Intro This is the first of our written interview series, "Meet The Poets". If you are a poet and would like to participate click here to find the questions and the link to where you can send your answers. You can answer all or as many questions as you wish. |
Questions and answers
1. When did you start liking poetry?
I started liking poetry before I was able to read and learned them by kindergarten teachers repeating them to me.
2. How old were you when you wrote your first poem?
I was in my teens when I wrote satires at summer camps. We rewrote popular songs to entertain the camp. I think I was around 20 when I met my ex husband and wrote love poems to him. I still have the book I hand wrote the poems in.
3. Who is/was your biggest influence?
My biggest influencers were Hungarian poets I studied in literature class in school. Radnoti Miklos, Petofi Sandor, Arany Janos, Jozsef Attila and many more. Later in Canada I started liking Rumi, Mary Oliver and poets I know and are friends with. We have a monthly poetry circle where we read poems and journal on the topics we read. Cat Charissage is our facilitator, Jill Ebsworth, Amanda Ward-Sutherland, Kerry Morrison, Stacy Oler, Karina Witbeck and Martha Renner are the members.
1. When did you start liking poetry?
I started liking poetry before I was able to read and learned them by kindergarten teachers repeating them to me.
2. How old were you when you wrote your first poem?
I was in my teens when I wrote satires at summer camps. We rewrote popular songs to entertain the camp. I think I was around 20 when I met my ex husband and wrote love poems to him. I still have the book I hand wrote the poems in.
3. Who is/was your biggest influence?
My biggest influencers were Hungarian poets I studied in literature class in school. Radnoti Miklos, Petofi Sandor, Arany Janos, Jozsef Attila and many more. Later in Canada I started liking Rumi, Mary Oliver and poets I know and are friends with. We have a monthly poetry circle where we read poems and journal on the topics we read. Cat Charissage is our facilitator, Jill Ebsworth, Amanda Ward-Sutherland, Kerry Morrison, Stacy Oler, Karina Witbeck and Martha Renner are the members.
4. What inspires you to write poetry?
Nature with it's captivating beauty, the intricacies of the human existence, deep conversations with good people, events and poems and books I read.
5. What is/are your most common themes?
I have many themes: nature, spirituality, femininity, love, grief, social consciousness, humanity and more that I can't think of now.
6. What are your greatest joys in writing?
My greatest joys are when my words resonate with someone, when they inspire, when they heal, when they validate.
7. Have you published any of your poetry?
I have published two poetry books. One is a free book of poetry for anyone who is grieving. It is titled Moments of Grief. The other one is also a poetry book with over 200 poems. It is titled A Piece of Her Heart. Both are available on most major online retailer sites. My poems are also published in anthologies in Canada and Hungary.
8. Where and how do you promote your work?
I promote my work on Instagram on Facebook pages and groups.
9. Do you read your poems in public?
I read my poetry in Hungary in numerous places and events since I was a small child. Pre COVID I attended reading at the South Alberta Art Gallery and the Fort Macleod Library.
10. Do you attend open mics? Where?
I host and Mc open mic poetry events in Lethbridge at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. Since COVID the event is on Zoom. I attend open mics other people host as well.
11. Have you done any video poems or podcasts?
I did a few video poems. Many of them in Hungarian, but recently some in English as well.
12. Do you have a writing schedule or do you write when the muse hits you?
I don't have a writing schedule. It seems like the muse is sometimes nudging me gently and at other times bosses me around. (Smile) Most of my poems are inspired and practically write them selves.
13. What advice would you give to beginner poets?
Write! Write! Write! Don't have high expectations of your self in the beginning. Write as much as you can. Read as much as possible, analyze what other people wrote and see what works and what doesn't work. Learn from your own and from other people's work. Polish your style as you gain practice. Read your poems aloud to your self a few times to hear how it sounds. Than read it to other people and possibly an audience.
14. If you could have lunch with a poet, dead or alive, who would it be?
Radnoti Miklos, Rumi, Rabindranath Tagore, Mary Oliver, Pj Johnson Yukon
and many others I met online.
15. Do you have a funny story or anything interesting that has happened through your writing poetry?
I can't think of anything funny or noteworthy. I will add if I remember anything.
16. Are your family and friends supportive to you in your writing?
My partner Neil is very supportive and so are my friends. I have formed friendships with many people who are involved with poetry.
17. Have you ever written a poem that you've never shown to anyone? Why not? What was it about?
There are many poems and letters I have written when I was upset. They are the letters and poems I should never send. Many of them contain very colourful language and words only I should hear or read. Writing them are an important part of cleansing myself of those feelings and after writing them I can be more civilized in my communication with the people involved.
18. What's the most difficult part for you in being a poet?
The most difficult part of being a poet for me is to hear people say: "I don't like poetry." I came from a country, where we had poetry for breakfast. The breakfast part is a joke, but Hungarians love poetry and poetry is a big part of their lives. I wish it was more popular in North-America.
19. Are you involved in other arts?
I like making videos because I can use visuals, spoken word and music. I like all three elements. I also enjoy still photography. I also like working with my hands and make wood-crafts, jewellery, wreaths and many other home decor products. Those are more crafts than art, but making them is a creative, artistic process.
20. If you could be on a popular show what would it be?
Ted TV and the Oprah show.
21. Would you like to share any links to your work? (Please do not send more than 10 links)
Website: https://www.worksofbeauty.ca
Instagram: https://instagram.com/teripetz
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tellitlikeitispoets
Smashwords Profile: https://smashwords.com/profile/view/TeriPetz
Facebook page for my poetry book: https://facebook.com/A-Piece-Of-Her-Heart-110045413936711
Lethbridge Poetry Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/LethbridgePoetry
Shaw Spotlight Owl Poetry Open Mic https://tinyurl.com/2mc68bkf
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gt9Pd2F1QG_GuYvQRHNcQ
Nature with it's captivating beauty, the intricacies of the human existence, deep conversations with good people, events and poems and books I read.
5. What is/are your most common themes?
I have many themes: nature, spirituality, femininity, love, grief, social consciousness, humanity and more that I can't think of now.
6. What are your greatest joys in writing?
My greatest joys are when my words resonate with someone, when they inspire, when they heal, when they validate.
7. Have you published any of your poetry?
I have published two poetry books. One is a free book of poetry for anyone who is grieving. It is titled Moments of Grief. The other one is also a poetry book with over 200 poems. It is titled A Piece of Her Heart. Both are available on most major online retailer sites. My poems are also published in anthologies in Canada and Hungary.
8. Where and how do you promote your work?
I promote my work on Instagram on Facebook pages and groups.
9. Do you read your poems in public?
I read my poetry in Hungary in numerous places and events since I was a small child. Pre COVID I attended reading at the South Alberta Art Gallery and the Fort Macleod Library.
10. Do you attend open mics? Where?
I host and Mc open mic poetry events in Lethbridge at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. Since COVID the event is on Zoom. I attend open mics other people host as well.
11. Have you done any video poems or podcasts?
I did a few video poems. Many of them in Hungarian, but recently some in English as well.
12. Do you have a writing schedule or do you write when the muse hits you?
I don't have a writing schedule. It seems like the muse is sometimes nudging me gently and at other times bosses me around. (Smile) Most of my poems are inspired and practically write them selves.
13. What advice would you give to beginner poets?
Write! Write! Write! Don't have high expectations of your self in the beginning. Write as much as you can. Read as much as possible, analyze what other people wrote and see what works and what doesn't work. Learn from your own and from other people's work. Polish your style as you gain practice. Read your poems aloud to your self a few times to hear how it sounds. Than read it to other people and possibly an audience.
14. If you could have lunch with a poet, dead or alive, who would it be?
Radnoti Miklos, Rumi, Rabindranath Tagore, Mary Oliver, Pj Johnson Yukon
and many others I met online.
15. Do you have a funny story or anything interesting that has happened through your writing poetry?
I can't think of anything funny or noteworthy. I will add if I remember anything.
16. Are your family and friends supportive to you in your writing?
My partner Neil is very supportive and so are my friends. I have formed friendships with many people who are involved with poetry.
17. Have you ever written a poem that you've never shown to anyone? Why not? What was it about?
There are many poems and letters I have written when I was upset. They are the letters and poems I should never send. Many of them contain very colourful language and words only I should hear or read. Writing them are an important part of cleansing myself of those feelings and after writing them I can be more civilized in my communication with the people involved.
18. What's the most difficult part for you in being a poet?
The most difficult part of being a poet for me is to hear people say: "I don't like poetry." I came from a country, where we had poetry for breakfast. The breakfast part is a joke, but Hungarians love poetry and poetry is a big part of their lives. I wish it was more popular in North-America.
19. Are you involved in other arts?
I like making videos because I can use visuals, spoken word and music. I like all three elements. I also enjoy still photography. I also like working with my hands and make wood-crafts, jewellery, wreaths and many other home decor products. Those are more crafts than art, but making them is a creative, artistic process.
20. If you could be on a popular show what would it be?
Ted TV and the Oprah show.
21. Would you like to share any links to your work? (Please do not send more than 10 links)
Website: https://www.worksofbeauty.ca
Instagram: https://instagram.com/teripetz
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tellitlikeitispoets
Smashwords Profile: https://smashwords.com/profile/view/TeriPetz
Facebook page for my poetry book: https://facebook.com/A-Piece-Of-Her-Heart-110045413936711
Lethbridge Poetry Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/LethbridgePoetry
Shaw Spotlight Owl Poetry Open Mic https://tinyurl.com/2mc68bkf
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gt9Pd2F1QG_GuYvQRHNcQ