LyriCode 256 lathers the ears with a uniquely creative vibe that simply shocks the listener into a lyrical submission. This production is Marc Lacy’s most mature work yet. Lyricode 256 is heavily comprised of precise, hard hitting verbal images painted over a superior and grooved-out canvas furnished by the one and only Maestro/Producer Canita Rogers (Quiet Girl Music Productions) herself.

Fourteen vibrant tracks, aimed for mature ears, speak directly to the effect of a myriad of issues that plague local communities as well as those abroad.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write and produce LyriCode 256?

Marc Lacy: I was mainly inspired to record this CD in an effort to capture my sentiments on several issues impacting this country and the world. My goal was not to stray away from the hardline with this one.

JP: What sets LyriCode 256 apart from your other spoken word projects?

ML: LyriCode 256 actually strategically targets certain specific issues and strays away from what’s considered broad. This CD is also my most mature work yet.

JP: How would you explain the essence of spoken word to someone who is ignorant of its virtues?

ML: I would have them imagine a person telling a short story with emotion, feeling, rhythm, and cadence.

JP: Where do you see the art of spoken word poetry going in the future? Are there any trends on the horizon that we don’t see?

ML: I see more spoken word artists becoming public speakers, actors, comedians, and radio spot producers. Many fiction authors have begun utilizing spoken word at book discussions and presentations. Also I’ve seen prominent spoken word artists being featured in TV ads here as of late.

JP: What’s next for Marc Lacy?

ML: My plan is to continue my segue into the fiction world with Wretched Saints – Spiritual Short Stories, co-authored by Assuanta Fay Howard. However, spoken word CD production will continue (God willing) for the near term.

http://www.marclacy.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mlacy
Facebook: Marc Lacy
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marclacy

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Petals & Pebbles is a string of poetic pearls, each poem possessing an opulence of its own. As petals and pebbles emanate from the beauty of the natural world, these pearls of wisdom emanate from the beauty of one woman’s soul. Universally, they adorn womanhood across any imaginable divide.

Before I dive into the profound, well-thought out questions that you have presented, allow me to express my sincere, heartfelt, overwhelming gratitude for the wonderful tribute you paid to Petals & Pebbles in your August 2, 2010 book review. It was far more than I had ever expected when I handed you my book for perusal.

The 5-star rating and accolades you provided are most appreciated, and your use of alliteration and the poetic tone is astounding. You are an awesome writer. It was assuring to receive this critique by someone with such literal tenacity. Thank you very much.

~ Jazz The Poet

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Petals & Pebbles?

Jazz The Poet: Petals & Pebbles reflects the dichotomy of my life. Much of its content was derived from an extensive span of introspect in search of personal healing. Writing from self-examination and self-analysis is very therapeutic. The book, itself, came about after I recited “A Dedication for Pioneers”, a poem I wrote for my father and read at his funeral service, to my beloved friend, Claudia Moss.

Over the years, Claudia (a consummate writer), consistently offered accolades about by writing and often told me that I needed to do something with it. After she heard the poem, she exclaimed, in a tone as if God were speaking himself, “Jaslyn, you have to stop hiding your light, you must share it!” She then invited me to participate in a spoken-word event that she was co-hosting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Of course, I accepted. When I shared this exciting news with my sisters, one of them said, “Sister Jaslyn, if you go to Atlanta to perform, they will want to know how to get in touch with you. You are going to need a profile or something.” It has always been difficult for me to write a profile about myself, so I decided at that moment, I would do one better. I asserted within, “I’ll put a book together and present it during my performance.”

Even though I’d been writing since I was a teen, I never valued my work. I would write poems and give them away. As a result, when I started Petals & Pebbles, I only had four poems in my repertoire. I didn’t allow that to be a deterrent. There was so much inside of me that had been marinating.

With a strong internal volition and I believe my dad’s spirit backing me, I wrote profusely and completed the book in three weeks. Petals & Pebbles was a wonderful birthday gift. I completed my book August 25, 2007, and I performed in the Atlanta spoken-word event that following Labor Day weekend.

JP: Petals & Pebbles is more than a bunch of poetic fluff. You’re actually making bold statements. What poets or even experiences have you drawn from to nurture your bold style as a poet?

Jazz: This question, I absolutely love. When you speak of bold, I am going to answer this question from the perspective of bold meaning daring and fearless. There is a quote by a very wise man whose name is Freddie X Thomas that serves as the basis of my posture as a poet/writer: “There is no religion higher than truth. It is not true because I say so, however, I say so because it is true.”

From my vantage point, I am not being bold, simply being “Jazz”. It has been instilled in my brain to speak the truth regardless of whom or what. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” I feel I indeed have been freed by the Son.

The Life Giving Teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad has taught me the knowledge of self and the knowledge of God. God is the only reality, and He alone am I to fear, which makes my bold style as a poet effortless. As long as I can remember, I read about the pain and suffering of my people. I’ve internalized our history to a point where, at times, I feel the spirit of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Sarah Bartman, and/or Queen Nzingha walking with me.

Injustice and oppression affect me deeply. However, knowing and sharing the truth does not come without a price. I have suffered much persecution by those who fear the truth and desire to keep my people in mental slavery. To expound on the levels and means of persecution that I’ve been and continue to be subjected to would be a whole other book…perhaps in the future.

As far as poets go, Sonia Sanchez is my favorite poet and would say the most influential. In my humble opinion, she, more than most, has an extremely sincere, authentic writing style. It’s so inspiring; it tantalizes all of my senses. It makes me breathe.

Langston Hughes stands out because of the extent of his work, and I adore the way “Simple” expressed himself fearlessly. There are three poems that stand out in my mind that I’ve used when teaching elocution to young people. The messages are very affirmative. (1) “Who Can Be Born Black” by Mari Evans, (2) “Do Not Think” by Carol Freeman and (3) “When I Know the Power of My Black Hand” by Lance Jeffers. Realizing that self-preservation is the first law of nature, I have a natural affinity towards works that reflect and encourage positive thoughts and affirmation towards black people.

Self-hatred has been bred into black people and must be uprooted. On that note, I’ll conclude this question with another quote by Freddie X Thomas, which also supports my posture as a poet/writer: “I am 1000% black. I make absolutely no apologies for being so, without being one iota anti anybody else.”

JP: You are a Muslim woman, and your poetry reflects that and much more. What has been the reaction to Petals & Pebbles by Christians and other non-Muslims?

Jazz: Poetry is an art, and art is universal. I believe, based on the reactions that I’ve received from my Christian family and other non-Muslims, that God is using me as a vessel to demonstrate the Oneness of God. It is interesting that the preceding question inquired about my “bold” style as a poet.

The very first exchange I had happened the day after the 2007 Labor Day weekend spoken word event. I had just completed a trial recording of my signature poem, “Woman of God”. The producer had left the CD playing so that I could hear what my studio voice sounded like. Just as it begun, a woman carrying a Bible came in the studio with her daughter, a songstress.

While waiting for her studio time, they both listened to my poem. After it ended, the woman, who I’d learned was a Pentecostal Apostle, immediately took my hand and started praying: “Father God, thank you for this daughter. Open up the gateways and give her everything she needs to do your work…”

The prayer lasted or about 5 minutes with tears strolling down my face. It was beautiful. I was in Muslim garb, and that was not a hindrance to this wonderful woman of God. She picked up my book then asked me, “Is this your book?” “Yes,” I said. She then asked me the cost and told me that that one was hers. She asked me to autograph it. I did.

When I signed my pen name “Jazz”, she asked me if that was my real name. I told her that my birth name is Jaslyn, and then she asked me what my last name was. When I told her Muhammad, she asked me to put Jaslyn Muhammad in her book, with my contact information. I did.

Then she hugged me and hugged me some more. That was the first of many Christian warriors who after seeing me perform, come to me and start praying for me. They’ve prayed for my protection. They’ve prayed for my success. They’ve prayed for my prosperity. They’ve prayed for me to be able to continue to share.

And on the flip side, I have encountered Christians with a myopic position, just from seeing Allah or Minister Farrakhan’s name in my book; have given the book back to me. The overall embrace, however, has been great. Having been invited to share my gift with so many different diverse atmospheres is truly an honor, and I believe my universal family receives my genuine love.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take to start and finish Petals & Pebbles?

Jazz: I classify myself as a didactic poet, so it is important that my poems reflect some form of lesson, message or moral. Usually, when writing, I will write my thoughts out with pen and pad. Not owning a computer, I would then to the library and type my thoughts, save them to a flash drive, then print them so that I can see what is going on in my head in typed-written form.

Then I will read my work aloud, looking at and listening for any necessary improvements. Most times, I’ll vie my works off my friend Claudia, who has a keen, objective, professional ear; whom I trust as well as respect. She never tries to censure anything that I write; however, she is a certified editor.

It is important for me to write something every day, whether it’s a poem, a letter, a prayer or just plain old journaling. Most of my writing is rooted in actual experiences about me, my family, society or my people. If God brings something to my spirit, I’ll write about it. If something happens that has ill-effected my spirit, I’ll write about it as therapy. I write what I feel when I feel it.

Once I’ve amassed a significant amount of poems, I’ll categorize them. This makes it easier to put them in book form. This is when the creative juices really start flowing, thinking of titles and subtitles for my poems and sections in my books. It is important to me that everything gels with as you say “rhyme and reason”. I may put my project down for a while then come back, revisit a poem or a decision I‘ve made about a particular work and see if my spirit is still content.

The bottom line is that my spirit has to be at peace with my writing. Two of the initial poems, “RIGHTEOUS WOMEN” and “Remembrance” included in Pebbles & Pebbles were written in 2003, the other two, “And Her Light Shineth” and “A Dedication for Pioneers” were written in 2006 and 2007. The others were written within a two-week span. Technically, I began Petals & Pebbles March 2003 and completed it August 2007.

JP: What’s next for Jazz?

Jazz: Currently, I am in the process of putting together two books consecutively. The overall purpose of my writing is to change the frequency. There is far too much focus on sex in our society, and it is my hope to help us to move from the crotch and bring it up a notch. Thus, the title of my upcoming book will be “Stepintomeanewfrequency”.

The other book is a book of love poems exclusively, and its tile is “Love Links”. Both books are complete as far as content goes, just working on the logistics of getting them published. I intend to continue with my performing and motivational speaking, with a focus on women’s empowerment.

Women are going to be the vehicle used to change the overall make-up of society. We need to be continuously nurtured and encouraged. I ask God to use me as a vessel to assist in this revolutionary uplift with the sound of my voice and the tip of my pen.

Facebook: look up Jazz The Poet

Email: JazzThePoet@gmail.com

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One Single Rose… Poetry Blossomed from a Rose Core is a poetry collection about being single, kissing a few frogs before you meet your prince or princess, living, learning and loving yourself. Every character contained therein was typed and written by yours truly, self-published and distributed from my heart and my hands.

After having experienced heartache in 2005, I began writing as a woman scorned with my first poem entitled “Travel and Labor.” As I wrote a few more poems in that vein, I was able to let go of the past and found strength to motivate myself so that I could perhaps motivate others. By doing so, “Can’t = Won’t”, “Love You” and “Don’t Let Anything or Anyone Steal Your Joy” were born.

The inspiration behind these poems comes from three very important lessons that I learned as a child: 1. If you say you can’t, you won’t! 2. Love comes from within and spreads to others–love you, no matter what! Big, tall, short or small, love you! 3. If you let others steal your joy, they have more control of your life than you do. Each one of us holds the keys to unlock our destiny. We are all winners! Embrace positivity and let negativity push you forward to greatness.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write One Single Rose?

Rosemarie Wilson: One Single Rose evolved as a result of being single and becoming involved in ruthless dating games with dishonest men although genuine gentleman suitors reared their beautiful heads from time to time. After releasing the anger via “Travel and Labor”, my energy was focused on healing my soul so that I could make better choices for myself and others without falling into the same dating traps.

JP: What sets One Single Rose apart from other collections of poetry?

RW: One Single Rose is different from any other collection of poetry as it takes the reader through three stages of life—learning, living and loving. We begin learning at an early age; that tutelage is taken into our lives wherein we learn to love ourselves and we give love to others with hopes of becoming the recipient of same. What do those three “L” words mean to you?

JP: As an author, which poets influenced your style? Who did you use as a point of reference for your poetry?

RW: William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe’s poetic prowess created the framework for modern poetry. Maya Angelou’s expressions paint vivid pictures. I have the utmost respect for anything she pens. The points of reference for One Single Rose are real life and fidelity.

JP: What information do you have for aspiring poets who are looking to publish their creations?

RW: Aspiring poets, keep your pen and paper handy so that you’ll be ready when you’re inspired to write! If pen and paper is considered old school in our age of technological advances, pick up your Blackberry and send yourself an e-mail or make a voice note.

To anyone wishing to self-publish your work, JUST DO IT! Nothing beats a failure but to try, and if you tell yourself you can’t, you won’t! If you surround yourself with positive people and energy and push yourself into greatness, all things are possible. Once you reach the first goal, set another . . . when you reach the second goal, set a third and let that cycle continue.

JP: What’s next for Rosemarie Wilson?

RW: Rosemarie Wilson is currently writing the second installment to One Single Rose. I’m also enjoying singing in the Detroit area at different events and becoming involved with the spoken word. I hope to begin writing songs for different artists and poetry for various events. The sky is the limit and I’m shooting for the stars!

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Before I get into this review, I want to take a cue from a book reviewer that I have grown to truly enjoy, Push Nevahda.  (Check out the link for some of the most interesting book reviews you may ever read.) In that vein, let us begin:

I met Jazz at the African American Literary Tea in Cary, NC. I was a featured author for my short story in The Soul of a Man Anthology.  One of the women at a previous book signing that I coordinated at the Southeast Branch Library in Garner, NC, saw me and invited me to the literary tea. I came to the literary tea an hour late because of miscommunication or something.

When I got there, I was so excited. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was in it. The tea was set up so that the guests sat at the different tables, and the authors move from table to table. It’s kind of like speed dating. It was fun to talk about the book, but most of the people there were interested in the fact that I review books.

When I met Jazz at her table, she told me about her book of poetry and was interested in me reviewing it. I took a copy in which she wrote down her information. I was excited to read it.

One part of the literary tea that was great was that each of the authors got a chance to speak about their books and its origin. When I got up there, I was beaming like an excited kid. I told my story about how it was great to be up here with some of my peers. It was so interesting to that I went from reading books to having people to listen to me talking about something that I wrote. I actually got a standing ovation at the end of my presentation. Talk about overwhelmed…

After parting ways, this book sat in my backpack for months. I read other books, did author interviews and wrote on my book. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read Petals & Pebbles. I just didn’t have time to deal with it like I wanted to. One day, I sat down and started looking through the book.

And so begins the book review:

Jazz’s mastery of rhythm and rhyme resonates throughout the poetry of Petals & Pebbles. Although her wisdom is worldly and broad, her subject matter is intimate and isolated. Having studied several spiritual systems, she single-handedly sews together the surreal and the serious. From the ying-yang on the front to the font, the style is both brilliant and blunt.

All poets attempt to create pieces of art parlaying  the language into wordplay, and Jazz is able to passionately paint poetic pictures with the most praiseworthy of peers. However, Jazz’s educated worldview does not edge out or overshadow her ability to portray imagery so vivid and relatable that it will touch the reader to the core. Jazz is able to straddle the fence that separates struggle and strength, serving images of bright stars in the night as easily as the harsh scars of a fight.

For example, in one breath Jazz is schooling a dark-skinned girl to be proud of her skin by presenting the African Queens that came before her.

From: “Ode to Terra (And All of My Darker Sisters)”

Honey this (pointing to my hand) isn’t what makes me pretty. It’s only evidence that the white man has been in my family. What’s inside is who you are.If you’re ugly on the inside, then you are ugly.And if you’re beautiful on the inside, then you’re beautiful.

You are a Princess, destined to become a Queen.

Then she depicts the pain and suffering that comes with unconditionally loving a man who refuses to reciprocate with the same ease in poems like “Enabler”, “Bewildered” and “Decision”.

From “Decision”:

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride
You’d rather run, you’d rather hide
From the wealth of depth I hold inside

Let go of your pride
Accept that I’m more than just a joy ride
For you to lay down and say open wide

At times, Jazz is unapologetically Afro-centric and mercilessly militant. Unafraid to share her understanding, this poet shoots ideas with a focus and aim like the conscious poets of the 60s and 70s. From the thought-provoking “What are you afraid of” to the fiery “Vengeance is mine”, Jazz bares her self so that is no mistaking her position on the state of Black people in America.

From: “What are you afraid of”

Why is it that you don’t want to let us go
Why do you keep surveillance on us to and fro
Is your obsession just your warped deranged ego

Why are you so intimidated
I just want to know

Jazz’s Petals & Pebbles presents the passion of a poet. Both pristine and prissy, this book presents prose from a pretty prophet with the prowess of a professor. This book is both beautiful and bold, beautifully told and a beauty to behold.

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Here goes… I am a simple soul who loves all things Art. I was born and raised on the East Coast (Central New Jersey) and currently live in Southern California. My dream is to write full-time and work for an organization that is focused on healing the damage to our oceans… I wrote a poem in Quiet Observations called “Losing our Lease” which speaks of our need to respect Mother Earth.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Quiet Observations?

Beverly Collins: The idea came to put this book together because there seemed to be a theme coming through me, and the book was writing itself. Many of the poems would come to me when I was trying to sleep, and I had to get up and write. I have one poem in my book that I called “Awake” because it would not let me sleep.

JP: What sets Quiet Observations apart from other collections of poetry?

BC: I wanted this book to uplift, inspire and remind us of the simple truths we all know to be true and sometimes forget. I want this book to become a keepsake for the owner. After enjoying my observations, the reader is invited to add their own in the back of the book which they and their families can read over and over in the future.

JP: As an author, what poems or which poets have inspired you to be a poet also?

Maya Angelou and Billy Collins come to mind. But I was more of a big music lover. I did not begin writing poetry until after my mother’s death.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Quiet Observations?

BC: My poetry writing process is much like writing songs. I usually start with the title which is like a road map for my story. Each one has its own tempo. I most enjoy writing poem that rhyme.

JP: What’s next for Beverly Collins?

BC: To continue expanding on my writing. It is such a joy for me. I have several ideas for books that I am finishing up. I also plan to continue being a part of fund raisers for my favorite causes. I want to be part of the solution instead of just talking about how bad things are. I recently donated a car to my local rescue mission. It felt wonderful to help out.

http://www.quietobservations.com/
http://www.myspace.com/beverlymcollinsnow

I appeared in the July Issue of Bits & Pieces magazine their website is http://www.motivateandinspire.com/

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The Confessional Heart of a Man is the debut poetry collection from The Greatest Poet Alive (GPA). Leading this collection of lyrical introspection is an intensely lusty poem cryptically entitled “A Thousand Times”. The mixture of word forms an enchanting imagery of an infinite desire. With the second poem, “Even In Death”, I was reeled into the power of GPA as a wordsmith. I could visualize his view on love with a bone-chilling clarity. Instead of keeping that momentum rolling with something like “Love Letter” or “Death of a Love”, GPA caught me totally off guard with a crack high in black-and-white entitled “Anticipation of My Love”.

There are many subjects covered in The Confessional Heart of a Man. GPA touches on “baby momma drama”, serving time in the penitentiary, the “n-word” and many others. But GPA is at his best when he expands the possibilities of love and lust with his vivid imagination and control over a vast vocabulary. Even poems like “Stolen Moments” and “Metaphor” are intriguing in their approach to the otherwise mundane or socially wrong. In “Stolen Moments”, the way GPA phrases the adulterous sentiments of a man speaking to his mistress is a lyrically beautiful as any marital bliss. “Metaphor” meanders through metaphors to express uninhibited lust taken out of a female suitor.

Throughout The Confessional Heart of a Man, GPA proves that he is much more than an erotic hustler of prose. The book has four main themes: love/lust, relationship problems, incarceration and black power. He covers each easily. Poems like “Dedication” and “My Thoughts as a Woman” stood out in the crowd because they showed the depth of GPA’s intellectual muscle. His openly discusses the difficulties of relationships gone awry. His love/hate relationship with the “n-word” is just as expressive as his thoughts on black nationalism. He even sheds an unapologetic light on Black genocide at the hands of the police.

It is easy to tell that GPA is a spoken-word poet. The words are there, but I knew that there is a unique way that the poems are supposed to flow. It was like reading a rapper’s lyrics without hearing the song. I’ve had the opportunity of hearing him perform, so I knew reading and witnessing were two different things.

The Confessional Heart of a Man was hard to read because the word order he chose is easier to hear and understand during a performance, but that same word order is hard to read. All in all it is a good book of poetry by an established and intelligent poet that any poetry lover will find something to love.

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(One of the first ten people to comment on Oneal Walters’ author interview will win a FREE copy of The Age Begins poetry collection!)

Oneal Walters writes about the intimacy between women and men. In vivid detail, he shows the problems and pain that he faces in separate relationships. His motto, “to truly love, you have to be a willing giver”, fits this collection of poems brilliantly.

Each relationship poem depicts a deeper and more engaging aspect of him. As the search for love matures, his understanding and feelings ripen and as he understands and changes how he responses to women, it is clear that he is on the verge of defining love for all.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Age Begins?

Oneal Walters: The Age Begins was the birth of multiple ideas. I think readers appreciate my book after they read it, but I don’t think they really understand what I tried to accomplish with the cover of the book.

The back cover shows a boiling world and the ground is cracked; this world is not a livable place. The front cover shows footprints to a castle. The footprints represent a journey that leads away from a dying, boiling world, or a world in a state of recession, to a place of prosperity and life, hence the title The Age Begins.

Life is shown in the grass, trees and brushes. The two camels are a symbol of love. The back and front cover illustrates what you are going to get inside the book.

The idea for this book is that we have to transition from what is dying to get to what is life. Continuing on this thought, we begin in a dying state and must move towards what is most beneficial for us. The title, The Age Begins, is statement for everyone. We have to begin to move in the direction that is life.

As to the situations in the poems, I am glad to meet wonderful people who have touched me emotionally and mentally. The vividness of these experiences printed within this book is a gift for all who relate to my reflections on love and life. My first collection of poetry, Frozen Stare, was an intimate look inside my life. The Age Begins does have an intimate look inside me but has also taken on universal themes.

Joey Pinkney: In the book industry, poets are usually as self-motivated as they come. You discuss this in The Age Begins. What did you learn about yourself in completing this collection of poetry?

Oneal Walters: I realized that poets are singular. I had a negative experience, I can share that with other poets so that they don’t have to discover the same disappointment. I realized that there needs to be a concept to creating a book.

I read many poetry books before making The Age Begins, and there was no after-taste, no experience to hold onto. This book has experiences that you will hold onto and will relate to. It’s not just a collection of poems; it’s a voice speaking directly to you while you are reading.

I realized that all my poems are about people and that I didn’t like poems that were solely about trees and birds chirping. I learned that the elements that I enjoyed most about poetry were narration and people.

I realize that my favourite writers are Irving Layton and Maya Angelou, and that it was perfectly fine to say, “I’m a poet. These words make more sense once people see that you have a second collection of poems that is selling. The art comes before the sales, but the sales is just an explanation of how many people the art has reached.

I also came to realise that I am competitive because I wanted the Love and the Mis-justice sections of The Age Begins to have the same impact after it is read. I realized that success comes twice, once when you accomplish the desired effect and twice when everyone else sees it.

Joey Pinkney: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Age Begins getting out to the public?

Oneal Walters: The first key to success is to write what you want to say, then make sure an editor reads your work to ensure you said it effectively. The second key is to be persistent in staying true to you. In other words, write about what you enjoy the most. This makes writing enjoyable, especially when you have to create a book.

The third key is adaptability. Writing a book is much more than forming a collection of poems and giving it a title. You have to know your audience. Know how to build your audience. Know how to remain visible. Know what publications are beneficial to you and what is wasting your time. Not everyone that wants to publish your poems will project your work in the right ‘light’.

Joey Pinkney: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish The Age Begins?

Oneal Walters: This is a good question. The length of time isn’t really the issue; it’s the time it takes to complete the book to the time the book is released that is tricky.

Let’s first comment on the writing itself. There are hot times when I have many thoughts and experiences that I want to explore, and they flow beautifully through me and on to the screen. There are times when I spend two to three days trying to perfect a stanza or a line because it doesn’t match my sense of excellence.

Then there are those moments when I look at poems that I wrote years ago. Inspiration comes, and I write the topic in a different way. From a writing perspective, The Age Begins took many months. This includes writing, editing, grouping and then master order.

Joey Pinkney: What’s next for Oneal Walters?

Oneal Walters: I am very blessed to have my two annual poetry contests: Women Inspirational Poetry Contest and, Love Poem Poetry Contest. Here is where I recognise and celebrate talented poets. Full details are at www.onealwalters.com/contests.html.

There is OW News, which is a monthly newsletter emailed to my readers. In 2010, Sheila B. Roark’s poetry book, Shattered Hearts, will be published by The Age Begins Books. Also, my third book will be published around fall-winter.

http://www.onealwalters.com/
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With The Age Begins, Oneal Walters puts his heartbeats on paper. When a writer is a poet, the literature is filled with poetic elements. Oneal Walters is a poet that is a writer. The Age Begins is a poetic assemblage that shows, through verse and concept, the story of a working man who is also a struggling, educated poet. From “Born Again” to “Finding Pleasure” to “A Special Proceeding”, Walters gives the reader a candid peak inside of a poet’s perspective.

This is a poetry book that cannot be judged for simply being a poetry book, nor can it be judged by the illustration on the book’s cover. The cuddling camels and prodigious palace in a vast desert conjure Saharan images complete with flying carpets and magical lamps. Instead, The Age Begins is steeped in the complexity of love, the challenges of finding a fulfilling job and the toils of gaining respect as a writer.

From the poem “Passionate”:

The Age Begins reads like the soundtrack of the life of a person seeking truth with his poetry and precision with his heart. Like any true poet, the main character’s passion is for the artistic purity of writing. Walter deftly depicts the rejection by the hands of the gatekeepers of the publishing world. Then there are the people who claim they will help, but never do. There is also the underlying encounter between the main character and a female that brings a heightened level of sexual and intellectual complexity.

The reoccurring bus trips and genuine conversations with the female were especially poignant. The main character shares his innermost secrets, his innermost thoughts. The reader gets an exchange that is transparent and more enriching than the manufactured struggles of a romance novel. Walters manages to give the best definition of the concept of love I have ever come across in “Explain Love”.

From the poem “Strongest Female”:

There is a section of The Age Begins that deals with something that is very close to home for many people: the effects of an economic recession. Walters becomes a journalist in the true sense of the word as he details the ravaging effects that the lack of love and money can have on a marriage. Poems like “BETRAYAL” and “Curse and Be Cursed” tell the story of mental deterioration under the strangle of distress.

From the poem “Cursed and Be Cursed”:

All in all, The Age Begins is more than slick rhyme schemes that skim over abstract ideas in order to affront cuteness. If you are looking for composition that is more reality that fantasy, this is a collection of life’s poetry: brutally honest and deceptively beautiful.

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In a time where most people shun being called “country”, Patricia Neely-Dorsey’s Reflection of a Mississippi Magnolia embraces all that is Mississippi country living. Before you can even open this collection of poetry, you are greeted with the beauty of a magnolia, Mississippi’s state flower.

Neely-Dorsey’s poems vividly and collectively paint a picture of a life that is simple yet provides rich experiences. From the authentic Southern menu found in “Soul Food Restaurant” to the culture depicted in “Yardsaling”, this collection of poetry gives more than a glimpse into lives of the good people of Mississippi. From the “Southern Man” poem where the main character fixes the back fence to the truth found in “If Mississippi’s In You”, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia shows a genuine pride in Southern culture.

I spent many summers in the small town of Winona, MS, where my dad still lives. I can say with confidence that Neely-Dorsey is an artist of words. Her images are painted vividly across the canvas of your mind as you thumb through her musings. Her words and rhyme patterns are simple, yet the complex imagery the words evoke will whisk yo down memory lane. I remember the “muscadines ripen[ing] on winding vines” (from “A Country View”) and using Vick’s Vapor Rub on everything “from arthritis to [a] bee sting” and “on chest or back” (from “Country Cure (All)”).

With Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, Patricia Neely-Dorsey gives the world a book that is part biography, part rhymes, part imagination but all Mississippi!

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“John “Survivor” Blake enters a place in his writing that few others I know dare to. With a pristine voice of epic magnitude, Blake’s words pull the reader or listener into the heart of his raw, fragmented truth of unshakeable power. He understands the incredible responsibility of being an artist; as much as anyone I have ever known.” – Carlos Andrés Gómez.

What if someone pointed out a homeless vagrant to you and said, “That’s going to be a well-known poet and biographer, and he’ll change lives around the world?” Would you laugh; raise an eyebrow and inquire as to their usage of narcotics; check them for a fever? Imagine a man against all odds; born dopesick, poverty-stricken, expected to fail… then a poem saves his life!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Warm Tequila and Cold Blood?

John Blake: Well, after losing my immediate family to heroin, AIDS and prison, I battled with depression for years. I couldn’t accept I was going to go through life. At the time, I was only 34 and already without my parents and most of my siblings.

I began finding sanctuary in bottles of tequila. By the time I got to the bar, I couldn’t wait for the bartender to shake, stir or prepare my drinks. I told them to “just give it to me warm”.

The world just seemed so cold to me. Tequila felt like the only warmth in my life. Television began to depress me; glory-killing, girls too young for what they were advertising on the screen, the news, politics, everything just seemed “cold blooded”.

JP: What sets Warm Tequila and Cold Blood apart from other collections of poetry?

JB: Three things: (1) Cárlos Andrés Gómez told me, “Poetry’s like sex; nothing happens until you get your clothes off”. So I got very, very vulnerable with this book. I expressed my ideas and experiences that I would not normally share with strangers.

(2) Editors. I wasn’t afraid to let some of the best modern poets of our nation take a look at my work and guide me to an exceptional place: Samantha Thornhill, Jeanann Verlee, Rachel McKibbens, Rose Smith, Rob Sturma, Laura Yes, and many others.

(3) I stopped caring with publishers wanted. That was my biggest mistake in the beginning: writing for publishers when all the while I should have been trying to purge what my spirit was telling me to get rid of; what my poems demanding that I scribe!

JP: What are the titles of the other poetry collections you have self-published? And tell us a little about them.

JB: Well, the first was Leap from the Cliff: Wings Only Grow When Needed, which was the first risk I took with writing. It’s still the favorite of most admirers of my work. Then came Mama Said which was an entire book of about twenty poems dedicated to my Mom and other single, hard-working women around the world.

Then I wrote Warm Tequila and Cold Blood and When Peace Comes and published them at the same time. Warm Tequila and Cold Blood was a serious purging and When Peace Comes was the acceptance. I’ve come full circle with the dope, the booze, the loss and all the other pain. I’ve climbed over and landed smooth.

JP: What do you do to get your poetry known to the public?

JB: Everything from selling my merchandise directly after shows to offering free copies to bookstores in every city I tour. I began by selling them in Union Square Park. I had a table, and I’d even walk up to groups offering to share my art. It took courage, but what doesn’t?

JP: What’s next for John “Survivor” Blake?

JB: I’m taking on my memoir and The Greyhound Essays. The memoir will be a five-part series, and the first book will be title Drifting from Fire because my grandmother promised my biracial parents that nothing would hurt me too deep; racism, poverty…nothing; that I would overcome it all like smoke “drifting from fire”.

The essays will be about my cross-country travels from poetry venue to college to jails; facilitating workshops and performing. I rode Greyhound buses for most of it, and you’d be amazed what I learned about this nation and its residents. So The Greyhound Essays are coming. Then I plan on sitting next to Oprah on ABC and telling the world “Nothing, nothing can stop us as long we we’re willing to walk through it”.

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