Poet William L Hartwick joins me to chat about his new collection, The Invisible Backpack: A Life of Courage.
Bio:
William L. Hartwick was born and raised in Crescent City, California, the northern tip of the great state, the last incorporated city in California before Oregon. It’s the home of the Smith River and the giant redwoods, a beautiful place for a little boy to grow up and become the man he is today.
He’s retired from a 30-year career as an educator, teaching first grade and serving as an elementary school principal. Now he’s an author, a blogger and motivational speaker. He currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona pursuing his dreams as a motivational speaker and author.
Welcome, William. What do you enjoy most about writing poems?
Writing poems and poetry or rhythmical writing to me is not only a way to express myself but a way to keep myself grounded. It’s a way of communicating my heart, my life and what I see in the world through rhythm.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of poems – perhaps a couple of your favorites?
My writing is about a feeling I have, an emotion I experience or a site I see. Some of my favorites are “Tourette’s”, “Trauma”, “Perseverance”, “If I Could”, “Children Are So Precious” and “Teaching” just to name a few. They all have a place in my journey.
What form are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
I only write rhythmically. One of my latest reviews said that I was demystifying poetry and deconstructing all the rules, that I allowed the world freedom of expression. I don’t have form and I’m actually functionally illiterate. I don’t spell or capitalize and I don’t know what a comma is used for. I’m learning those things now at 58 that I did not learn earlier because I did not understand them.
What type of project are you working on next?
I’m currently working on my screenplay entitled Normal, Basic and Average…NOT. It is one rhyme about an hour and a half in length of my life through a certain season. I’m trying to figure out where to end the story now. That’s going to be a movie. I’m looking to make the first screenplay in rhyme that’s ever been done, a full motion picture if you will!
When did you first consider yourself a writer / poet?
The first time I considered myself as a poet was just last February at the San Francisco Writers Conference. The title of “poet” became part of Who I Am in the eyes of many folks there. I got up on an open mic and delivered “Tourette’s” (which is on my Facebook page on a Vlog from the Grand Canyon) to a standing ovation and high-fives in a room of people that are now my colleagues, my friends, and co-authors. I was accepted into a fraternity and I’m grateful and going to use that as a tool for a catalyst to keep my message going.
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for not-yet-published poets?
Working with Cristina at Authors, Large and Small, I have looked at the market many times. I have a degree in marketing and I’m finding niches and areas where my books are going to do well and that will be the catalyst for my opportunity to speak, which I really want to do for youth across the country.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Everything!! I write rhythmically and it is unique. In my book no two words rhyme the same out of 21,000 words. I would say that my gift of rhyme has taken the poetry world by surprise.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actor and a sports broadcaster. As a teacher I got part of my wish. The sports broadcasting went away in the late seventies and early eighties when the athletes started doing it themselves. Here I am about to be on the big stage. I see myself on the big screen, I see myself at Carnegie Hall, I see myself in front of audiences everywhere. My dream is coming true through this book The Invisible Backpack.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Anything is possible. There is no ultimate “no” in the world and fear itself is the only fear. Overcoming obstacles and living your dream is possible no matter what people say, no matter how you are treated, no matter the condition you have. There’s Hope. If my words for my life can be an example for somebody else, I’d be honored to meet them and share my story. Thank you for taking the opportunity to read The Invisible Backpack. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.