Interview Q&A with Ken Allan Dronsfield
We offer our first and exclusive Q&A Interview with Ken Allan Dronsfield, a writer whose literary works have been featured on our Spillwords pages as well as being Author of the Month of August 2019.
- What does it mean to be selected as Author of The Month?
At this point in my writing career, this accolade means so very much. I’ve recently had some serious health issues and have not been sending out as much material for publication as I have in the past. This selection was a blessing and is most appreciated.
- How have your friends and/or family influenced your writing?
My family has been a great influence on my writing throughout my life. I grew up the oldest of six kids with an extended family that spent a lot of time in the outdoors. It’s reflected in my nature poetry.
- What inspires you to write?
Almost anything is an inspiration for me to write poetry. A picture, a place, a memory or even just a word can be an inspiration to write a poem, sonnet or short story.
- What was your writing catalyst?
I think it was the outdoors. I spent so many years in the woods and on lakes and rivers. Fishing, hunting or just hiking and camping. I did ‘bushcraft’ before it even became a word. I would leave on a Saturday morning, ride my bike to my favorite fishing spot, pitch a small tent in the woods. Fish and camp there for the weekend, all this at 13 years old, but, that was another time a more innocent and ‘softer’ time.
- Tell us a little bit about your writing process?
This is a tough question, only because there is so much that goes into preparation in what I call, “crafting” a poem. It might be an idea, a picture on the internet (I browse pixabay and pexels) often perusing images there. Sometimes I find one that speaks to me, maybe just a single word, or a line, but the process begins at that moment. Other times, it may be a memory of an event or a time spent in a place, perhaps the woods, or on a lake or the ocean. Walking on the beaches after the Labor Day crowds have all gone home. The start of the ‘process’ is only a thought away!
- What would you say is most fulfilling about writing?
I think that having peers or others read the work, enjoy it and letting me know as much is most fulfilling for me.
- Does the addition of imagery help to tell your story?
Yes, as I answered in question #5 above. (^_^)
- What is your favorite reading genre?
It would have to be either nature or light suspense/horror.
- What human being has inspired you the most?
This particular question is probably the hardest to answer of all. There were several people in my life that have inspired my poetic pen. My Uncle Neil probably had more to do with my love and interest in Nature than anyone. I spent years working on his lobster boat starting at about 8 years old. Those times taught me to always respect mother nature and opened my eyes to the world around us. He took me fishing in the ocean and in lakes and rivers. We hiked, hunted, traveled to other states, and what I saw way back then finds its way into many of my poetry to this day.
- What message would you have for the Spillwords Press community that voted for you?
I thank each and every member of the Spillwords Press community that took the time from their own work, family, friends, etc., and voted for me! This is an honor and I truly appreciate the generosity and kind words of emailed or messaged to me supporting my nomination and selection! I’m ‘verklempt’!
- What would you like your legacy as a writer to be?
That I was just a man, perhaps a bit eccentric, who was a word weaver crafting literary scribble which allowed others to experience nature or some of life’s quandaries in a more diverse and colorful path.
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Once again, I thank you for having me. I’m so very grateful to the Staff at Spillwords for their support over the past several years in finding homes for my poetry.
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