Interview with Wendy E. Slater

 

First off, Christine, thank you for interviewing me.

 

What do I think of the e-book revolution?

 

I appreciate the e-book revolution, but I am, honestly, not an e-book fan. I do love the e-book aspect of being able to instantly have access to a title. You know that moment when you want to curl up and read a book and to have instant access to an enormous library of titles is wonderful. Having said that, I really don’t enjoy the feel of electronics or an e-reader while I am reading. I am a paper in my hand kind of person. I want to underline and make notes in pen, bend back pages, earmark where I left off, even see the accidental drip of coffee from my mug. I want to feel my experience with the book intimately.

 

However, I do like e-books for quick research on technical stuff like how to use Goodreads- which I still can’t figure out!  And of course, when travelling, e-readers are great as one has a whole library at their fingertips. But, being poet, it is not the easiest thing to format poetry books for an e-reader. I am still not thrilled with how an e-reader and poetry formatting work or don’t work.

 

Recently, I was reading “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” in paperback and was continually referring to my computer to look up definitions about words in the book to with culture and religion. Finally, I purchased the e-book as I realized it was a perfect example of the power of e-book readers as a dictionary is built in!

 

Am I a pen or typewriter or computer writing?

 

Most definitely I am a pen on paper writer. I can write poetry on a computer, but it is not something I strive for or want to do. I like the computer for writing essays or magazine articles but not for writing poetry. With poetry, generally, I am not certain what I am writing about until the poem starts brewing in me, and then I am looking for paper and a pen which I usually have with me. However, I have many poems that were written on napkins, bar coasters, or whatever I could find if I did not have paper with me at the time.

 

I edit the same way. I print out the poem from computer and then make notes on the paper. I want to feel the writing in my hand while I edit.

 

 

If I was running a 100-yard dash with a new writer, what wisdom would I bestow upon them?

 

I would stress getting objective, impartial reviews. Not only is it important for your potential readers to have honest impartial reviews to understand if they want to read your book, but reviews help the author/poet grow and understand more about their writing and how the writing is perceived. I would also stress don’t personalize the reviews whether they are good or bad.

 

Secondly, I would stress editing. Edit, edit and edit again.

 

Thirdly, I would stress presentation. The book cover is the first thing a person sees. Make certain the exterior is reflective of the interior. And make certain the font is reflective of the contents or book, itself.

 

Lastly, there are wonderful empowering professional connections on social media. On Twitter, I have met so many wonderful people offering and sharing advice. I have been locked out of my LinkedIn account for a while and am certain I will find the solution on Twitter. There are qualified experts in all sorts of professions willing to offer advice, insights, etc. I would share this knowledge about social media with a new writer.

 

Who are my favorite authors? And what is my favorite genre? And what do I read in my free time?

 

Adrienne Rich, Anne Sexton, Rumi, and Emily Dickinson are my favorite poets.  But I have many favorite poems by different poet’s like Theodore Roethke’s “Open House”.

 

My favorite authors are varied, and it really depends on my mood as to who or what I want to read. Gabriel Garcia-Marquez and the early writings of Isabel Allende are favorite authors. My favorite genre is magical realism.  But I also love Hemingway, Theodore Dreiser, Bronte-writing styles that are the complete opposite of magical realism. I am also a huge fan of mystery.  And I love “kid’s lit”—Narnia series, A Wrinkle in Time etc. And I love biographies and history books.

 

Right now, I am reading fiction, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy. Due to a lack of free time, it has taken me months to just get slightly into the book. Unfortunately, I simply have not had enough time to read over the past few years, and what I would normally read in 2-3 days can take me weeks to finish. Part of the passion I have for reading books is getting completely immersed in the story over a short time period, and it is not the same passionate experience for me when I am constantly having to put a book down for days as I haven’t had the free time to immerse myself in books. I have just discovered AUDIBLE and I am loving listening to books while doing dishes, making dinner etc. As soon as I get the BLUETOOTH synced in my car properly to AUDIBLE, I will able to drive and listen to books. Sounds like sheer delight to me!

 

 

Where can you find me on-line?

I can be found on twitter at @WendyESlater. My website is Traduka.com. My poetry can be found at: Traduka.com/poetry. I am also a healer and info about TRADUKA healing sessions can be found there, as well. My poetry books (Into the Hearth, Poems-Volume 14, Of the Flame, Poems-Volume 15, and The Ocher of Abundance, Poems-Volume 16) can be found on Amazon by doing a search of my name “Wendy E. Slater”.  My newest volume of poetry, The Ocher of Abundance, is also available on the Balboa Press bookstore.

 

 

Is writing a gift or a curse? 

 

It is a gift, for sure. I am a poet, as well as, a photographer. It is imperative for me to have the creative outlet of writing poetry and taking photographs.

 

Who are some poets that I consider influential to my work?

The poets most influential to my work have remained the same since I was a teenager: Adrienne Rich and Anne Sexton. However, there are innumerable poets that have influenced my work.

 

Could you tell us about your most recent book and why it is a “Must Read”?

The Ocher of Abundance, Poems-volume 16 is the third volume to be published in my poetry series, the Traduka Wisdom Poetry Series.  After a twenty-year hiatus from writing poetry, I composed 20 volumes of spiritually inspired poetry which began in 2001 during a mystical sojourn to Scotland.  My modern mystical poetry is the expression and integration of the inner dialogue with Divinity and the spiritual journey of self-discovery through vision quests, spiritual awakenings, and the dark night of the soul. My words reflect deeply on both the hidden and revealed relationship of nature, the cosmos, humanity and the healing of archetypes both esoteric and known in the individual and collective psyche. My poetic formulas are both wisdom and method; a sharing of words that open doors for readers and invite them on their own spiritual journey of awakening and healing. Into the Hearth, Poems-volume 14 and Of the Flame, Poems-Volume 15 precede The Ocher of Abundance, Poems-Volume 16.

 

 

What do I love most about the writing process?

 

I will share with you a poem from Of the Flame-Poems-volume 15 to encapsulate the answer to your question.

 

1508

 

It is time,

A parting.

 

I want freedom:

A balcony,

A bar,

Cigarettes,

My pen,

Paper,

And transmutation.

 

What do my future projects include?

 

Doing blog tours, promoting the books and poetry series, poetry readings, radio and video interviews—and taking a vacation!!

 

Links

 

Twitter https://twitter.com/WendyESlater

Website https://traduka.com/

Poetry Traduka.com/poetry

Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wendy-E.-Slater/e/B012GQJUTC

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001136983