1. What or who gives you inspiration and perspiration?

I’m inspired by everything around me: memories, dreams, thoughts, love, family, friendships, mysteries of life, the paranormal, surreal art, and poems written by other poets. What gives me perspiration are dry spells, when I feel my imagination has just shriveled up like a prune and absolutely nothing comes to mind.

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

I think I always wanted to write but I didn’t know it at the time. I first received praise for my writing in 5th grade when we were given an assignment to write a short story. I wrote something about a bird that escapes from its cage and next thing I knew, I won a class award for it. I wasn’t trying to outdo anyone, it was strange how naturally the story flowed while I was writing it and I noticed other classmates having a hard time with it and I couldn’t understand why. Later on, in high school, we were studying poetry and were tasked to write poems. I just wrote a few poems that rhymed and my English teacher said the poems reminded her of Emily Dickinson and encouraged me to keep writing poetry after that. She even had a poetry reading and read my poems for me, I was too shy to do it! Other than that, I dreamed of being a teacher, veterinarian, doctor, model, actress, rock singer, etc…I wanted to do everything.

3. Do awards and accolades make you swoon?

No, but they do make me blush and encourage me to keep writing. It’s nice to have your poetry acknowledged and knowing that someone enjoyed it enough to honor you with an award. Have there been any that you're particularly swoon-y about that you've gotten? This is kind of funny but the best award I received was from Thick w/ Conviction when I was nominated for Best of the Net in 2006. I think the editors were different then but it was flattering and it came at a time when I had just started writing poetry seriously and submitting to different online journals. I couldn’t believe it and just kept reading the email over and over.

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

My family. It’s so cliché but they are my foundation and in the end, all that matters is the love of family.

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

Wow, that’s a hard one. Being an editor myself, I’ve come across a ton of talent online. But if I have to narrow it down, I’d say that Christian Ward and John Swain are two of the best poets I’ve read. Their poetic styles are so unique and distinct.

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

I hate to say it but I think the Pushcart holds more clout than the Best of the Net. I say this because when I read through bios of poets submitting their work, the Pushcart is almost always mentioned and you rarely see any mention of Best of the Net. I’m even guilty of that myself and don’t mention it in my own bio…hmm, I just had an aha moment. There is a prestige about the Pushcart that Best of the Net doesn’t quite have but either award is a great honor.

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

Going back to high school, the poem that inspired me to write more was Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the Thing with Feathers. Such an inspiring poem and it was beautiful to read aloud and still is. The odd thing is, I’m not really attracted to poems that rhyme but her poems are very special. My absolute favorite poem now is Pablo Neruda’s Clenched Soul. His writing just blows my mind, it’s incomparable. He allows you to see things in greater depth and in ways you never imagined.

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 don’t think they’re a crushing blow to traditional print ‘zines. They compliment them. There is room in the great big world for both. I actually prefer print ‘zines because you can’t replace the feeling of holding a chapbook or book in your hands and thumbing through the pages and then keeping a copy on your bookshelf or in your purse. You can’t do that with online poetry ‘zines but I do enjoy the immediacy of online journals.

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

I see myself enjoying life with my family and watching my kids grow up. Hopefully traveling more often. I can’t say for certain where my poems will be. It’s very much a mood thing for me and I have been known to be extremely indecisive.

10. What are the ingredients for a tasty poem?

Unique imagery and metaphor with just a hint of the surreal.