Aurora Antonovic

Canadian Freelance Writer and Poet
Ontario, Canada

"I write, not really to be read, as much as simply to exercise myself cathartically.
I think that all creative people need an outlet of sorts. " - Aurora Antonovic

Aurora Antonovic was born in Ontario and is the youngest of thirteen children. She received her education locally; her disciplines were in philosophy and the arts. Growing up, she recalls fondly that her father's goal was to instill a special sense of self-worth in each of his children. He encouraged Aurora to read and be involved in the arts. Even though money was tight, he always managed to bring her a new book on a weekly basis. Four months before he died, (she was eight years old at the time), she entered a Father's Day contest by drawing his picture, and won. His reaction surprised Aurora somewhat: "He wasn't the least bit surprised that I had won — he almost seemed to expect it." He died four months later. Following his departure, the weekly books stopped coming as well.

Aurora describes what transpired next in her household: "My mother feeling badly went to a major book store and asked what classics she could pick up for her daughter. Apparently, the sales clerk did a terrible job of assisting her — one of the books was a collection of Edgar Allen Poe works! Now, it is not the sort of work you give to a little girl who's just lost her father, but I was so desperate for some good reading material that I read his works anyway, as I trembled beneath the covers!" Years later, and to her surprise, her thirst for good literature was quenched when she discovered her father had put books aside, the entire "Anne of Green Gables," series just for her. Ecstatic at the findings: "It was like having a part of him back as I read these wonderful books. It was as if he had never stopped taking care of me, even in his death." A wonderful legacy and a powerful attribute to Aurora's writing career indeed.

Another blow for the family soon followed when her mother died in a car accident while she was travelling abroad in Europe - Aurora was only fouteen years old at the time. It was a devastating loss for her as they were very close. Three years later, she entered university while she worked at nights and weekends to support herself.

Eventually, she embarked on a writing career and felt quite fulfilled with her duties as co-editor and columnist for the now-defunct GT Times. She has published articles on humorous, political, and women's issues. Antonovic's poetry has appeared close to one thousand times in publications spanning eight countries and five continents since November 2002.

Aurora describes her style of writing:

"Some of my poetry is autobiographical, but at the same time, I can't dismiss the opportunity to tell a good story through poetry. I used to write a lot of fiction, and have recently gotten back into that. . Some of my poems are purely fictional accounts, but I hope the truths in them ring true.

I like to take snippets of conversation and build a poem around it. For example, "Hot As A Candle" was based upon a conversation with a friend as he recounted an experience of his youth that was fleeting, and said, "Hot as a candle!" I based the entire poem on those four small words. I see poetry as the opportunity to use words to preserve a moment in time."

*Update, 2004— Interviews

Featured poet on the June issue of Above Ground Testing

Interview by Adagio Verse Quarterly ~

Her favorite poets:
"Being educated in Canada, I grew up with lots of Shakespeare and poetry, and was exposed to all the greats at an early age. I absolutely adore Percey Bysshe Shelley. I love the works of a Serbian poet by the name of Aleksa Santic. I like formal poetry, as well as free verse and various modern forms."

"Poetry is my first love.
I think it can touch souls more powerfully in fewer words
than any other form of the written word."
- Aurora Antonovic

Selected Work ~ See her Poetry and Art Work ~