Featured poet

Kristi Swadley

Interview by Aurora Antonovic ~ 

Question: Please tell us a little about yourself.

Answer: I never know what to say in response to such a question. Let’s see…I’m 28-years-old and I live in Independence, Missouri, where I am currently pursuing a degree in Health Information Technology through DeVry University Online. That’s about all really.

Question: Your poetry is image-rich, and you often work with photography too. How does one influence the other?

Answer: Interestingly enough, I see them as completely separate pursuits. Neither is influenced by the other. I have had an interest in photography since I was little, but I never seriously pursued it. It’s only been last year that I began dabbling in digital photo manipulation. It’s still early in the game for me in that medium, and I’m not sure where it’s going to take me or if I’m even going to carry on with it.

Question: Bukowski sometimes creeps into your poetry. Why has he been an influence, and who and what else has touched your work?

Answer: My biggest influences, besides Buk, poetry-wise are fellow poets that I admire, poets who may or may not be well-known names. Author Neil Gaiman is a big influence on my writing, especially his Sandman graphic novel series. Basically, anyone who can write well has an influence on my own writing. I like things with a unique style or voice, but I don’t like experimental poetry for the sake of being experimental--there has to be a method to the madness. I’ve been influenced by a wide range of things, from lyricists to comedians.

Question: Do you feel that academics is an asset or a detriment to poetry?

Answer: I’m not going to wax philosophical here because, frankly, it doesn’t really matter to me. All that matters is the resultant poetry, not the background of the writer.

Question: You are an assistant editor at Lily. Does this detract from your own poetry, or enhance it?

Answer: Well, as of April, I am no longer an assistant editor at Lily. However, when I was, I found it had neither a positive nor a negative impact on my work. I was going through a dry spell when I accepted Susan’s offer to join her group, but I did manage to churn out a few while I was there.

Question: You are also a reviewer for Adagio Verse Quarterly. How do you fit it all in?

Answer: Since AVQ publishes their reviews quarterly, I have a lot of down time to focus on my writing, my schooling and other little time consuming things. Being unemployed helps, too.

Question: Your thoughts on internet publishing?

Answer: Personally, I’ve had nothing but good experiences involving internet publishing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. I like the immediacy and the accessibility of it. I believe that it is has given forms like poetry a wider audience. The potential exposure it can provide an up-and-coming writer is invaluable. And it’s a great tool for established writers as well.

Question: Patricia Gomes, in her review of your chapbook, Water Pistol Suicide Pose, says, “Swadley's a temptress.” True? And if you had to, how would you describe your poetic style?

Answer: I remember laughing when I read that in her review. I found her interpretation of my work and of me as a writer very interesting. Am I temptress? Hmmm. Well, I guess you could say that I am in the sense that I want to tempt people into reading my writing by providing interesting titles and (hopefully) beginnings.

Question: What are you currently reading?

Answer: I’m in between books at the moment. I’m a huge modern fiction fan, but I’m starting to balance it out with the “classics.” To Kill a Mockingbird and Mrs. Dalloway are recent purchases.

Question: What are your future poetic goals?

Answer: I don’t have any goals at the moment, actually. But if I had to list at least one it would be the one I’ve always had and always will have: To write good poetry.

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