The backstory

I love back stories. That's why I read a lot of autobiographies. The narrative behind an event, artefact or person is usually hidden but can be fascinating. 

The stories behind the writing of poetry can also be compelling, not least because all we see is the finished product. 

What about all the drafts and discarded words and phrases? What about all the emotion that is invested into the writing of a poem? 

Where was it written, and what was happening at the time? What was the poet trying to convey to readers, and is there any hidden meaning in the verses?

All of these questions are addressed by Christal Cooper in her blog including a photo feature for each poet. Here's her interview with me about the poem Broken Rainbows (which was published in my Urban Voices collection, 2020). It's number 223 in her fascinating series. 

Take a read. You may find it interesting!