Ask the Author: Arthur Turfa
Answered Questions (17)
Arthur Turfa
One warm evening I look to the west at the setting purple/orange sky. All at once, the sun explodes, and I know that this world has only a few moments left.
Arthur Turfa
I would go to Thomas Hardy's Wessex and visit the characters of "Far from the Madding Crowd". While there I would take some long walks in the countryside, write some poetry, and sample the local ale. If I have luck, I would even dance and flirt with Bathsheba Everdene!
Arthur Turfa
I have a lot of good things going on, and likely not as much reading time. But I hope to read Johannes Bobrowski's "Gessamelte Gedichte"(Collected Poems), Donna Woolfolk Cross' "Pope Joan" for starters. "Accents", my second book of poetry has come out from Blue Deco Publishing, and I will be editing a third manuscript.
Arthur Turfa
The cousin I never knew who contacted my parents every so often. My aunt put her up for adoption.
Arthur Turfa
Jolyon and Irene Forsyte from "The Forsyte Saga". I remember seeing Nyree Dawn Porter in the BBC series, and fell in love with her when I was in high school. As I read the trilogy, I was impressed by all that they had experienced before falling in love. They were close, and then realized that they belonged together. Both of them were artists, but in different genres. To me that was perfect.
Arthur Turfa
Thanks for the question, Leo! Usually I have something running through my head for a few days. But when it's time to write, I put on some relaxing string music. Lately I use Rachel Portman's soundtrack for "The Cider House Rules", sometimes it's Ralph Vaughn Williams or Frederick Delius. The I sit down with my notebook. When I am finished, I do soemthing else for a bit, and then word-process the poem. There might be some editing, but that's usually it.
One though did come to me in a dream. I wa sin Berlin, my favorite city, on the U-Bahn (subway). That came quickly. I translated it and both versions on in my book, "Places and Times."
One though did come to me in a dream. I wa sin Berlin, my favorite city, on the U-Bahn (subway). That came quickly. I translated it and both versions on in my book, "Places and Times."
Arthur Turfa
Thanks for asking me, Joanne! Germany was the first foreign country I learned to know well. It has become my second home. Berlin remains my favorite city in the world. I'm inspired by well-known places and ordinary places there. I've written about Berlin, Trier, Wuerzburg and its surroundings. Being able to read such excellent poets like Rilke and Goethe in the original language inspires my technique as well.
Arthur Turfa
Quite often I do listen to music. What works best for me is a symphonic tpye, classivcal or soundtrack, heavy on the strings. Rachel Portman's "Cider House Rules" soundtrack is fabulous, as well as anything by Vaughan Williams, Elgar,, et al. This music soothes me, deads other noises, and sets me in a good place.
Arthur Turfa
That would be in my den. I put on some string music (usually symphonic or a soundtrack), sit on the couch, and listen to the Muse. Since the desktop is there, I can easily word-process the poem right there. The den is my inner sanctum, and I feel at ease there Thanks for the question.
Arthur Turfa
Thanks for asking, Ayesha. I will say three, with another on the way in a year or so. Not far from where I sit in the attic there is a box with a rough draft of a novel. One day I might make it a short story or two. In 2007 my dissertation was published; it's an historical work. This April "Places and Times", my first book of poetry was published by eLectio Publishing. This is all over the place, and I would be happy if you read and reviewed it! Right now I am begining to think about my second book of poetry.
Arthur Turfa
For a first book, Katya, I wanted to reach an acceptable length. As I approached 50 pages or so of manuscript, then I began to decide. Some poems meant a lot to me personally because of the people and/or places mentioned. Some of these, along with others, had received positive comments when I posted them on my blog. A few others had been published already, and I arranged for permission to include them in my book. I figured they had led the way and deserved to be there. I still was writing more, but at some point I figured the newer ones would be in my second book. That one will undergo a different process! Thanks for asking, Katya.
Arthur Turfa
Looking over a group of poems, I realized that I had written about places where I lived or have visited that have been important to me. Perhaps because of what they are, or because of what happened to me there. I have always written about people who have been influential in my life, especially as I reflect on them. As a result, I grouped them together into "Places and Times".
Arthur Turfa
Something or someone inspires me. It has been a field I see while driving near home that becomes a line in a poem, it could be a face I see in passing, or an event that I want to incorporate.
At other times I read something and wish I could write something half as good.
At other times I read something and wish I could write something half as good.
Arthur Turfa
Promoting "Places and Times" of course. Getting ready for some readings (see Events). I am submitting a few things, but also want to assemble a rough manuscript for my second book of poetry. That might be submitted in 2017.
Arthur Turfa
Read, read, and read some more. Connect with other forms of artistic pursuits, from loking at works of art, listening to music, all the wya to gardening. Artists are inspired by other forms of art.
Then write, rewrite, and revise. Imitate others, but find your own voice.
Then write, rewrite, and revise. Imitate others, but find your own voice.
Arthur Turfa
Producing something, then stepping back and being proud of it. Also, having someone tell you that they like it; not because they are your friend, but because they would like it even if someone else had written it.
Arthur Turfa
I do something totally unrelated to writing. Maybe I will walk the dog, go to the gym, or listen to music. Any part of a good idea will return.
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