Interview: Poet & Writer Celeste Lawson

It's said that you should never mix business with pleasure. I did. It was a blast.

Here's my interview with friend and a wonderful lady: Celeste Lawson.

MCL: Where were you born?

CL: Born in Columbus, Ohio where my mother was living at the time, working after completing college but spent my formative years living in the UK and Germany because my father was career Air Force

MCL: What is there about Buffalo that keeps you here?

CL: Initially it was my family (mom and kids as this is my mother's hometown), but as time went by I grew very attached to the arts and cultural community - got a job working in the arts and cultivated a family of friends who I care deeply about. Now I love the entire arts scene we have in Buffalo.

MCL: How did writing start for you?

CL: Not too sure . . . I remember having to write very early on in school - in the UK kids as young as 5 years old are taught about writing through stories, nursery rhymes, etc. I enjoyed the storytelling part of creative writing. I have always had a passion for books --- as far back as memory will allow.

MCL: What was it that influenced you to keep writing?

CL: Actually, I took a break from writing and was very interested in painting and dance and spent time doing those things. Then I had a bad fall that caused a really bad break in my ankle and that kind of put the kabash on dancing and through that depression I started writing again - plus someone I really cared about moved out of town for professional reasons and that caused more out pouring. By that time, I was thoroughly hooked and was driven to write more. I don't think a person chooses to write.

MCL: What is the writing scene in Buffalo like?

CL: I love the writing scene in Buffalo. I've watched it evolve over the last 20 years into something really special --- due in major part to the efforts of Just Buffalo Literary Center and its founding director, Deborah Ott and the English/Poetics dept at UB. I'm truly excited to see to many new voices emerge and grow. I enjoy the evolution of the Slam and Spoken Word movement here in town and the imagination and use of language by the new poets.

MCL: Any local mentors?

CL: I think writing chooses the person if it sticks. After working through my depression, it was then I began seeking guidance and advice from local writers who I highly respected and knew I could learn from - Sherry Robbins, Gary Earl Ross, Susan Thacker, Kathleen Betsko, and the late Jimmi Gilliam who was an undeniable muse for me.

I am adding the names of other poets who I greatly admire for their intensity, creativity, and point of view namely, Alexis DeVeaux, Lorna Hill, Ann Goldsmith, Christine Wos Donnelly, David Landrey, Martha Deed, Perry Nicholas, Gene Grabiner, Liv Farello, David Butler. There are others, but it would take up the entire section as there many poets whose work I find interesting and inspirational. New voices like - Janna Willowby, Josh Smith, Vonetta T. Rhodes, N'Tare Gault, and David Smith are among the Spoken Word artists I truly enjoy -- I'm sure sure I'm leaving some out that I like a lot. And not enough be said about the value of the poets of Earth's Daughters and The Women of the Crooked Circle.

MCL: What is the toughest part of writing for you?

CL: Finding the time, finding the time, finding the time.

MCL: What do you enjoy about writing that many writers would disagree with you on?

CL: I don't know . . . I don't know what a lot a writers feel about the craft. It's a very selfish, self-centered thing to be involved in --- everything is all about "you" and how "you" feel. I think maybe accepting that Erotic writing has a true place at the table of the craft. Many people feel it's overly self-indulgent and can easily slip into pornography. So what.

MCL: Please name some of your favorite writers and why?

CL: I can't there are too many I love for different reasons.

MCL: Favorite venues around town?

CL: Wow . . . another tough one. Look, any place that is willing to open its doors to poets to read is a great venue for me.

I guess the perfect place to read is Kleinhans Music Hall. I had the honor of reading there accompanied by some young musicians from Williamsville North H.S. and read a poem by Billy Collins - it was super fun and very well received.

I also had the great and impossible to duplicate experience of reading in the Ring of Knowledge accompanied by the late and wonderful jazz pianist, Al Tinney, super bassist, Rodney Appleby and the fabulous drummer Abdul Rachman - so far nothing has topped that as an extraordinary artist experience for me.

MCL: What was the most difficult writing project you've worked on and why?

CL: Right now I'm working on a collection of poems that reflect on disasters --- Katrina, Haiti, and 911. Finding the time to make it happen is making me crazy. Making sure it still connects when it's finally done - the world must not forget the impact these events have had on our lives that we still don't acknowledge and accept and must live with.

MCL: If you could have dinner with three writers, in their prime, who would they be?

CL: Mary Shelley, Gwendolyn Brooks, Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin (George Sands), Maya Angelou, Phyllis Wheatley, Khail Gibran, Gabriela Mistral, Sappho, Anais Nin, mary Oliver, the Bronte Sisters, . . . Mark, this question is impossible. I will have a party and invite all of the above and even more . . .

MCL: What are some of the questions you'd ask?

CL: Just talk to them about their journey and their commitment to do the work.

MCL: Tell us about one project you have a passion for that you haven't done yet?

CL: Actually, I started writing a series of poems that are in response to Sherry Robbins book, "And the Whale..." Moby Dick and Herman Melville inspired. I love her book of poems and David Landry and she started a discussion and writing responses on her book. I want to finish it. It is very inspiring for me.

MCL: Now it's time to promote yourself. What's coming up for you 2016?

CL: I have no idea. Just whatever anyone asks me to do and I can do it.

For more information on Celeste Lawson:

http://www.thinktwiceradio.com/celeste-lawson/celeste-lawson.html

Ms. Lawson will also be one of the twenty readers at:

Saturday, April 16, 2016 6:30pm

"Three Hour Poetry Bash"

Rust Belt Books

415 Grant Street

Buffalo, NY 14213

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