Have you acted in Shakespeare plays or any theater plays?
JF: ______ Yes _x_____ No
27. AA: Where were you born?
JF: Philadelphia
AA: Where did you grow up?
JF: same
AA: What state are you living right now?
JF: Pennsylvania
28. AA: Can you name at least 9 of your favorite poems in your full length poetry book (Suckers):
JF: Market Day in Jiangxi, Birds, Flag Day, House on Water, Form Letters to a Dictator, Evolution, Bamboo of the Mind, Life Zone, Among the Vampires, XiuXi
The complete interview with Joseph Farley will be available in the print edition of Muses Review.
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