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About the Author:
Andrew Demcak is an
award-winning poet and novelist whose work has been widely published and
anthologized both in print and on-line, and whose books have been
featured by The American Library Association, Verse Daily, The Lambda
Literary Foundation, The Best American Poetry blog, The Nervous
Breakdown, and Poets/Artists. His first Young Adult (YA) novel, GHOST
SONGS, was published March 13, 2014 by Harmony Ink Press. His first
literary novel, If There's A Heaven Above, was published January 5, 2013
by JMS Books. His fourth book of poetry, Night Chant, was published by
Lethe Press, 2011. His other poetry books are: A Single Hurt Color, GOSS
183::Casa Menendez Press, 2010, Zero Summer, BlazeVOX [Books], NY, 2009
and his first poetry book, Catching Tigers in Red Weather, three
candles press, 2007, that was selected by Joan Larkin to win the Three
Candles Press Open Book Award. He was a 2010 Finalist for The Crazyhorse
Poetry Award. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize,
Lambda Award, Thom Gunn Poetry Award, both the California and Northern
California Book Awards, Best of the Web, and others. He has an M. F. A.
in English/Creative Writing from St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA ,
where he studied with Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, Michael Palmer, Carol
Snow, Frank Bidart, Gary Snyder, Charles Wright, and Sharon Olds.
Andrew is also a member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, where
he studied with Galway Kinnell, Richard Howard, and Lucille Clifton. His
poems, including Young Man With iPod (Poetry Midwest, #13), are taught
at Ohio State University as part of both its English 110.02 class, "The
Genius and the Madman," and in its "American Poetry Since 1945" class.
At the age of 23, Andrew published his first chapbook, The Psalms (Big
23 Press), which was favorably reviewed by Dr. Clifton Snider in the
Small Press Review (issue 226, vol. 23, no. 11.) When he is not hard at
work as a Children's Librarian for Oakland Public Library, he can be
found eating okonomiyaki at Japantown in San Francisco. Viva Wallace
Stevens! Visit Andrew at: AndrewDemcak.com
Interview:
What made you want to become a writer?
I never really thought about becoming a writer; I have always
written since I was a kid. I mostly wrote poetry until about 5 years
ago when I wrote my first novel, If There's a Heaven Above (JMS Books).
I was a theater major as an undergrad in college. Acting was okay, but
I loved my playwriting class best. I decided right then to become an
English major with the emphasis on creative writing. I ended up getting
a Master's degree in English.
Where do you get your inspirations from?
My life and the stories of those who live around me. It's dangerous to
know a writer; you never know if you'll end up in one of his stories.
Other than writing books, what else do you do in your free time?
I love running, hiking, and hanging out with my husband (just got
married in July, 2014!) I collect early 20th century and mid century
pottery, Grueby, van Briggle, Rookwood, Arequipa, California Faience,
Grand Feu, Rose Cabat, etc.
If you could work with another author, who would it be?
Gertrude Stein! I love all of her linguistic experiments!
What are major themes of your work?
Abuse and recovery. I heard a great definition of what a ghost is:
an emotion twisted beyond recognition. It will not go away until the
wrong is put right. I think that is what Ghost Songs is all about.
What do you think people look for in a book?
Identification. Ego loves its mirrors. Also people want emotional release.
Are there any recent works you admire?
I loved Sharon Olds' most recent book of poetry, Stags Leap. It is devastating in its honesty.
Questions About the Book (Ghost Songs):
Which character in the book do you think you can relate to the most?
I identify with both Todd, the lead, and his mother, Eddie. But there
is a little bit of me in all the characters. It's a bit schizophrenic
to have so many people in my head at one time!
How did you come up with the character's names?
Todd came from the idea of a generic boy, an "any-boy" so that he
wouldn't be seen as different. Eddie's name came from Absolutely
Fabulous. A tip of my hat to the marvelous Jennifer Saunders.
What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
This book is based on the
true stories of several people, including myself. I grew up in a
haunted house. To me, haunting is a psychological state. The idea that
things will happen to you that will follow you around for the rest of
your life unless you can heal and purge them.
*The questions and answers
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