1. What or who gives you inspiration and perspiration?

Well, it could be any number of things, really. Music is a large source of inspiration for me. Kristin Hersh is one of my largest influences creatively. Any number of good poets can make me strive to be a better poet. Among those I admire are Nicole Blackman, Tony Hoagland, Sharon Olds, Kristy Bowen, Matthea Harvey and several others. Aside from the work of others, there's life in general. There is always something that can trigger a poem. A poem can be found in the strangest of places sometimes.

2. Have you always wanted to write, or did you have a secret desire for something else, like spelunking?

I would say yes. I've been writing since age 9. I wrote my first short story when I was 9 and it was enjoyed by my 5th grade class. That kind of validation can go for miles. I've been writing ever since, but poetry didn't really start until I was 17, and it wasn't terribly good then. Of course, there have been other things I've wanted to do. I wanted to be a meteorologist, but I've always been terrible at math. I would still like to open a coffeehouse. It's just something I've wanted to do for a long time.

3. Do awards and accolades make you swoon? Have there been any that you're particularly swoon-y about that you've gotten?

Well, I can't say that they do since I've never gotten any. I don't really get caught up in all of that, as it's fleeting. It's nice to be nominated for such things, but I don't go in with an expectation of winning anything. It's all a matter of taste, really. (The judges who dish out these awards, that is.) I get more of a rush from people coming up to me and telling me how much they enjoyed my work. When you can make a connection with your audience, you've done one of the most profound things an artist can do. If I happen to win something, it'd be nice, but it won't make or break my life.

4. When you're not leaving your poetic footprint, what else in the world makes you warm and fuzzy?

Music, for one. At times, I think it's the one thing that keeps me from going over the edge. I enjoy photography, movies, the internet (far too much), concerts and many other basic things. It's also nice to just relax at home.

5. Give me names. Who are the best new poets, in your opinion?

Good question. I tend to go with lesser known people...people I've published at either Chantarelle's Notebook or at Maverick Duck Press. I've also 'discovered' some others through online journals and presses like Dancing Girl Press. Right now, I like Kristy Bowen, Kristina Marie Darling, Anastasia Mirzoyants, Jon Ballard and J. Michael Wahlgren, to name a few. I also read an awesome poem by MK Chavez at Zygote In My Coffee yesterday. It makes me want to read more by her.

6. Best of the Net or Pushcart? Which matters more and why?

Since I publish an online poetry journal, I would be more inclined to say Best of the Net, but both carry weight. I think that there's a lot of crony-ism going on at Pushcart, though. They say that they 'consider work from online publications', but I wonder just how much they consider. Best of the Net is a great idea. It's nice that Sundress went ahead and started Best of the Net, as online publications and the poets in them don't get the recognition they deserve.

7. Then and now. What poem made you start writing and what poem do you absolutely love right this very moment?

Ha. I'm so screwed. The poem that made me start writing, probably like many other poets who might actually admit it, is Annabelle Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. I will also say that I have no shame in admitting that Poe is, in fact, one of my all time favorites. What poem do I love right now? That would be the aforementioned Penitent by MK Chavez.

8. Are online poetry 'zines a crushing blow to traditional print 'zines, or are they the meat and potatoes of the poetry world now? Also, which do you prefer?

I wouldn't say that they're the meat and potatoes of the poetry world, but I think that they've slowly become more of the norm. There are still plenty of very good print 'zines that are thriving and will continue to thrive. There is no reason why they can't coexist. I like both. Nothing can beat the thrill of holding the book you've just been published in, but the immediacy of online publishing is convenient and, if put in the right hands, quite elegant, as well.

9. Where do you see yourself and your poems in five years?

I really have no idea, and I suppose that's good, in a way. I hope to be a better writer, but isn't that what every writer says that they want? Like most, I hope to be published a bit more. I'd like to be more motivated to get a few manuscripts out and considered for publication. I usually self-publish through Maverick Duck Press, but it's even better to have someone else read and want to publish your manuscript. I want to do more readings and broaden my audience. I'm willing to do what I have to do achieve that.

10. What are the ingredients for a tasty poem?

Ah, a recipe, huh? The nouns and verbs should burst on the tongue. They can be sweet, spicy, sour...but never ordinary. Bland poems never taste good. Adjectives can go. They rarely add anything to the mix. A poem needs to grab my attention and make me think about it hours after I've read it. If it can do that, it's worthy. It also needs to stay away from nature. There's already too many poems about birds and snow and oceans and harsh terrain and what have you. No grandmother poems, please. They're stale and have been sitting around the cookie jar for too long. Drop pretense from the recipe and write from the deepest place in your gut, and you can never go wrong. Make me react. Make me want to turn the page.