Bret Alan Hart - Interview series vol. 1 | #10
Bret Alan Hart - Interview series vol. 1 | #10
Interview with a published author and poet
Hello, I am Celeste. Each week I write about book marketing, creativity and writing. I am starting a new series this week and interview writers and artists about their creative process.
The archive of past issues can be foundĀ here.
Bret is a poet and he has published two novels and a poetry collection. He is one of the curators and hosts of Poets Anonymous Instagram live. Poets Anonymous is one of the most famous poetry feature pages in the poetry community on Instagram.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) born and raised. I have two adult children, a son and a daughter. In my spare time (aside from writing), I like to sketch and collect records.
How did your journey of writing poetry start? What motivated you to start posting on Instagram?
I started in high school at around 16. My stepfather did not allow me to draw or paint in the house. So when I was not in art class, I started writing at home.
I saw a few poets on Instagram back in early 2013 and thought I would give it a try. It has been a great outlet for my creativity and I have gotten to know some amazing people over the years in the poetry community.
How did you get to be the curator and Instagram live host for Poets Anonymous?
I knew all the poets from Poets Anonymous already and had substituted hosting for people who could not go live due to work. The group asked me if I would like to join in June. I was so honoured and it has been a wonderful experience. They are a family to me.
How would you describe your writing style?
I would describe my writing style as introspective and confessional. I write from what I am feeling at the time, mining my memories for things that I previously have not dealt with. It is very therapeutic.
The imagery in your poetry is brilliant. Where do you get your inspiration for your poems?
The inspiration comes from many places. I would get a random phrase in my head and write it down. It can be based on a piece of music that moves me or something I see in nature. I will then form the start of a poem.
Which part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy it most when I actually start writing a piece and have a clear idea of where it is going. That is a great feeling.
Do you have favourite poets or writers on Instagram? Why do you like them?
I have a soft spot for quite a few poets on Instagram. It is hard to pick a favourite but I really enjoyĀ reading @joesteele. His no holds barred approach resonates with me and his spoken word pieces are brilliant.Ā
@dreadful_artistĀ
Nugget combines her beautiful art with powerful words.Ā
@brandonwhitemusicandpoetryĀ
Brandon puts a real-world spin on his work, turning everyday life into poetic beauty.
Those are just a few, I could list poets for the whole day.
What advice would you give to someone who just starts writing poetry?
The best advice I can give to someone starting out is to just keep writing. It is the only way to get better. Read other poets as well, they will inspire you.
Do you want to tell us about your novels and poetry collection?
My first novel Helplessly Hoping is what I would call autobiographical fiction. It is loosely based on my life, growing up and dealing with anger issues.
My second novel A Garden Once Lush is fiction with a fantasy element. It is a great all-ages book, very suitable for children and adults alike. A young boy finds a stone that supposedly has mystical powers. Strange things begin happening and he wonders if it is the stone.
Misguided Journey is my poetry and short story collection. It contains poetry written from 2013 to 2015, none of which is on my Instagram page. Mostly short form, the book is in five sections, each dealing with different aspects of life and love. In between the sections are the short stories.
The collection was put together from pieces that were on my Instagram at the time and short stories I had written but never posted or published.
Where can people find your work? Where can people buy your published books?
People can find my work on InstagramĀ @b.alanhart. My books are available on Amazon in paperback or kindle format.
Do you mind telling us how you promote your book?
I am terrible at promoting my books. I used to post about them all the time on Instagram but real life this year has been a challenge. I really should put in more effort.
Thank you Bret for doing this interview with me. It is my honour to have you as my first guest for this series. It is incredible to know more about you and your work.
My favourite poem from Bret
Honey Bees & Dragonflies
ā£The midday sun warms my backā£
as I lose myself in a late summer day.ā£
Here there is only the soundā£
of water blanketing the sandā£
and gracefully retreating,ā£
repeatedly, almost like breathing.ā£
Nature meditating,ā£
me standing here contemplatingā£
how such peace can existā£
in the noisy shadow of the city.ā£
Air perfumed by
honey bees and dragonfliesā£
create the smile crossing my face.ā£
I close my eyes and inhale,ā£
knowing I can still see the beautyā£
that lovingly surrounds me.ā£
I can feel it, a vibrationā£
running through the earthā£
to tickle my wet toesā£
and fill me with laughter and hope.ā£
The boats, the trees,ā£
the sea and the breezeā£
all dance around free,ā£
creating a love few understand.ā£
I appreciate that loveā£
during this respite.ā£
I am renewedā£
I am refreshedā£
I am rechargedā£
It is a feeling I will carryā£
for hours to come,ā£
even as I take my leave for now.ā£
The cacophony of life awaits,ā£
but in this momentā£
all I truly hearā£
are children laughing in the distanceā£
and my footsteps on warm summer grass.ā£ā Bret Alan Hart
My personal favourites that I mentioned in the interview
@sruddickdarr
Sandra is another curator and host of Poets Anonymous. Her ethereal prose has a very unique aura that nobody can steal from.
@juxtaproser
Colin is great at writing prose and short stories that would keep you reading and want to read more of his work. I was hooked when I first found his account on Instagram in September.
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