About “Found Photograph, Uncle Lou”

1. What was your motivation for writing “Found Photograph, Uncle Lou”?

Finding an old Polaroid of Lou and me standing by a Cessna plane he flew.

2. What challenges—if any—did you have writing your poem?

Only the memory conjured up, and my still missing him. He died in 1982 at age 51, heart attack.

3. What is your favourite line—if any—in “Found Photograph, Uncle Lou”?

The vacation shirt / we called it

4. What do you want people to walk away with after reading “Found Photograph, Uncle Lou”?

The complexity of relationships in families.

5. Is there anything else you would like to talk about regarding “Found Photograph, Uncle Lou” that hasn’t been asked?

Love your relatives. Especially the strange ones.

Reading

1. What are you currently reading?

Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.

2. Do you have a favourite book? If so, what is it?

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

3. What is your favourite poet or author, if any?

Whitman, Blake, Mary Oliver

4. Do you gravitate towards reading genres outside the ones you write?

I also love Stephen King and Freida McFadden.

Writing

1. Why do you write?

To silence the traffic in my head.

2. What do you love about being a poet?

I don’t have to commit to lengthy work like novels.

3. What time of the day do you write, and do you have a writing routine?

When I can, no routine.

4. Where do you get your ideas from?

Personal triggers or overheard conversations.

5. How long does it take you to write your projects?

I’m a quick writer, then come edits.

6. What advice would you give to other authors/writers/poets?

Keep reading other voices.

7. What project(s) are you currently working on?

A second book of poetry.