Interview by Andrew C. Angus
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Poet from North Carolina
Feb 16, 2005, Wednesday. I emailed the Interview Questions to LB Sedlacek
Feb 24, 2005, Thursday. Muses Review receives back the Interview questions.
This interview was posted in Muses Review on May 13, 2005, Friday. Here's the interview.
1. AA: Were you featured or interviewed in a literary magazine before? If Yes, can you name the magazine? When or what year?
LBS: Yes. Poetry Life and Times. In the year 2001.
2. AA: Were you featured in television show or newspaper? If yes, what TV program or what newspaper? If yes, when?
LBS: No.
3. AA: Is this "Hemlock Suicides Planned by Well-Dressed Men In Suits" your first book of poems?
LBS: No. "After Graceland", "The Cat and the Carroll A. Deering and Other North Carolina Poems", "Alexandra's Wreck".
4. AA: At what age did you start writing poems?
LBS: 12 yrs old.
5. AA: At what age did you start wrting poems seriously?
LBS: 30
6. AA: Who encouraged you to write poetry?
LBS: I have always done some kind of writing (short stories, business,etc.) and decided to give poetry a try because I like to read it.
7. AA: Why do you write your poems in free verse rather in rhymed verse?
LBS: Just a personal preference.
8 Andrew: Who are your favorite dead poets? Why?
LB: Rilke, Hart Crane, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Pablo Neruda. I like their style and use of language.
9. Andrew: Do you have a favorite living poet?
LB: No.
10. Andrew: Who among the poets (dead/living) influenced you?
LBS: Rilke
11. Andrew: Do you plan to write poems in metered verse or rhymed verse?
LB: No.
12. Andrew. 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. Defend your answer.
LB: I like prose poetry and define it as conversational poetry. I think prose poetry should be considered poetry because there is something behind it whether one likes the way it's presented or not. It's much better in my opinion than language poetry which just seem to be words arranged in this way or that without a particular meaning.
13. Andrew: Some of your poems touched on sensitive /taboo topics like murder and suicide? (Ex. Hemlock Suicides....) Is this based on other person's experience that you know or who is close to you? (You don't have to answer this question if you don't like to answer this question.)
LB: The title poem "Hemlock Suicides Planned by Well-Dressed men In Suits" is based on the actual suicide and circumstances of the act of an acquaintance. Needless to say, even though I wasn't particularly close to this person that act taking place was disturbing and haunted me for some time.
14. Andrew: In your opinion, why is it big publishing firms do not accept poetrybook manuscripts from new writers?
LB: Because it's all about marketing - they want the sure thing well known author that will sell. But that doesn't always come true!
15. Andrew: Is self-publishing the best path for first-book poets? If yes, why?
LB: It depends how dedicated the poet is to her/his own career.
16. Andrew: Is your chapbook self-published or published by a big publishing company?
LB: Small local publishing company where a friend and I work on stuff together. I like to be very much involved with myh own publishing and/or selling my own stuff.
17. Andrew: Do you write short stories? Novellas? Novels? Essays?
LB: Short stories, Novels, essays.
18. Andrew: Which of the above were published?
LB: Short Stories.
19. Andrew: Have you made book reviews before?
LB: Yes.
20. Andrew: Have you published a book that is not a poetry book? If yes, can you name the title of these non-poetry books?
LB: Yes. The title of my non poetrybook is "Suicide Pumpkins (A Love Story)".
21. Andrew: When did you publish your first poetry book?
LB: My first poetry book was published in 2000.
22. Andrew: Did you contribute literary articles (poems, short stories, essays, etc.) to high school or college newspapers, community newspapers?
LB: No.
23. Andrew: Did you experience working as an intern in any established newspapers?
LB: No.
24. Andrew: Aside from writing poetry, what are your favorite hobbies/recreation?
LB: Reading, swimming, travel.
25. Andrew: Are you single, married, divorced or widowed?
LB: Married.
26. Andrew: What is the name of your wife?
LB: (blank)
27. Andrew: How many children?
LB: (blank)
28. Andrew: Have you acted in Shakespeare plays or any theater plays?
LB: Yes.
29. Andrew: What awards have you received related to poetry?
LB: 3rd place Gin Bender Review 2004 Poetry Contest, Pushcart Prize nomination in 2002. Chantelle Anne Cook from Bell's Letters.
30. Andrew: What is the title of the poem which you were nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2002?
LB: Monkey Bar.
31. Andrew: Where were you born?
LB: North Carolina
32. Andrew: Where did you grow up?
LB: Washington, DC
33. Andrew: What state are you living right now?
LB: North Carolina
34. Andrew: What course did you take in college? masters or doctoral?
LB: Business Admin/History is my college course. Theatre, Speech, Communications is my Master's Degree.
35. Andrew: What is your official website?
LB: www.thepoetrymarket.com
35. Andrew: Can you name at least 5 of your favorite poems in your chapbook "Hemlock Suicides...."
LB: "Hemlock Suicides", "Swatting at Sunlight", "Gone Missing" "Burying Bicycles", "Baby Bunnies on Crack".....
Part II.
36. Andrew: What is your job right now? (You don't have to say where exactly you work.)
LB: I currently work part-time in a marketing or business writing.
37. Andrew: What did you do after graduating from college? Did you find work immediately after graduation?
LB: I worked for the government immediately after college.
38. Andrew: Did you work your way to college or did you depend on your parents or both.
LB: Scholarships.
39. Andrew: Is your chapbook available in electronic edition only or in print ?
LB: Print only right now.
40. Andrew: Define prose and poetry.
LB: Prose to me is like fiction or complete sentences. Poetry is like short subtle word compositions to me.
End of interview.
You can read Sedlacek's poem samples in this website by clicking the icon: Poetry. You can also buy Sedlacek's book "Hemlock Suicdes Planned by Well-dressed Men in Suits" by clicking the icon: Buy this book.
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