What are your thoughts about reading your poetry in Cobourg at the POW! Festival?

I am pleased to be invited to read at the POW! 2010 Festival.

Please tell us about your most recently published book and also a little about any other books you've had that "saw print."

I am the author of four books of poetry. My most recent book is titled Could be and was published in October 2009 by Brick Books. Recently my work has appeared in such publications as The Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead, The Antigonish Review and The Best Canadian Poetry in English, 2008.

At POW!, do you plan to read pieces from your book (or books)?
Do you plan to read new, unpublished work?

I will be reading from Could be and also some new poems.

How would you describe your poetry?

I would describe my poetry as experimental and lyrical.

When did you start writing poetry and what prompted it?

I started at a young age. My first saved piece is an acrostic written for an elementary school teacher.

What inspires you to put pen to paper / fingers to keyboard?

I am always on poetry alert. I can be inspired by pretty much anything that comes into my world.

Can you describe (a little) your writing process in creating a new poem?

Most of the creation of a new poem takes place internally. My first page draft is close to my last mental draft

The POW! Festival is built on the notion that poetry should not be relegated to an existence as "a niche art form" that the average person doesn't care about.
How do you respond to that?

My contribution to this notion would be to offer a poetry reading that attempts to engage the audience in both the poems and the process.