| Muses Review Online Poet Interviews Spring 2007 - Apr May June |
| Poet of the Month: May 2007 Anne Sheiver : Love Letters from Kansas Interview Conducted by Andrew Angus |
| Note: The interview is cut short because the full interview will be published in the print edition of Muses Review. |
| Muses Review Spring 2007 Apr May June Table of Contents Editors Message Editor's Poem Poems Poem Reviews Book Reviews Interviews Book Ads |
| Buy this poetrybook: Captivated. |
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| Anne Shiever Poet from Kansas |
| Visit: Anne Shiever's website in Muses Review. |
| Buy this poetrybook: Inside My Heart, Mind and Soul by Anne Shiever |
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| AA stand for Andrew Angus, AS stands for Anne Shiever. Editor's Note: The interview was conducted in the year 2006. 1. Andrew: Describe your poetry: Anne: When I write poetry, it is a sense of freedom and feelings combined. I try to find something positve about each situation no matter how critical it becomes. I love to dive into the different dimensions to bring out the beauty that lies beneath. There is alot of love poured into my poetry which shows the diversity of love in all it's distinct forms. 2. AA: What do you think makes a poetrybook a bestseller? AS: I think you have to reach the right audience with poetry, just as writing novels. People love to be able to understand what they are reading, and achieve some enjoyment or fullfillment from something they have read. As for a bestseller, the work has to catch the audience's attention, and they always want to know more about the writer. I hope someday, I can reach that audience in order to say..."I wrote a bestseller" but until I do the gratification from family, friends, and fans keeps my heart, mind, and soul focused on writing. 3. AA: What literary organizations did you join? AS: In high school, I was in Journalism class and I also worked on the High School yearbook and newsletter as a staff member. Now, I am a member of the Kansas Author's Club. In 2006, I will be the Co- Vice-president for District 4 of the Kansas Author's Club. 4. AA: What is your favorite theme in composing poems? (sports, nature, etc.) AS: My favorite theme besides doing a dedication type book sch as for Mothers and Fathers would be Nature, Love for Life, and Animals. 5. AA: It seems that your first poetrybook was a victim of fraud or some undesirable event? In what way? Why? AS: My first "perfect bound" poetry book became a victim of fraud due to an imposter publisher who claimed to have published many books for authors for free to minister about God and his great love for us. The "ministry" as she called it was seeking ways to raise money. The publisher's dream was to become famous and get herself an appearance on the Oprah Show. The publisher even went to the extreme of taking private emails from individual authors and had them perfect bound into a book to personally mail to Oprah Winfrey. It was a hoax, scam, and a set up for those authors who had their books published. These authors were forced to pay an enormous fee to receive any of their own work/books. Unfortunately, the press/printing agency had no clue they were dealing with a fraudulent publisher until the books were finally out in print. When the authors began to complain about things, and question the "ministry", pieces of the dreadful truth were finally revealed. The publisher/ministry was finally shut down and the woman and her partner could do no more harm to people who loved to write. I am writing a novel about this experience to help people understand the importance of learning more out their publisher, press, and bindery services so they too do not fall victim to such a horrible experience. There are many stories like these, and they happen because once a writer does have the confidence to mail off their manuscript, it becomes their own dream of getting the work published. I wanted to have a "perfect bound book", and after two years of living hell, I got my wish. Once the book was done, and I had to pay more for the book than it retailed for; it took alot of convincing to keep moving forward. Now my book is under a new title (Inside My) Heart Mind & Soul, under a new publisher and is finally available in on-line stores and other book stores. The long awaited dream is finally a reality, and I hope someday it will be on the best seller's listing. 6. AA: What is your longest single poem so far - in terms of lines? in terms of stanzas? AS: One of the longest poems I have written is entitled "Oh Mystical Lady" which is about Poetry and how it comes into the mind without any warning or notice. Just a thought, object, feeling strikes at any time and without hesitation, a new poem is written. One of the other poems with many stanzas is entitled "Oh My Baby Take Me Please" written as a wedding gift to my loving spouse. It is about love, romance, passion, and the determination and desire to have the same feelings for one another as we continue to grow old together no matter how far apart we may be; thus when we are together sparks ignite as we share in the joy of the greatest gift... love. It's like the Cinderella story where she meets her prince, or the sleeping beauty who is awakened by her prince. It's the fairytale, that I hope stays with us forever. 7. AA: When do you write poetry? Any specific time - morning, afternoon, evening, dawn? AS: I write something everyday whether it is just a thought about something I saw or felt. Then when the time it right, I try to mold it into something wonderful. Most of my poetry is written from the heart. It's what I feel deep inside. 8. AA: What are your literary plans in five years time? In ten years time? AS: I plan to write at least one poetry book a year for the next five years, and in ten years time I hope to have written a few novels and hope to reach the best sellers listings several times. I would love to have a well-established publisher pick up the expenses so I wouldn't have to stress over how to print, bind, and market the next book; but until then I plan to move forward with a positive focus on the future. If I did make it big as an author, I would love to be able to help other people. I'm not after fame and fortune necessarily, although it's nice to get paid for my work and have fans requesting more; but I want to help bring some beauty into the world when things seem to be hopeless at times. I want to leave a legacy that my family can be proud of, and that my own son will hand down from generation to generation as he grows older. I would love to be able to help other writers become published, too. As a writer, I also love to read books! 9. AA: How many years did it take before you published your first poetrybook - "Heart, Mind and Soul"? AS: Once I became determined to do a "perfect bound" book, it took two years to make it happen. Sometimes, it does take two years to have a book published even by the big name publishing houses. I feel that God is watching over me and steering me in the directions I need to go. I have had the opportunity to meet the National Poet Laurette, and the Kansas Poet Laurette. I have also met the wonderful Judy Jordan as well as many talented writers in Kansas and on-line. I know that this has been a true blessing, and I hope to continue to grow and mature in each word I write. 10. AA: What is your day job right now? AS: I own a book/gift store in Salina KS called Anne's Collectibles & Gifts. I focus on writing books, doing poetry art, making jewelry, angels, and more. I love to combine the beauty of writing with my other artistic talents for a unique combination as an artist/author feature. I love being a freelance poetry writer, and using it to bring joy to other people. Life has enough negative in it. I love to bring happiness to other people. 11. AA: Do you have a pen name? yes, If yes, what is your pen name? AS: My full name is Rosemary Anne (Befort) Shiever; but I use the name "Anne Shiever" or Annie for everything that I do now. I have also used the name "Rachael Anne White" on some of my work. 12. AA: Have you read your poems in front of an audience? AS: Yes If yes, describe your experience. It is always difficult to read your own work in front of a large crowd, but once you have a captive audience you get the feel for what they like, thus you tend to read more of what the audience wants. It is a joyful experience, yet scary because you never know exactly what type of a response you will have. The more you read your own work, the better you become at writing; and those appearances become easier, too. 13. AA: Have you experienced attending poetry workshops? AS: Yes, If yes, describe your experience. I love every workshop I attend and even if I don't always agree with the speaker, or that special writing degree attached to their name; I always learn something new that I can use in my own writing techniques to improve my skills. I met a man who is an extremely wonderul and somewhat famous poet, but his personal demeanor was very distasteful and slightly rude. After meeting him, I almost put his book back on the shelf. It left an unpleasant feeling in my heart, and almost ruined the event. I don't ever want to treat people like that when I sign a book, attend a poetry recital, or workshop. I also had the great opportunity to attend the National Writer's Conference in Wichita KS this past year. I met journalists from all over the US, listened to great stories, and gained friends and encouragement from the classes. People had open arms and a warm heart! 14. AA: In what year and at what age did you publish your first poetrybook? AS: My first book was done in Jan. 2001 called the "Worse Fishin Trip". It was written and illustrated by me. It was a short story about a fishing trip gone bad written in poetry form. I was 43 year's old. 15. AA: Can a poet earn his living on his poems as a musician earn his living on his music? AS: Some writers are very gifted, and have a very profitable income by writing and selling pieces to magazines, books, etc. The writer's guides that come out at the first part of the year are a great asset to the freelance writer. There is a book especially for poets. I firmly believe that if you "believe in yourself, have faith in God, follow your heart, then miracles will happen for you". 16. AA: What is the difference between writing a poem and writing an essay? AS: With all of the poetry formats that are acceptable in society today, there is not a big difference in the two except for the length of the work, and the amount of detail. Most poetry forms are short, concise, and to the point where an essay may go into more detail. In poetry, however, the description paints a visual picture into one's own mind. We pay more attention to desribing the five senses, as well as the who what where why and how. In poetry, we want the reader to be able to place themselves into the picture. At least that is how I feel when I write poetry verses an essay. 17. AA: Name at least 5 of your favorite poems in your poetrybook - "Captivated"? Why? AS: With 148 poems in the book, the choice of my personal favorites is a difficult task, but these are my choices: AMBITION because it describes my own determination as a writer; DIVINE because it describes how I feel when I look at my husband LOVE LETTERS because it tells the intimate story of how love grew between letters we wrote back and forth to each other while we were getting to know one another, LOVE IN SEASONS focused on different times of the year when romance sparked from just being outdoors together enjoying the beauty of nature. It gave me the chance to describe the seasons, and leave the impact that love never needs a reason. A RECIPE FOR LOVE was one of those fun things to do. It brought out positive points in everyday life, and how to mold it into something wonderful. SEARCHING IN PALE MOONLIGHT was written while camping with some friends at the lake. We both wandered off different directions, then the moonlight was shining on the lake and I searched for my love. When I found him, we kissed and it was simply incredible. OH MY BABY, TAKE ME PLEASE was written as a wedding gift. While writing the poem, I wanted to paint the magical moment of what it would finally be like when we connected as one on our wedding night. The poem describes what the amazing gift of love brought to us, and how we hope those feelings will grow stronger everyday. My husband will be gone alot as he starts a new job on the road again. It's not easy being married to someone who is gone for weeks at a time and the lines of communication sometimes get lost in the shuffle. My hope is that our love will always stay healthy and alive. GOD GAVE ME YOU-Probably the most difficult task in anyone's life is to admit they had been the victim of some type of abuse and learn to live with it. Self-esteem becomes stripped and before you realize it the woman or man that you become is one of denial, shyness, and the feeling of the ugly duckling syndrome. Sometimes it takes years to rebuild what someone else can tear down without realizing the impact they have had on another human being. This poem captures deep feelings such as trauma, and the feeling of loss. In spite of everything, the poem offers hope because someone believed in them and offered love, affection, and protection. The poem was also set to music by a rock singer in Joshua Tree CA who now devotes his music to the love of God. A STORY IN TIME - This was another one of those fun poems to do with the teachings of various points of the english language to tell a fairytale story with a hopeful happy ending. 18. AA: Your second poetrybook is entitled "Captivated. Why the title ? This interview is cut off. The complete interview will be published in Muses Review print edition. |
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| Buy this poetrybook: Captivated by Anne Shiever |