Interview Talk Points for 'Poetic Pete' Karplus

1. How old were you when you first diagnosed?

2. What were the doctors predictions of how long your life might be?

3. What did your parents/family do to encourage your development, ie:
   inspire your intellect, teach you perseverance?

4. When did you start walking?

5. At what age were you mainstreamed into the regular school system?

6. Were there any special things you needed to assist you in school?

7. How did the other students react to you?

8. How do your seizures affect you?

9. What should one do if they see a person having a seizure?

10. How/When did you start writing?

11. Why did you choose poetry as opposed to fiction or non-fiction?

12. Do you think that your disabilities encourage or discourage your
    writings?

13. Do people act different, like more sympathetic, or avoidable, when you
    are out in public? 

14. Do you believe that you are more of a product of (a) the terrible/bad
    things that have happened to you in your life, or (b) the good/positive
    things?

15. Jim Carroll was blamed for a Columbine-esque shooting because the
    shooter noted the film based on Jim's life ("The Basketball Diaries")
    as being an inspiration to him. What, if any, responsibility do writers
    have to the public in this regard, re: their work?

16. Do you regret being born disabled?

17. Where did the idea of Frame Word Poem^TM poetry come from?

18. Why call them "Frame Word Poems^TM?"