Interview by Andrew C. Angus
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Poet from California
Fall 2004
Winter 2005
Feb 3, 2005, Thursday. I emailed the Interview Questions to Katie.
March 4, 2005, Friday. Muses Review receives back the interview questionnaire by postmail.
This interview was posted in Muses Review on March 7, 2005.
1. AA: Were you featured in a literary magazine, TV or newspaper before? If Yes, can you name the literary magazine, TV or newspaper?
KDS: Gentle Chaos Magazine. Dec 2004-Jan2005.
2. AA: When or what year were you featured?
KDS: Dec 2004- Jan 2005
3. AA: Is this "The Beginning of the Tumbling" your first book of poems?
KDS: Yes.
4. AA: At what age did you start writing poems seriously?
KDS: 14 yrs old.
5. AA: Who encouraged you to write poetry?
KDS: My mom and professor, Patricia Dobler.
6. AA: I noticed that all your poems are written in free verse. Why do you like to write your poems in free verse instead of rhymed verse?
KDS: For one, to be completely honest, I do not write rhymed verse very well. Also, i just feel I can express myself better, expand on my ideas more, and bring all my points across better using free verse.
7. Andrew: Who are your favorite dead poets? Why?
Katie: Sylvia Path, Emily Dickinson, Amy Lowell, Virginia Woolf, Poe and Shakespeare.
They all use a variety of techniques in their work in which they really make their work stand out and bring great concepts to light.
8. Andrew: Do you have a favorite living poet? Why do you like this living poet as of this moment in time?
Katie: Yes, Sharon Olds. I truly appreciate her unabashed honesty and how much of herself she puts into her work. She leaves herself stark for all to read.
9. Andrew: Who among the poets (dead/living) influenced you?
Katie: Patricia Dober because she pushed my limits and made me really find my voice. she also wrote a great deal of excellent work. Sharon Olds made me not afraid to be completely honest. .
10. Andrew: Do you write short stories? Novellettes (short novels) ? Novels? Essays?
Katie: Short stories.
11. Andrew: Which of the above mentioned (10.) genres were published?
Katie: None yet.
12. Andrew: Your poem "Readers Block" (p. 24) is good example of "prose poetry". Some people consider "prose poetry" not a poem but more of a prose. What do you think of prose poetry? Should we classify "prose poetry" as poetry?
Katie: I definitely think "prose poetry" should be classified as poetry. I believe it is just another different style of poetry. I feel the poem begins to own itself as it comes out and forms. That is just the shape it takes me for me at times.
13. Andrew: Some of your poems touched on sensitive topics like sex abuse or rape (Ex. Broken Parts Stuck in a Broken Engine, p.2)? Is this based on your experience or other girl's experience? (You don't have to answer this question if you don't like to answer this question.)
Katie: I have absolutely no problem with this question. Those poesm are all based on my own personal experience. I also knew and still know many women who have experienced many of the very same things I went through. I am not afraid anymore to tell my story, any part of it.
14. Andrew: In your opinion, why is it big publishing firms do not accept poetrybook manuscripts from new writers?
Katie: They have so many already established writers already and that makes guaranteed money for them. They also received contless manuscripts daily, so there is so much to go through. And, truthfully, I know poetry is one of the hardest forms of writing to sell.
15. Andrew: Is self-publishing the best path for first-book poets? If yes, why?
Katie: It depends if one is ready to do a vast majority of their own marketing and self-promotion.
16. Andrew: Did you contribute to literary articles (poems, short stories, essays, etc.) to high school or college newspapers or community newspapers?
Katie: I contributed all of the above to my college newspaper.
17. Andrew: Did you experience working as an intern in any established newspaper?
Katie: I was a staff writer for a period of time at a newspaper in Pennsylvania.
18. Andrew: Have you published a book that is not a poetry book? If yes, can you name the title of these non-poetry books?
Katie: No
19. Andrew: Aside from writing poetry, what are your favorite hobbies/recreation?
Katie: Reading, crafts, crocheting, snowboarding.
20. Andrew: Are you single, married, divorced or widowed?
Katie: Married.
21. Andrew: What is the name of your husband?
Katie: Bruce
22. Andrew: How many children?
Katie: 0 (zero)
23. Andrew: Do you have plans to publish a second poetry book?
Katie: Yes.
24. Andrew: What awards have you received related to poetry?
Katie: None at this time.
25. Andrew: Have you acted in Shakespeare plays?
Katie: No.
26. Andrew: Where were you born?
Katie: Altoona, Pennsylvania
27. Andrew: Where did you grow up?
Katie: Pennsylvania
28. Andrew: What state are you living right now?
Katie: California
29. Andrew: Can you name at least 5 of your favorite poems in your book?
Katie: Broken Parts Stuck in a Broken Engine", "The View Into My Room" "Textured Picture" , "A Span of Fours", "Loosed or Constrained".
30. Andrew: What course did you take in college?
Katie: Creative Writing.
Part II.
31. Andrew: How do you see yourself five years from now?
Katie: I hope to have completed or be working on my MFA Program, specializing in poetry. I also want to conduct numerous workshops, but with a little different spin on them. I want to create sound, enriching and thought-provoking poetry workshops, like so many wonderful ones I have attended, but I want to make them much more affordable. I want any writer to be able to take them because even I have had to miss out on some great ones simply because they were too out of my price range. I also want to have published at least two more collections of poetry, my autobiographical memoir, and possibly a fiction novel.
32. Andrew: Describe yourself.
Katie: I can be both an introvert or an extrovert. When I am in a strong writing mode, I like to be left alone. I do enjoy being around good company as well. I am definitely talkative and stand my ground on many of my beliefs. I am a very emphatic and compassionate person, sometimes a little too extreme. I have a good sense of humor and try my absolute best at everything I am involved with
33. Andrew: Do you consider yourself more of a poet than a writer or both equally?
Katie: Right now I do consider myself more of a poet, but I truly want to expand my writing to different genres, as I am working on them right now, and I know I can do it.
34. Andrew: How do you write poetry? If you fee like composing or you sit and wait for inspiration?
Katie: I write constantly. I carry a journal with me everywhere. I am always taking notes or just stopping totally to write something out that has struck me. I take my writing very seriously and write quite a bit everyday.
End of interview.
You can read Katie's poem samples in this website by clicking the icon: Katie's poems.
You can read Katie's book ads in this website by clikcing the icon: Katie Davis-Steward's Book Ads. You can also buy Katie's book 'The Beginning of Tumbling' by clicking the icon: Buy This book.
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