Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review!
 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Anders M. Svenning is the name I put on my books. The middle initial stands for Mikael. It is a Scandinavian name and I would give you three dollars if you could email me a more Scandinavian name at [email protected], direct money order or Paypal. It’s up to you. In any case, I was born in Manhattan and was moved to Palm City, FL in 2001, with fervency. That is not to say it was a disagreeable move. The Floridian air was asphyxiating and the New Yorker, Anders M. Svenning, started taking on a bit of the Floridian wanton, which seems to be the evident everywhere I turn in this sub-tropic climate; but who is to make complaints when the climate really is an incubator for deviant ideas and creativity, which is a desirable attribute in the publishing industry today, and I don’t speak ill of either deviation or fervency. That Florida has accepted me into its virile bosom—I’m going to be honest with you—has left me rather divalent and with permanence.
 
Q: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective?

The poet who has inspired me most—and there are many poets, from whom I take influence, and from whom I take inspiration—has got to be John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost and Comus, a masque, among other works. His works always seemed to me to have, not only in their content but also in their semantic outplay and severity, a whimsical affectation, which always seems to make itself prevalent in my own works.
 
Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far?

I have written many stories. A few of them have been published. Three books, that is thrice books, have been published under the name Anders M. Svenning, which is my legal name. I don’t want to jiggle the facts. The three books, in the order they have been published are as follows, and each of them can be found at amazon.com. Search, under books, Anders M. Svenning, and you will find Nonpareil (Tule Fog Press), which is a horror short story collection; 50 States Poetry (Pansophic Press), which is a collection of fifty-one daffy poems; and my latest release, Verdant Grounds, Subtle Boundaries (Adelaide Books), which is a collection of literary short stories, of a seeming and thematic constituency—many of the characters in Verdant Grounds, Subtle Boundaries undergo changes as results of dream sequences.
 
Q: What are you working on at the minute?  What’s it about? 

I am working on a novella, titled Otus in Betulaceae. The novella is to be a part of a book called Téssera Istoríes, which means Four Stories, translated to English. The novella is a story, which takes the reader through three time periods—2017, 1923, and 1453—in the times of the Constantinople unrest. The title of the book, Téssera Istoríes, is Greek in its fundaments. The four stories to be included in the book are “We Are Inmate #881129,” which regards a Greek individual, his travels to the Albanian border and the subsequent occurrences, which take place in New York City, some years afterward; Otus in Betulaceae, which I have described, and which considers the Constantinople evacuations; “The Everest Prognosis,” which incorporates a bank robber, who makes sex with bank employees to gain access to the funds; and “The Sick and Final Ballad of Damselfly,” which exhibits a life of a damselfly in the context of Man. The last two stories of the four may become novellas. I have yet to apprehend the fullness of those two stories.
 
Q: How do you market your books, if you do the marketing yourself?

The Cold Stone Creamery and a car wash, called CarPro, in Stuart, FL and Palm City, FL, respectively, had a visitor, who was I, a couple of weeks ago; and I was successful in setting up in those venues book signings, which are to take place at peak hours, Friday and Saturday evening for the ice cream shop and a Saturday afternoon for the car wash joint. I aim to sell and sign a hundred copies in both venues, all taken into consideration.
 
Q: How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?

Reviews are a pursuit of which I have grown, in the recent months, quite wary. A reviewer may well read your book and find themselves reading the same words as the next reader, but they are letting register this or that for whatever reason, and the context of the story and the mysteriousness of the story is voided by a conceited, or if not conceited, cynical hand, which writes a review, the rating of which may not be a universal perspective. I tend to stay away from reviewers. A good word makes itself prevalent of its own accord. One need not search for literary encouragement.
 
Q: Where do you see publishing going in the future?

There is to be a generator. The generator will take feed. The generator is to recapitulate the imports; and then a story becomes manifest, much like madlibs. This may not happen for forty years.
​

Lewis J. Beilman III lives in Hamden, Connecticut, with his family, dog, and two cats.  He writes fiction in his spare time.  His stories have appeared in Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, ArLiJo, Reed Magazine, and other literary publications.  In 2009, he won first prize in the Fred R. Shaw Poetry Contest.
Outside of writing, Lewis enjoys reading, playing soccer, and volunteering in his community.  He has a law degree from the University of Maine Law School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Sacred Heart University—but he is first and foremost a writer.
You can find out more about Lewis at www.lewisbeilman.com and on Twitter and Instagram @LJBeilman3.

​Set in New York City, Fourth of July is a dark tale of privilege run amok. Ogden Goodman is a wealthy lawyer who, harried one evening by boredom, hires a homeless man to perform for his family. The success of that evening's performance leads Ogden--and others in his circle--to engage a variety of characters in a host of increasingly outrageous and disturbing activities. Lewis J. Beilman III crafts this satire with skill and humor and creates a world that seems, at the same time, both absurd and all too real.

“[Lewis] Beilman casts the satirist’s stink eye on the gilded lives of the bored and wealthy. Fourth of July is a clever, absurdist tale for the Opposite World where we all dwell now.”
Debra Dean, author of The Madonnas of Leningrad

“Grounded in scene and propelled forward by a satirically dark portrayal of white privilege, Fourth of July boldly depicts the bigotry, racism, and sheer absurdity that still plague contemporary American life. Refusing to offer easy answers or feel-good resolutions, this daring novella forces us to confront issues of class, race, and culture through a seemingly hyperbolic lens that at times can feel all too real. Anchored by self-assured prose, Lewis Beilman skillfully balances an incrementally disturbing plot and cast of central characters with a touch of humor, all of it leading to a powerfully unsettling conclusion. In today’s social and political context, Fourth of July is sure to linger long after it has been read.”
                                    Dariel Suarez, author of In the Land of Tropical Martyrs

Heath Brougher is the poetry editor of Five 2 One Magazine. He has published two chapbooks, "A Curmudgeon Is Born" (Yellow Chair Press) and "Digging for Fire" (Stay Weird and Keep Publishing Co.). He is a Best of the Net Nominee and was the judge of Into the Void's 2016 Poetry Competition. His work has appeared in both print and online journals in 12 countries and has also been translated into Albanian. ​

Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review!
 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
 I was born and raised in York, PA. My mom was pregnant with me during the Three Mile Island crisis which was only a 45-minute drive away from where she lived. I went to the most horrible middle/high school in the world with a bunch of snobs who put me through a daily grind of humiliation and ridicule because I would not "conform" and sell out my Individuality like they did. I've been writing my entire life but didn't begin to submit my work for publication until 3 years ago (at the age of 34) so I've got a ton of notebooks filled up and 59 books written that all need typed up and edited. I've already copied up more than a thousand of them and it's barely made a dent in the plethora of notebooks, so I've got a lot of catching up to do.
Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school?
 Most definitely. As I said, I went to the snobbiest school in the state and had to deal with these scumbags on a daily basis. It was torture from 6th-12th grade. Writing was a great solace for me back then and remains a great solace to me.
 
Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student?
 English was always my favorite class. The one good thing about the horribly stuck-up school that I went to was that from grades 8th-12th my English teachers were amazing and it was always their classes I looked forward to the most. I was one of the few moronic American kids who actually went to school to learn things. I also had some really great history teachers along the way as well. I excelled at history because of my dad, who has a masters degree in history and pretty much shoved it down my throat as long as I can remember. Even as a little kid he'd tell me about certain events or make me watch certain documentaries and movies, which, of course I didn't like at the time because I was a kid and just wanted to play, but it came in really handy once I got to middle/high school and aced every history test I took. I'm still very grateful for it.
 
Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career?
 To have fun and help people along the way. My goal is to bring down the elitist journals which judge who and what they accept by a person's bio instead of the actual work itself. I recently spoke to a poet who has been in this lit world for 40 years and they told me they had worked for journals which would just throw out a submission without reading it if the bio wasn't good enough. I read blind at both of the journals I worked for and the contest I judged and the anthology I edited. I'm the co-editor of Into the Void Magazine which won the 2017 Saboteur Award after only 4 issues. How'd we do it ? By reading blind! I want to see a day where all journals read blind and the voices which should be heard get the proper chance. I want to level the playing field of this lit world.
 
 
Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far?
 As far as books, Alien Buddha Press recently published my newest, titled "About Consciousness." I'd like to thank Red Focks for accepting it and putting in all the amazing artwork that goes along with some of the poems. My. other books include "A Curmudgeon is Born," "Digging for Fire," and "Your Noisy Eyes," all of which were published in 2016. Also, the Issue 5 of Into the Void Magazine was recently released and I'm extremely happy and proud to say that it's our best one yet! We didn't think we could possibly top Issue 4 but we did!
 
Q: Where can we buy or see them?
All but one of my books are available on Amazon.com as well as Yellow Chair Review's website, Stay Weird and Keep Writing's Website, and Alien Buddha Press' website.
 
Q: What are you working on at the minute?  What’s it about?
I currently have 17 different books I'm trying to get typed up and edited but my main focus is on the most important book I've written or put together so far which is titled "To Burn in Torturous Algorithms" which introduces a style of writing I've been developing as far back as age 17 which I call Spiralism. That is the book I need to find the perfect home for. 
  
Q: When did you decide to become a poet? What was the decisive factor or you just took a pen and starting writing poems?
 There was never a decision. I've just been writing ever since I learned how to I guess.
  
Q: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
I began a 12-year hermitage years ago, which I am just coming out of, during which I removed all mirrors from my apartment just so I could mirror only my own thoughts and not be influenced by the insanity of society. During that seclusion, I came across many original thoughts and had many great Epiphanies. The only way I think I've really evolved as far as outside influence is, now having read the works of Felino Soriano, Heller Levinson, and Alan Britt, which may occasionally have a subconscious effect on my writing.
 
Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing?
 Submissions. I've grown so tired of reading submission guidelines and putting submissions together that I've just been focusing more on the books I'm working on. I just counted and I've sent out a total of 59 submission so far, this year. I used to try to get one out every day. 
  
Q: What book/s are you reading at present?
 I'm currently buried under 18 different books I told people I'd write reviews for. I feel bad that it's taking so long to get them finished because I have all of these other obligations to juggle.
 
 
Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?
That's what I need to start doing. Two of the books I've published were thrown together in one night.
 
 
Q: Tell us about the covers of your books. How did it/they come about?
Well, with my first book "A Curmudgeon is Born" I actually came across the perfect cover before I was even done putting the book together. Thankfully Dianne Borsenik stepped in and saved the day by getting me the artist's phone number so I could call and ask permission to use the image. Another cover was done by Bree Bodnar, and with my latest book I was given a chance to pick from a plethora of different images thanks to Red Focks, who is a great poet and artist.
 
Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?
 I've never self-published anything of my books. I've always submitted to the presses. I do have two books I was thinking about self-publishing because they're just so "out there" that I can't foresee a press ever accepting one of them.
 
Q: Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
 Get out there and read. It's a great way to meet new people and get your work noticed. I've done several readings in Great Britain and a bunch of different U.S. cities.
 
Q: Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work?
I haven't yet but I'm planning a full-on assault of promotion once "To Burn in Torturous Algorithms" is accepted. Or, rather, IF it is ever accepted. I told myself I'd submit it for a year and a half and if they're no takers then I'll just self-publish it. It's the most important book I've put together so far and if I self-published it I wouldn't have to hold back on certain aspects of Spiralism which I've had to eliminate in order to make this first book more palatable to editors.
 
Q: What is your favorite motivational phrase? What is your favorite positive saying?
 "Insist on yourself. Never imitate."  Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

David Perlmutter is a freelance writer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is the author of America Toons In: A History of Television Animation (McFarland and Co.),  The Singular Adventures Of Jefferson Ball (Chupa Cabra House), The Pups (Booklocker.com), Certain Private Conversations and Other Stories (Aurora Publishing)  Orthicon; or, the History of a Bad Idea (Linkville Press, forthcoming), and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Cartoon Series (Rowman and Littlefield, forthcoming.) He can be reached on Facebook at David Perlmutter-Writer, Twitter at @DKPLJW1, and Tumblr at The Musings of David Perlmutter (yesdavidperlmutterfan).
  

Honey and Health - they go hand in hand. 
The book brings in the foreground the multiple benefits of honey. The nature' s gold stands out because of its multiple therapeutic characteristics, in particular the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial features. These properties play a significant role in preventing aging and averting and treating degenerative, as well as chronic conditions, such as cardio-vascular and pulmonary diseases. By regular consumption, honey also boosts the immune system, so that it helps in preventing and treating infections. Overall, honey consumption reduces fatigue and is one of the most effective energizers in nature. 
The book represents a guide with numerous recipes for many conditions, also briefly and simply depicted. The authors never tired to warn about the importance of precisely following the recipes, and kept advising that the treatment should be applied under medical supervision.
We hope you will appreciate the information presented and will take advantage of the nature's gold benefits shortly. ​

Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review! 
 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. 
 
My name is FETHI SASSI. I m a poet from Tunisia in the north of Africa; born 
in 1962 in Nabeul; very attached to learning and writing. I have four Arabic  
poetry books; and some others translated … coming soon.  
 
Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school? 
 
Really; I was a child with a great interest in studying, always in the first rank 
with a great interest in books and reading. At the same time, I collected the best 
expressions to make wonderful texts that’s why I ‘m going with great love to the  
prose poetry where the pictures are the most important. On the other hand, I was  
had a scientific reasoning and love for mathematics and this world of writing. They were very organized and fulfilling.
 
Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student? 
 
I like English and German languages … only because English is one of the keys which I can use to open most of the closed doors.   
Because of my translations I stepped worldwide and I am near readers from everywhere. 
 
 
 Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career? 
 
I have a lot of ambition but the most important is to bestow my poetic voice all over the world; I would like to cry for all and whisper:   we all are brothers and we need love… and nothing more than love. Another ambition is to translate for the Arabic library the work of many poets and know the poetry all over and the different ways of fulfilment.
  
Q: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective? 
 
Before, I was interested in the poets of the pre-Islamic era, to build and have a strong and a correct writing with the desert meaning first to love and fly. But in the secondary school, my purpose was on the poet full of dreams and desire, Nizar Kabani . His poetry has taught me how to love   and how to respect a woman. And this beauty, the woman, can be everything: motherland, life and so on. But it was not lonely. I have been inspired by several creators as Saadi, Darwish, Ounsi, Maghout and many others.
 
Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far  

When I was twelve years old, I began to write my first poems. I was learning how to walk on the whiteness but I always felt that I was describing to the world how I felt, and how I saw all things. In 2008 I ‘ve decided to present my writing to the club of literary creators of Sousse and decided finally to publish my first book on 2010 (seeds of love) and in 2013 I dream …and  I sign on birds my last words. In 2016, I published A sky for a strange bird  and in 2017 As a lone rose … on a chair together with my first translated book  with Scarlet House  in Canada - And you are the entire poem. 
 
Q: Where can we buy or see them?
 
I would like to put all my Arabic poem books on Amazon site to begin advertising my poems to the entire world but I do not find the help to do it. (I would like to find a person that can seriously help me to put them in all the sellers sites). 
 
Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre? 
  
My books are a ticket to the heaven of love. They are a cup of wine with the smell of  passion, a little journey on the waves with a breeze of happiness … a wonderful 
butterfly flying on the edge of every heart. 
 
Q: When did you decide to become a poet? What was the decisive factor or you just took a pen and starting writing poems? 

When I was twelve, I tried writing for the first time. It was a challenge to be  
different from others. In the darkness of my room, when all the world is asleep,  
some deep whispers come to my mind as an inspiration for a coming prophet. 
But surely there is in my heart a sadness never been slept for one day … this pain 
Is only the ink of my writing that told …where here you are?? What do you do  in this empty world lonely as a story never to be told. Too many questions but no  
answers , and surely the poetry is no more that a question but with no answer . 
 
Q: What makes you write? What’s the force behind taking your pen (or your keyboard) and put verses down? 
 
Pain is my direction. Happiness never led to creation; only the sadness full of  
questions takes you far to the philosophic way of being; it is the force and the  
power made especially for all writers to give the real meaning and explain issues.But surely the method of writing is different from one to another; one take his pen to make this creation and other his brush to draw as  
Socrates [said] to" Videros" in "The Conversations "  
Do you know "Videros "  What makes the writing marvelous  
It is that is resembles painting tremendously? 
and so on; too much method but the main purpose is the search for the absent 
 answers. 
 
 
Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? 
 
I am mad of writing; I try to write non stop to take the real breath for Life. When inspiration comes with all devils to dance on whiteness; take it by hand and fly with to the far sky. But I feel the night would be the time more efficient to create a wonderful words. 
 
Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration? 
 
My  feelings offer me usually the prayers of writing 
 
Q: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? 
Step by step is the long travel of writing. Every book is really a step; is a part of  
my experience. 
 
 
Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing? 
 
The first moment of birth .. the moment when one discovers the world after a big silence in The  memory. This moment is a cesarean birth that separates life and death’ it is the fugitive moment coming with a full  inspiration . 
 
Q: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing? 
 
In this way, there are no easy things; everything has a special role to play until
we finally have the book  in our hands . 
 
 
 
Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? 
 
I have never stopped reading since my childhood. Reading was and is my passion; 
  And right now I  like to Be with some special authors as Sarkon Bolss ; Saadi  
Youssef; Ouns Hadj  Bessem Hajjar  and so on … I usually read the  excellent magic realist Marquez; and Gualliano … 
Generally, paper book is the best way to read and to smell  the perfect paper  
perfume. But if the book is only in ebook I  can read it as I do now . 
 
Q: What book/s are you reading at present? 
 
At present, I’m passionate by the short stories of the great Sarcon Bolss . 
 
Q: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? 
 
I work with a group of proofreaders in English and Arabic; they control all my  
work to keep my texts with no mistakes; I never do a perfect work  alone . It must  
be some professional touches on the final texts.  
But now I need only someone to help me to put my books on the international  
great book sellers as Amazon and Create Space and so on.  
 
Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? 
 
Yes, indeed ; every work has to take a good period to go back to the publication . 
I keep all my books on my desk to complete all the details needed to be in the final 
State to the way of publication. 
This period is important for the decision of last touches. Surely so many things  
can be changed; it is in fact the last decision .  
 
Q: Who edited your last book and how did you select him/her? 
 
My last book is And You Are the Entire Poem. This poetry book is translated. It has been recently published in Canada by Scarlet Leaf House. I was invited by madame Roxana Nastase to work together on a translated short poems book . We have been in fact good friends for a good while . 
 
Q: Tell us about the covers of your books. How did it/they come about? 
 
In general I select my book covers with the meaning that leads the book ; to be  
in a direct relation . And about my last book  I have a deep friendship with the  
fresh painter Pascal Chove; he has given me with great love a wonderful image 
to put it on my cover book ; and I  think that  I will choose some others only  
because our common and mutual view on poetry and art . 
 
Q: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? 
 
Yes, of course; with no doubt. The book cover is really an important part of 
the buying process; due to the fact that the cover is the first picture that  
meets the reader and generally it can help readers to buy .
 
Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around ? 
 
Self-publishing get some advantages and in the same way some disadvantages 
But it is a method between some others to keep the book in the library for readers . 
But the writer must see the possible way to the reader and get to work with it . 
 
 
 Q: Would you or do you use a PR agency? 
 
No ; I do not use public relation ; really what I use to do is only the power of my  
texts  , and the beauty of my poem  .  
 
  
Q: What are your views on social media for marketing? Which social network worked best for you? Any tips on what to do and what not to do  ? 
 
All social media has a huge impact on the marketing. 
 I use Facebook due to the great number of users. But on the other hand I use 
contacts with hotmail, yahoo; gmail ; and others . 
 
Q: Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch? 
 
Yes ; in fact from time to time I was interviewed about my first book  and now no  
more ; because in Tunisia from a long time culture was not for culture but for  
friends and personal purpose .  
 
Q: Is there any marketing technique you used that had an immediate impact on your sales figures? 
 
The main problem that has all Arabic writers is an efficient strategy for selling  
books , we have unfortunately only the first state of the book production and no  
more especially in Tunisia ; no distribution . That’s why we go to the FACEBOOK  
and TWITER and so on to find the way to make our books known . 
 
 
Q: What do you think of “trailers” for books? 
 
They are very important for the marketing of the book  , for a big number of sale  
To give the writer a great chance to be read from all and everywhere . 
 
Q: What is your favorite motivational phrase? What is your favorite positive saying ? 
 
I feel really motivated by two words they are only my little boat in this big life sea  
Love and work ; I cannot live without .It is my travel ticket in this difficult  
poetry experience . And woman gives me this travel . 
 
 
Q: What is your favorite quote? 
 
The great Nietzsche " Without music , life would be a mistake " . 
 
 Q: Where can you see yourself in 5 years-time? 
 
I feel that I will fly all over the world and my poetry will go further than I. Our real  
wings are our poetry books and no more. 
 
   
Q: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why ? 
 
My father is the great personality in my mind, the only man on this earth who spent his life with one purpose in mind our happiness and success . 
 
  
Q: Where do you see publishing going in the future? 
 
The publishing is getting more and more difficult with time. I’m in the way to  
discover the self-publishing. This is a way quick and efficient to the readers . 
 
Q: How can readers discover more about you and your work ? 
 
I hope for all  readers will contact me on my face book accounts and my blog too ,  
And I will answer all questions and enquiries. 
 
 
Blog     :    https://sassifathi62.wixsite.com/mysite-2 
 
Facebook   :   ttps://www.facebook.com/fethi.sassi.54 
                     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005592222927 
 
Twitter    :  https://twitter.com/lapoesiepourtoi 
 
Lnkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sassi-fethi-28b834b4/ 
 
Amazon Author Page :  https://www.createspace.com/pub/member.dashboard.do 
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4570266-fethi-sassi 
 
Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) 
 
Goodreads  :  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4570266-fethi-sassi 
 
 
 
 
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. 
 
 

Who said that romance is dead? 
Fethi Sassi brings you peerless lyrical verses reminding of another century, singing love, eternal questions, joy and loneliness. They will warm your soul and make you feel as if you were part of an endless time.
If you look for that indefinite feeling that only love and reflection could bring, then this is the book for you. 

ASCENT OF HER DESIRE 

She was travelling by night 
in the twilight jubbah; 
crying behind the cloud ascent of her 
desire asking....: 
who took away her harlot night?

​

Abu Sufian – who is also known as The Silent Poet – is a poet, writer and social worker whose writings have appeared in many national and international publications that include newspaper, magazine, literary journals and books. Sufian currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and he can be reached at his official Facebook poetry page, The Silent Poet (facebook.com/Sufian.Author). During his undergraduate years when he studied English literature as an academic subject, he fell in love with the poetic world. Finishing his bachelor, he moved to Malaysia in 2013 and recently he earned his MA degree in English literature. During his Master’s study, he has been exposed to Sufi poets like Rumi, Saadi Shirazi, Hafiz, Omar Khayyam. His poems have been greatly influenced by these Sufi and mystic writers and have been published in literary journals including Scarlet Leaf Review, Criterion, Literary Voyage, The Literary Herald, Tuck Magazine, Clairvoyance, and also in the poetry anthologies, Voice of Monarch Butterflies (2016) and Apple Fruits of an Old Oak (2016), Dandelion in a Vase of Roses (2017). All these anthologies were published in USA. His poems have been accepted for publications in a bilingual poetry anthology Where Are You From? which is expected to be published in May 2017.

Photo: © Mahadi Kamaluddin
Abu Sufian is delivering talk on a Research Symposium at International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review, Abu Sufian!


Scarlet Leaf Review: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
Abu Sufian: First of all, thanks for taking this interview. It is a great pleasure for me to be interviewed by Scarlet Leaf Review. I was born in Comilla district of Bangladesh. Since my school years I have been a curious boy. I studied science in my school, and then I moved to college to study business studies. Although I liked literature since my school days, I never thought in a million years that I would become a writer or a poet someday. I did my bachelor in English language and literature, and this gave me an opportunity to read literature more extensively and dive deep into the literary realm. I was amazed by Robert Frost’s magnificent poems; Shakespeare’s enthralling plays; Jane Austen’s reformative novels; and many as such. However, beside my study, I worked as a journalist in Bangladesh for a few years. In 2013, I moved to Malaysia to pursue higher education.

SLR: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school?
AS: Yes, indeed. I think everyone’s school days are remarkable and unforgettable; so are mine. And school years have great impact on whatever you do later in your life, because that’s where our mind’s ideas are initially formulated. I am not an exception. I can mention one thing in particular: studying science in school have had a great impact on my writing. Although I quit science and moved to other areas of studies, what I learned about physics, chemistry and biology has been very genuinely stuck in my mind. So, I continued my journey of own to know more about science, our world, life and the universe at large, going beyond the academic study and classrooms. You will see many references of scientific things in my poems and writings. I am very happy about it and that is what makes my school years so dear and important to me.
 
SLR: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student?
AS: I was good at English compared to my peers during my school and college years. Over the years, I tried to improve my English as it was the medium of my study both in my undergraduate and in Master’s. By the way, Einstein is my most favorite scientist after the great astronomer Galileo.
 
SLR: What are your future ambitions for your writing career?
AS: When it comes to literature, I don’t aim for any material gain as it is very close to my heart and I nurture creative works as something that will serve the society by entertaining and reforming. So, there is no monetary ambition. My ambition mainly is to transcend some of my messages that I want to convey to the society. And I believe literary works are the most effective ways to influence and reform people’s mind. Other than composing poetry, I am also interested in writing novels and short stories which you will see in coming years, hopefully. In a nutshell, my ambition as a writer and poet is to reform society in a positive way without getting any material gain from it.
 
SLR: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective?
AS: This is my favorite question to answer. I would divide it in two segments: first, the writers who made me love literature and the ones who inspired me to write. Firstly, my love for literature is formulated and fueled by some poets from my motherland (Bangladesh) and some English writers. Among the Bengali (national language of Bangladesh) writers, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sufia Kamal, Begum Rokeya, Jahir Raihan, Rabindranath Tagore and many more. The English writers include T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Jane Austen, John Keats, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill, Virginia Wolf, Arthur Miller, Walt Whitman, and many more to count. Secondly, the poets and writers who inspired me to write are not the English or Bengali writers; they are the Sufi writers. In 2014, during my Master’s study, I studied legendary Sufi poets and mystics Rumi, Omar Khayyam, Hafiz, Sa’adi, and Shams Tabrizi. These great poets actually very much formulated and convinced me to write more and more. Although I used to write poems when I was eight, I never thought to get my works published till I am exposed these Sufi writers. I never experienced anything like that before in my life. Their writings are unbelievably enthralling and there are no words to explain the depth and gravity of their poems until and unless someone read their poems and try to comprehend the ideas himself/herself.
 
SLR: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far?
AS: So far, I have mainly composed poetry, both in English and Bengali (also known as Bangla) and two short stories. Among the poems, I have about 70+ poems that were published in books and literary magazines. I have not published my short stories yet. However, as I am researcher of English literature, I also produce critical writings that include journal articles, newspaper articles, book reviews, interviews and so on. The readers may have a glimpse of my critical writing at https://iium.academia.edu/AbuSufian. So far, my poems have been published in literary journals including Scarlet Leaf Review, Criterion, Literary Voyage, The Literary Herald, Tuck Magazine, and Clairvoyance. My poems also got published in the poetry anthologies, Voice of Monarch Butterflies (2016) and Apple Fruits of an Old Oak (2016) and Dandelion in a Vase of Roses (2017), these anthologies were published from USA. Some poems have been accepted for publication a bilingual poetry anthology, Where Are You From? It is supposed to be published in May, 2017.
 
SLR: Where can we buy or see them? 
AS: You can buy and see them using the following links:
 
Anthologies:
Voice of Monarch Butterflies: https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Monarch-Butterflies-Eastern-Anthology/dp/1533565198
Apple Fruits of an Old Oak: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Fruits-Old-Oak-Contemporary/dp/1539428974
 
Literary Journals/Magazines:
Scarlet Leaf Review: http://www.scarletleafreview.com/poems6/abu-sufian-poems
The Criterion: http://www.the-criterion.com/V5/n6/Abu.pdf
The Literary Herald:  http://tlhjournal.com/uploads/products/36__abu_sufian_poem.pdf
Tuck Magazine: http://tuckmagazine.com/2016/10/13/poetry-566/
Hall of Poets: http://www.hallofpoets.com/2016/08/hall-of-poets-poetry-of-week-abu-sufian.html
 
SLR: What are you working on at the minute?  What’s it about?
AS: Currently I am working on some short stories. Writing poems – in both English and Bengali – is something I do on a regular basis. I have been invited by some journals to submit poems, I am working on it. I am planning to start of writing a novel. Hopefully, I will start it soon after the gestation period of thinking process and a little of research. 

SLR: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre?
AS: As per as genre is concerned, I follow the postmodern trend. Literature should be open and diverse, there should not be any set rules that writers should follow. In the early 19th century, the romantic poets successfully broke the long-standing tradition of “order, accuracy, and structure” of the Neoclassical period (1660 – 1798), and thus the Romantic Era (1798–1832) brought a tremendous change in literary thinking. If we still follow rigid structure or genre, then we will go backward in history. So, I don’t want to subscribe my work into any genre. But if you want to define it, my poems would fall under the genres of narrative, satirical, haiku, prose poetry and so on. I have plans to write some science fiction novels in future.
 
SLR: When did you decide to become a poet? What was the decisive factor or you just took a pen and starting writing poems?
AS: I think to become a poet does not have much to do with decision or planning as we do it related to many other stuff in our life. It is something like an Epiphany, a feeling and/or a moment of truth. There is an urge deep inside the heart that wants to speak out for truth and beauty. As per as I am concerned, I got the real inspiration from the legendary sufi poets to compose poems and publish. I would especially like to mention the Sufi poets Jalaluddin Rumi (1207–1273), Omar Khayyam (1048–1131) and English poet Robert Frost (1874–1963). Apart from these inspirations, personally I also felt an indomitable urge from within myself to speak out against the corruption and the human sufferings all around the globe. I was thinking a way out to spread my words, and I found poetry as a very powerful tool through which I can inspire many people and thus transcend the ideas I have in my brain.

SLR: What makes you write? What’s the force behind taking your pen and put verses down?
AS: Again, I would say the urge that I feel from within. I feel a strong sense of responsibility as I consider myself to be privileged with a pen and paper, and food in my mouth. Many people in the world can’t even eat 3 times a day, millions of people are homeless. 1 out of every 7 people living on this planet go to bed with hungry stomach; 20,000 children die every day due to malnutrition (according to UN). Having seen all these statistics and the sheer horror they bring along, I could not resist me. I am not a politician, nor am I a wealthy person; so, I can’t fix this thing directly. That’s why I decided to write and raise human consciousness.
 
SLR: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write everyday, 5 days a week or as and when?
AS: I am a part-time writer now. Writing is not my profession, I outlined above why I am eager to write. From my part, there is almost no monetary ambition when it comes to producing literature. I don’t have any specific time, but I love to write at night, especially late at night when most of the people are at sleep. It is a great experience of waking up the whole night and at the end of the night you start writing.
 
SLR: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration?
AS: I am not sure where do they (ideas) come from. In my childhood, I heard that, ‘ideas come from God’. I am not sure about ideas’ origin: is it a human mechanism resulting from our biological evolution of the brain, or does a divine source put the ideas in human brain? However, I am sure that ideas exist and they are the key players in whatever we do as human race. My ideas are inspired by a number of things. They include: a movie, a song, a poem, a piece of art, a painting, a photograph, a moment of joy/sadness, an experience and a dream. I don’t see any specific conjuncture, maybe a photograph could be so.
 
SLR: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
AS: Relying on undeniable scientific evidence, I believe it very strongly that all living things evolve and everything evolves including humans, plants and the universe at large. But to be honest, I have not noticed how I have evolved creativity. It is so spontaneous and unplanned process that it is tough to detect the nature of creative evolution. It is something like growing up from infancy to boyhood, and boyhood to adolescence. You know you are growing up, but you can’t detect the process.

SLR: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing?
AS: I think the hardest thing about writing is to force the brain to write when it is exhausted, and some occasions, to forget an amazing idea which you previously planned to write something on.
 
SLR: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing?
AS: I think there nothing easiest in writing. It’s all about hard work, pushing yourself and strong sense of commitment to society.

SLR: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
AS: Yes, many times in a year I suffer from ‘writer’s block’. I handle it so nicely that it is no more a problem for me. I simply stop writing and try to go somewhere far from where I live, somewhere close to nature. Nature can heal it so perfectly. In the case of ‘writer’s block’, my simple advice for other writers would be: stop writing and go to nature.

SLR: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
AS: As a student of literature, I read a lot of literary stuff. In last few years I have given my focus to many other areas other than literature. The areas include philosophy, science, theology and psychology. It is difficult to give a short list of writers as favorite. However, they include Reza Aslan, Tariq Ramadan, John Hick, Richard Dawkins, Yuval Harari, Alain de Botton and Paulo Coelho. Though I read lots of soft copies, I prefer traditional paperback books.

SLR: What book/s are you reading at present?
AS: Currently I am reading Excellence Without a Soul by Harry Lewis.
 
SLR: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
AS: At the moment, I myself do the editing.
 
SLR: What are your views on social media for marketing? Which social network worked best for you? Any tips on what to do and what not to do?
AS: As I can observer, Facebook is an effective medium for promotion or marketing as it has over a billion users worldwide. Publishers can run ads in Facebook to attract more people to buy their books.

SLR: What is your favorite motivational phrase? What is your favorite positive saying?
AS: My favorite motivational saying is a quote by English novelist & essayist George Orwell: “In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” The favorite positive sayings are too many to count. However, here is a glimpse of them:
“Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.” ~Rumi
“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” ~ Robert Frost
“I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” ~Voltaire
“It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ~Aristotle
 
SLR: What advice would you give to your younger self?
AS: Don’t let yourself be convinced by the ideas that are not true.
 
SLR: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
AS: I would love to meet the Sufi poet Rumi. He was a great human being. Till today, he is an inspiration for billions of people. I like honesty and truthfulness in a writer. Rumi does not pretend to know all the truths about life, world and the universe. He tried to know and showed his ignorance and inability to fathom the truth. This is why I like him.
 
SLR: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
AS: Write with honesty and truthfulness. Your writing should spread love and kindness in people. That’s all.
 
SLR: Where do you see publishing going in the future?
AS: It is very evident. The publishing norms will change radically in a about a century’s time. Almost all the publishing will be online publication. Hardcopies will be outdated.
 
SLR: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
AS: Yes, you might ask me about people who helped and inspired me to publish. I would like to thank the editor and poet, Soodabeh Saeidnia. She is a very good friend of mine as well. Her contribution to my writing career is immense and incomparable. She inspires me every step of the way and helps me to get my works published in poetry anthologies that she edited. I can never repay her selfless care and support for my creative writings. Secondly, I would like to thank the editor Michael Lee Johnson who is a great inspiration. Other than this, my friends, family members and most important of them all—the readers who read and like my poems, send me emails, like my Facebook poetry page and thank me for my poems.
 
SLR: How can readers discover more about you and you work?
AS: They can get me via my Facebook poetry page: https://www.facebook.com/Sufian.Author/
They can also search me in Google: ‘Poet Abu Sufian’ or email me at [email protected]

Facebook: facebook.com/sufian.iium
Twitter: twitter.com/AuthorSufian
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/abu-sufian-b41253a4/
Instagram: instagram.com/the.silent.poet/
Google Plus: plus.google.com/+SufianImon
Poem Hunter: www.poemhunter.com/abu-sufian/
 
SLR: Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review!
 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I am 64 years old, retired, and have been married for almost 45 years to my best friend - my husband, Rich. I have 3 sons, 1 daughter, 1 daughter-in-law, and 7 grandchildren. I currently live in Tennessee but I grew up in New England. I was blessed with a loving Mom and Dad and 2 wonderful Sisters. I was raised in the Catholic Church, which gave me a good foundation for my faith. However, although I knew about God, it wasn't until I was 20 years old, that I surrendered my life to God and really came to know Him as my Lord and Savior. Actually, it is this knowledge of His love and saving grace that inspires me to share it with everyone who has an open heart to receive it through my writing.
 
Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school?

I really enjoyed school and my favorite subject was always English. My favorite assignment would be to read a book and then write a report about it. I found it very easy to write but, if we had to give an oral report, that was more difficult for me. I have always been a little shy and do not feel comfortable speaking in public. Although my speaking voice has not been my strength, my writing voice has always been strong.
 
Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student?

I always got good grades for English in school. I remember that I took my Scholastic Aptitude Test in high school and scored such a high mark on the English and Essay portion that I was nominated for the National Honor Society as a result. You mentioned Einstein and it reminded me of the time when I visited the Amercian Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, TN. It was very interesting and informative but spending a few hours learning about all the mathematics and science involved actually gave me a headache. I remember thinking that I would like to visit a Museum of Storytelling next time. :)
 
Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career?

I would like to continue to write as I feel led by the Lord. For me, I think of my writing not so much as a career, but as a ministry.
 
Q: Which poets have inspired you and how?  What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective?

My favorite poet is Maya Angelou. Everything that she wrote - whether books, poetry, essays, or a memoir - she wrote from her heart. Her poetry, especially, touches my heart and affects me in a profound way. Each poem expresses her incredible wisdom and strength of character. I think that many people, including myself, have a new appreciation of poetry because of her.
 
Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far?

I have written 2 books. The 1st book that I wrote is a memoir called "From My Heart to Yours: A Legacy of Love". The 2nd book that I wrote is called "My Season of Writing: Bible Bedtime Stories, Poems, Prayers, and Songs". My husband teases me that I can make a short story long and I guess that I can make a short title for a book long also. :)
 
Q: Where can we buy or see them?

They are both available for the Kindle and Paperback on amazon.com. They are also available for Paperback on barnesandnoble.com. They are also listed on Goodreads website.
 
Q: What are you working on at the minute? What's it about?

At the moment, I enjoy writing essays about hope for my community Facebook page "Hope for the Daily Grind: Morning Meditations on God's Word". It focuses on the importance of having hope for daily life and the very real hope that we can have by meditating on the Promises of God in His Word. I also enjoy writing poetry as I feel inspired to do so.
 
Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre?

My books are Christian non-fiction and Christian poetry. I have been inspired by reading books in that genre and hope that my books will inspire people as well.
 
Q: How much research do you do for your books?

For my memoir, I was blessed to be able to ask questions of my Mom and Dad to hear the stories of their life as well as those of their parents. I also looked at family photographs to help me remember stories about my own life. It was a way for me to share the love of our family with my children and grandchildren. For my book of poetry of Bible stories, I spent a lot of time studying the Bible. It was a way for me to share my faith with everyone.
 
Q: When did you decide to become a writer and why? What was the principal reason for taking up a pen (metaphorically speaking) and write that first sentence?

To be honest, although I loved reading books as a child, I didn't have a passion to write until I was 51 years old, in 2004, when my husband was stationed in Iraq. I wrote to my husband faithfully every day, either by email or by letter, sharing news of life back home in West Hartford, CT.  It was therapeutic for me to write creatively from my heart in a positive and humorous manner. It helped me to continue to be optimistic and lighthearted during a difficult year when my husband was so far from home.
 
Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?

I write part-time - a few hours a day. My favorite time to write is during my quiet time with the Lord in the morning. That is usually when the Lord places an idea about something on my heart. For example, my 2nd book "My Season of Writing: Bible Bedtime Stories, Poems, Prayers, and Songs" was written during my morning quiet time with the Lord. That is when I first got the deep desire to write some bible bedtime stories and prayers as nursery rhymes for my grandchildren to read at bedtime. After many months of writing, I decided to have the collection of poems published to share not only with my grandchildren but with my family and friends.
 
Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration?

Usually my ideas come when I am praying or reading the Bible. But they have also come from a conversation with someone or a song that touches my heart or an inspirational book that I have read. I try to stay open to whatever I feel the Lord is placing on my heart to share with others through writing.
 
Q: How do you think you've evolved creatively?

I am enjoying the process of writing more than in the past. I used to be so focused and intense and serious about getting it done, that I really didn't enjoy writing as much as I do now. I had to take breaks every once in a while because I burned myself out. So now, although I definitely want to finish whatever I am working on at some point, I don't put as much pressure on myself to do it as soon as possible.
 
Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

For my memoir, I originally made an outline for the book, which is the story of over 100 years of my family's history. For the book of poetry, I originally got the idea for it during a quiet time with the Lord.
 
Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing?

When I am in the flow of writing, I lose all sense of time and can easily write for hours. When I wrote my 1st book "From My Heart to Yours: A Legacy of Love" I spent many hours at a time sitting in my recliner using my laptop computer to write. I remember one time that I was literally sitting for hours writing and found that, when I finally did stand up, I was so stiff that I actually had trouble walking. :) So, for me, the most difficult part of writing is to be patient, pace myself, and take breaks periodically.
 
Q: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing?

The easiest and most rewarding thing about writing is the ability to share it on my Facebook page and have friends and family read it and respond to it.
 
Q: Do you ever get writer's block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer's block?

I have gotten writer's block, when it feels that the well has gone dry, and the only way for me to deal with it is to take a break from writing for a little while. It is usually because I overdue it and then feel burned out and just need some time to get refreshed and renewed.
 
Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I love to read! My favorite authors are John Eldredge and Philip Yancey. I prefer eBooks because you can change the font to make it larger. I know that I am showing my age now. :)
 
Q: What book are you reading at present?

I am currently reading a book called Prayer by Philip Yancey.
 
Q: Tell us about the covers of your books. How did it/they come about?

The graphics for the original cover of my 1st book was done by one of my sons. I had originally self-published on 48hrbooks.com. However, it did not have enough resolution to be used as the cover for the kindle version of the book on amazon.com. But I liked it so much that I included it on the 1st page of the kindle book.
 
Q: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Yes - I think that the cover definitely plays an important part in the buying process.
 
Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

The main advantage to self-publishing is the ability to get your work published quickly and not have to wait to get it accepted by a publishing house.
 
Q: What do you do to get book reviews?

The main way that I have gotten book reviews is to make the books available for free during the 5 day free kindle book promotion on amazon.com every 3 months. That is usually when most people will obtain my book and write a review.
 
Q: What are your views on social media for marketing? Which social network works best for you?

Social media is a wonderful tool to market my books. I use Facebook to get the word out about my books. I have over 4,500 friends on Facebook so I often share information about my books on my personal page. I also belong to several book groups on Facebook so share information about my books on there, too. Many of my Facebook friends have book blogs so I have done some author interviews and book spotlights on there as well.
 
Q: Do you think that giving books away free works and why?

What works best for me, to have the most people read my books, is the 5 day free kindle book promotion on amazon.com every 3 months.
 
Q: How do you relax?

My husband and I enjoy retirement. I actually wrote a poem called When You Retire about the fact that every day is now a holiday. We love to go on long walks and enjoy nature together. We also enjoy going to the movies, too. And I love to find new recipes to cook for my family. We also enjoy travelling where I always take many pictures and then later enjoy organizing them and putting them into photo albums.
 
Q: What is your favorite motivational phrase? What is your favorite positive saying?

My favorite motivational phrase or positive saying is actually a quote by Maya Angelou. It is "If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded".
 
Q: What is your favorite book and why?

I think that my favorite book is Epic: The Story God is Telling and The Role That Is Yours To Play by John Eldredge. It is a book that delivers a powerful message of truth about the reality of our life being a grand drama with God as the Central Character and the Hero in our own story. It is very interesting and inspiring.
 
Q: What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote from the book Epic is "The Lover of our souls, the One who has pursued us down through space and time, who gave His own life to rescue us from the Kingdom of Darkness, has made it clear: He does not want to lose us. He longs to be with us forever."
 
Q: Where can you see yourself in 5 years-time?

I hope that, five years from now, I will continue to spend time with the Lord as a priority every morning. I pray that I will continue to be open to write whatever He wants me to share. I also hope to continue to enjoy long walks with my husband every day and just be able to spend time with my children and my grandchildren.
 
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to always write for the same reason as when I first began -- to simply bless and encourage another person with the right words at the right time, sharing what's on my heart, and hopefully make a significant impact on their life. 
 
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I would simply advise any aspiring writers to just start writing. If you have the desire to share something that is on your heart or something about your life that would benefit others, than do it. It is not easy but it is very rewarding.
 
Q: Where do you see publishing going in the future?

I think that self-publishng is increasing each day and will continue to do so.
 
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven't included?

I would like to encourage my older readers to take time to write your own memoir for your family and friends. Everyone has a unique story that is significant and can enrich and inspire other people by sharing it. I also would like to encourage the poets who are reading this interview. I feel that poetry is important as a creative way to share and express what is on our hearts with one another.  I originally started writing nursery rhyme poems for my grandchildren based on stories from the Bible as a way to share my faith with them. It was a challenge for me to write in rhyming prose but also very rewarding. I also wrote poems about my love for God and for my family. And I enjoyed writing some inspiring poems about the hope we have in God and also a few humorous poems about my life as well. 
 
Q: How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Information about me and my books and my writings can be found on the following links . . .
 
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/phyllislabriemorneau/
https://www.facebook.com/phyllislmorneau/
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=hope%20for%20the%20daily%20grind%3A%20morning%20meditations%20on%20god%27s%20word
 
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-Morneau/e/B010R8THEY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
 
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14781769.Phyllis_L_Morneau
 
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
 

​Teodora Dumitriu was born and lives in Campina, Romania. Passions: children, books and English. Sometimes, she writes. 

 
Indunil Madhusankha is an internationally published promising young poet from Sri Lanka. He is currently an undergraduate reading for a BSc (Hons) Special Degree in Mathematics in the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo and he takes a great interest in the subjects of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. In addition to Indunil’s involvement in the field of Physical Sciences, he also pursues a notable literary career. He achieved three gold medals and a silver medal from four All Island English Essay Competitions. Further, he presented several papers related to Education and English Language Studies at several national and international level conferences, and he contributed a few review articles to a couple of peer-reviewed international journals. He has undertaken several research projects pertaining to the areas of ELT, CLIL, and English Literature. Also, he completed the TKT examination and the three specialist modules YL, KAL, and CLIL. Indunil compiled his first collection of poetry entitled, Oasis when he was sixteen and he is currently working on his second collection, Reflections of Life and also on a book titled, A Rare Kind of Beauty, Yet Unexplored: A Selection of Modern Sri Lankan Sinhala Poetry featuring a translation of a set of select Sinhala poems written by some renowned Sri Lankan poets. He also enjoys interviewing fellow poets and practising the art of performance poetry. Moreover, his creative and academic works have been published in many international journals, magazines, websites and anthologies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Africa, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka and some other countries.
 

​Author is a retired attorney having practiced for 35 years in Illinois who now lives in Texas and started writing stories about a year and a half ago.