David J Delaney - Author Interview: Poet

What kinds of poetry, including songs, did you experience as a child and teenager, and did you have some favourites?

Aussie bush poetry was my influence in my early years, then in my pre-teen & teen years, music ranged from folk (Bob Dylan etc.) country ( John Williamson etc.) pop (Zoot) rock (the guess who) and heavy rock (Led Zeplin) I have so many favorites but one that still get to me is 'Get Together' by The Youngbloods.

Would you say your childhood and teenage experience of poetry has had a distinct influence on how you write poetry now, and why?

I would say definitely Australian bush poetry for when I first started writing, but over the last approximately two years, the poetry I write is influenced by so many for now I write traditional rhyme, tanka, haiku, free verse, sonnets, but my first love is still the bush poem.


Who is another poet whose poetry you admire and why?

Mm!!..a difficult question as I admire so many, if we talk of a poet no longer alive I would have to say Francesco Petrarch (some class as the father of sonnets) his work can still resonate with today’s world, for someone who is alive I admire Glenny Palmer, her mastery & wordsmith of today’s Australian bush poetry is simply wonderful.


How would you summarise one of your poems in one paragraph?

From the heart and simple so anyone can understand and relate to.

How would you describe the appeal of this poem to readers?

I feel it touches people in the right spot, I’ve seen people teary eyed, giggle & just mesmerised by a lot of my poems and not just this one

Could you share a stanza or small section of this poem?

To all and sundry I hereby attest
when writing stories, I will pen my best
to literary heights I will aspire
and write like poets, those that I admire.

To stroll with Lawson under silver moon
and sit with Dennis in the early noon
ride with Morant along the Condamine
inspired by Parkes, my rhyme I will refine.

Then walk with Kendall, hear the bell birds song
stand with Ogilvie, view the rushing throng
watch Evans write his women of the west
read Boake, great poet and one of our best.

How would you describe the contribution this stanza or small section makes to the poem?

These first three stanzas are the ‘lead’ into my poem I have dedicated to the greats of Australian bush poetry, it’s how I feel about our iconic Aussie writers who paved the way for Australia’s own style of poetry.

Would you describe your poetry primarily as narrative, thematic, character portrait, or how would you describe your poetry?

95% of my poetry I would class as memoir poetry, the other 5% could be any of the suggestions above.

Do you read your poetry aloud to people? If so, how would you describe the size and response of your listening audiences?

I have read/performed my poetry many times, I have done this in front of half a dozen people at our Tropical Writers meetings to my biggest audience of about 2,500 people at ‘The Overflow Venue’ at Olympic park, Sydney at which I was called for an enchore.

Do you write groups of poems to form collections? If so, how were the poems connected in your most recent collection?

Yes I have, I’ve self published, in Australia, two books ‘My Small Book of Poems’ followed by ‘Rhymes of Times’ and just recently released my third, an American published 100 compilation of my poems from 2006 to 2009 titled ‘Out of Australia’ and now available at Amazon, Barnes Noble etc.

Author website: http://readeasypoetry.wordpress.com



Diane Finlay - Author Interview: Short Story Writer

What kinds of fiction did you read as a child and teenager, and did you have some favourites?

I vividly remember curling up with Enid Blyton and the Famous Five novels when I was very young. I was a slow reader and struggled until she captured my imagination. In high school I was blessed with the most amazing group of english teachers so was introduced to Ernest Hemingway, DH Lawrence, Gerald Durrell, Joseph Conrad, Shakespeare, Chekov, Chaucer, F Scott Fitzgerald, Rudyard Kipling, Dickens and Thomas Hardy .

Would you say your childhood and teenage reading has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?

My childhood and teenage reading just opened up a whole new world to me. My style is nothing like any of these writers. They just brought to me the sheer joy of reading.

Pick one of your favourites among your fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example from your fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?

One of my favuorites is actually a short story for children in the 7-9 age group. It's not funny but there is some humour in it. It's not quirky and it doesn't end with a twist.
It's a beautiful gentle unfolding of a little girls grief after her mother dies. I simply found myself inside this little girls head and wrote her story.
It's very poignant without being sentimental. I like it because it is so different.

Who is another author whose fiction writing you admire and why?

The list is impossibly long. I read voraciously. I devour books and average 5 books per month. I have a stand out favourite - The Dandelion Clock by Guy Burt - his debut novel.
Then equally I enjoy John Marsden, Morris Gleitzman and James Phelan and I can't go past a Dan Brown - his books are so formulaic but the pace of his novels makes them
impossible for me to put down.

How would you summarise one of your short stories in one paragraph?

Short, sharp, often quirky with a twist.

How would you describe the appeal of this short story to readers?

I drop the reader into the action immediately, lull them into a false sense of security concerning the central character then shock the reader right at the very end.
The reaction is usually urghhh then laughter.

How would you summarise a scene or sub-section from this short story in one paragraph?

I can't - I write very short short stories most of the time.

How would you describe the contribution this scene or sub-section makes to the short story?

The whole story is meant to ensnare the reader into one set of beliefs about the central character: the shock effect is because she does something so unexpected.

Do you aspire to primarily write novels in the future, or are you more interested in writing short stories, and why?

I will always write short stories as well as novels and poetry. I find if things are not going well in one area of my writing I can always flip to something else.
I have never suffered writers block. I'm always writing something.

Do you read many short story anthologies, and why?

Yes - I love them. When it is a collection of several authors there is constant variety. The strength of one author producing an anthology of their own demonstrates their versatility as a writer. It's a way for an established author who may be known for one style of writing to escape those confines and enjoy some freedom.

What lengths of short stories do you usually write, and why?

Usually less than 2000 words. I have a couple that are longer, but I enjoy the challange of making every word count so I edit and edit

Do you submit for many short story competitions, anthologies and magazines, and what are your main motivations for this?

I do submit to anthologies, magazines and competitions. My main motivation used to be - seeing myself in print, but now I am seriously searching for paying opportunities.

Author website: http://findpublishing.wordpress.com