1. What or who gives you inspiration and perspiration?

It sounds so silly to say, but everything and anything can inspire me.
It might seem like it's harder to find things to inspire oneself, but
if you take in everything around you, you can be really moved by all
of it. Perspiration? Men. They confound me. They alternately excite
and infuriate me, which I'm sure is the case for most women.

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

I've always written, but I don't know if it was something that I'd
thought would be more than a hobby or a secret passion. Technology is
my passion. Computers are my closest friends, which is truly sad and
pathetic, I know. I do enjoy writing and I hope my poetry continues to
grow.

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

I wouldn't know! I do not have any awards or accolades to speak of.
Maybe, one day, someone will find my poems irresistible. Until that
day, I'll continue to write for myself and for people like me trying
to find a corner of the world that understands them.

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

Solitude is a double edged sword. I value it. I cherish it, but at the
same time, it's not good to be alone all the time. I do enjoy the
beach, but I most cover myself in much sunblock, as I am pale and
prone to being burnt to a crisp. Also, I rollerblade a lot. I have a
daily routine of yoga. I read all the time, and, as I mentioned
earlier, I love, love, love my laptops. Yes, I do have more than one.

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

Oh, I'm probably not the best authority on something like that. I
don't know who is new when I read them except the obvious. I like a
lot of poets that, I would imagine, would be considered my peers, if I
were to be that bold. You've published a few.

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

I would say that Best of the Net matters more, as it's so much more
accessible to where poetry is heading these days. Print editions are
lovely and will never be replaced, but the immediate satisfaction of
being published on the web is great! It's good to have someone out
there recognizing poets in cyberspace.

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

The poem that made me start writing was "Advice To A Girl" by Sara
Teasdale. The poem I love right now is probably "The End of Desire" by
Corinne DeWinter. It was published in an online magazine that took
one of my poems.

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 love them both equally. I love anyone who will give my work the time
of day. As I've said before, I am a big technophile and technology
excites my geeky self. However, I love reading books and to be
included in a print journal is still a big thrill for me. So, I think
both can live in harmony, and they will for years to come.

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

Hopefully I'll see my poems in more and more publications. I hope I
can grow my craft further and become a better poet. I don't know where
Natalie Lorenzo will be in five years. Who knew I'd be living on the
West Coast? I sure didn't. Hopefully, I'll be a bit contented and
happy. It's all I can really ask for.

10. What are the ingredients for a tasty poem?

Oh, a tasty one? Nice turns of phrase perk me up. Add some clean
images and pull my emotions around a bit and I'll wet my lips. A
little bit of bitter and a little bit of sweet.