Interview: Writer Rachel L. Johnson

Rachel L. Johnson is a Buffalo writer who is very much involved in the local Writing and Poetry world.

She took some time out of her very busy day to answer a few questions for our BBW audience.

MCL: Do you write prose or just poetry?

RLJ: I enjoy writing both.

MCL: How did you get into poetry?

RLJ: I wrote poems in journals as a kid and submitted some to the high school magazine. I really got into poetry at Buffalo State's Rooftop Poetry Club. The founder, Lisa Forrest gave us opportunities to mix poetry with media like maps and I loved combining my poetry with art. I stayed into poetry because I enjoy it and Lisa provided a safe place to explore creativity.

MCL: Some poetry influences?

RLJ: I read the typical poetry but after a Shakespeare' Sonnets Grad class, I started to really love how he played with sound and the many meanings that came from one word. I've been told he's known for his empathy. It's really interesting reading his sonnets in light that he probably didn't want them to circulate.

I also discovered a local poet, Theresa Wyatt who read my poems and encouraged me. When I read her poems, I began to see an empathetic voice where a soldier creating havoc has a mother despite the vicious mess war leaves behind. I really connected with her. Especially with her love for art, equality, and her father shared the same disease my grandma did, dementia. Her husband, Bill likes music and when I read her poems, I hear the song in some.

MCL: What is it about those poets you find interesting?

RLJ: I admire Shakespeare and find the time period interesting. The time period in England really encouraged writers to craft more English words. He was forced to learn Latin. I admire that he didn't go to college yet he lived financially secure. I find it very interesting the sonnets are some way personal and unconventional. I love that I have research England then so I can understand what one word means in many different ways. Plus my grandpa is from England and I love to tell him about old Shakespeare. I tell him that he's not so old compared to Shakespeare.

MCL: Describe your poetry?

RLJ: My poetry I read is inspired from a conversation sometimes, other times another perspective. It's really more personal than I'd like to admit. Maybe not every detail is from my personal life but I write about what I'm passionate about. About relationships, war, pet fish, Hawaii, the world, geography, mourning, I like writing lyrical/narrative. Haiku, free verse. I don't really talk a lot so my poems get me out of my head and into the world. I also like to explore new ways to write. Playing with words and sound is fun. Also, I like to mimic local poets; in a way, it's a conversation.

MCL: What's the Buffalo, New York scene like?

RLJ: The scene is bustling Mark: Daemen College host a RIC reading; Empire State College and UB's Center for Inquiry does too; Ground and Sky at Rust Belt; Pure Ink Poetry Slams twice a month; Wordism (a non-competitive poetry slam) hosted by Jumanne Pitts; Lynn Ciesielski's Screening Room Prose/Poetry Series and Circleformance at El Buen Amigo. A new series called the Spiritual Café every 3rd Saturday at St. John's on Colonial Circle. Fred Whitehead's 4th Friday Poetry Series at Dog Ears Bookstore. There's also Just Buffalo, Sugar City, Hallwalls, Talking Leaves...Oh yes every Monday Allentown Poetry Workshops. This is not including independent small poetry groups I've probably not meet yet. I'm really looking forward to this year's Buffalo Small Press Book Fair in April.

MCL: Any local poets who helped you grow?

RLJ: Lisa Forrest, Theresa Wyatt are a few. I grow just by going to Rebecca Gay and Shayna Israel's workshops. Local poet, Jennifer Campbell asked me to read at UB Center for Inquiry and that really made me get all my poetry and writing together to share with Theresa Wyatt, David Landrey, Joss Smith, Shayna Isreal, Marcus Belisle, Joel Lesses, Martha Deed and a whole room full of folks who really were probably surprised. Lynn Ciesielski is another poet that inspires me to keep writing. I am so lucky for the kind poets in my life.

MCL: Some of your favorite venues and why?

RLJ: I liked reading at Ashker's on Elmwood. People were eating but they were so open to just quietly listen. I appreciated my fellow poet, Nathan to read too because I didn't really want to interrupt customers eating but everyone seemed to enjoy the show after Nathan introduced me. He's got a much louder voice than I do. I liked that it was very casual. I also liked reading at 1045 Elmwood Gallery for the Arts in June for In the Wildflowers Field. The hard wood floors, surrounded by art and the room is bright. Also read at Western New York Book Arts Center. The art, downtown, casual yet very trendy place.

MCL: If you could go back in time and be a poet when would it be and why?

RLJ: I don't like the past eras for women. I think about Sylvia Plath and what hardship she had to go through. Our modern times are better but still we could use more gender equality. I'd like to be a women poet who has seen change for the better for women's rights and still alive today. Know of any?

MCL: Any other artistic ventures you have in the works?

RLJ: In June 2015 I finished my first hand-made, self-published books for The Fish Place Rookie Collection. I read all over Buffalo. Now, I want to write two more hand-made books for this collection. I want to finish my memoir about living in Hawaii. I am writing haikus to compliment my Hawaii photography that I plan to hand-make books. In the Wildflowers Field inspired me to start to write a chapbook, Good Mourn. It's still in the works. My name is so common so I have a pen name: Ella Marie Elm.

MCL: Finally, promote yourself. What's coming up? What's going on in 2015-2016 for you?

RLJ: In March I'm organizing El Buen Amigo's International Women's Month Series. In April launching Shayna's Plurality Press and I'll have a table at the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair for the Buffalo State Writer's Network. In May I'm reading at the Screening Room. June is In the Wildflowers Field. All information is posted in the Buffalo State Writer's Network website below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.pluralitypress.com/

https://buffalostatewritersnetwork.wordpress.com/

To post a comment, you must register and login.