Interview with "Peripheral Visions" author Scott Virtes

Interviewed by L.B. Sedlacek

LB Sedlacek has had poetry published in a variety of publications such
as "HazMat Review," "Spiky Palm," "Would That It Were," "Heritage
Writer," "Coppertales," "Niederngasse," "The King's English," and
"Ghoti Magazine."  She is the co-host for the small press podcast,
Coffee House To Go (www.coffeehousetogo.com).  LB's short fiction has
been in "Skive Magazine," "SouthLit.com," "Southern Hum," and "Duct
Tape Press."
--
www.lbsedlacek.com

Interview with "Peripheral Visions" author Scott Virtes

Interviewed by L.B. Sedlacek

LBS:  1) When and why did you begin writing poetry?

The earliest ones I know of are haiku from about age 8. School always went way too slow for me, so on a typical day every notebook would end up with doodles and "word doodles" on them. Only later did I find outthat the word doodles qualified as poetry, and that doodles plus smart-aleck remarks qualify as one-panel cartoons. I started sending out poems & stories (& artwork) in 1986, and the first of each type of work was published in September of that year.

LBS:  2) What poetry or book(s) are you reading now?

I get a fair amount of poetry journals, like Dreams & Nightmares, Star*Line and Mythic Delirium. And I keep a shelf of the classics,like Byron, Shelley, Spenser, Pope & Poe for when I'm feeling retro. But I don't go out of my way to find it. Most of my reading is nonfiction and trying to keep up with the authors I know.

LBS:  3) What are the influences (if any) on your poetry?

Poetry has so many forms, it depends. For genre poetry, I think Edgar Allen Poe got me going. Roger Zelazny affecting all my writing -- he wrote very poetic fiction. I try to understand the basics and classic styles, and for Haiku I keep a slim volume of Basho by the bed. Asimov for limericks. A little stack of beat poetry. You name it. A lot of poetic influence comes from good songwriting, growing up listening to Bob Dylan, Rush, Yes and Pink Floyd.

LBS:  4) Do you specialize in a certain genre of poetry? If so, what is it?

I have had limericks, haiku, haibun, tanka and cinquains published. I don't like to do too much of the same thing. Everything comes in waves. The bulk of my poetry is free verse, and I'm just as happy looking at volcanos as sunsets or psychiatric issues, or writing songs nobody will ever hear. I don't care so much about genre as about the topic or focus of the moment.

LBS:  5) What inspired you to write your first poem?

My cat was being silly. A mean English teacher made me write things, so whatever she asked for I wrote it about my cat just to be annoying. I never liked the way creative skills are taught. I prefer to find the work on my own. Inspiration is easy -- grabbing things from the Stream -- it's time that's the problem. Seems like I can catch less than 10% of what goes through my head.

LBS:  6) How did you come up with the title ("Peripheral Visions") of your poetry book?

I always liked finding the right titles. They usually just manifest themselves when I need them. But I actually have a list of spare titles for when I do collections of work. Then the title guides me in which pieces to select, or the other way around. Here the idea was that there were deep thoughts only being seen for an instant.

LBS:  7) What is your latest poetry and/or writing news?

I edited a fun little collection called "Appalling Limericks", which was just released around Christmas (available at http://samsdotpublishing.com ). I'm planning at least one self-pubbed poetry chapbook for 2007, and building a few book-length compliations as well.

LBS:  (8) What are your current projects?

I just finished editing a short crime film called "Vincent", which I wrote and directed. I should have another story in Analog in 2007, but it's not set in stone yet. I never had any luck with novels, but keep trying; I'd like to finish my space romp ("Phantom Base") and get started on a realistic fantasy epic that has been clogging my brain.

LBS:  (9) Is there a message and/or theme in "Peripheral Visions" you want your readers to grasp?

I've always been amused by seeing things in peripheral vision. Sometimes people make a lot out of these nothings, seeing them as ghosts and shadows. But really, they're just "peripheralm visions". That's the only honest assessment. The edges of our vision like to play tricks on us, so the collection is about things which are almost real or blown out of proportion. Don't take any words
too seriously.

LBS:  (10) For a new reader of your poetry, what poems, chapbooks, etc. of yours do you recommend checking out first?

To date, my most popular chapbook is "the Other secret house," which is a comical look at a house where things come to life when the owners at are work, done in poetry. But I think every piece should be accessible, from any angle. I don't write poetry to be clever, simply to catch ideas. I don't try to use fancy words -- I go for more of a "folk art" approach. So feel free to read any bits you like.

To find out more about Scott Virtes, http://www.scvs.com

To order "Peripheral Visions" http://assumenothingpress.blogspot.com
or go to www.thepoetrymarket.com and click on "Peripheral Visions."

Last update : 02-05-2007 19:39

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