Not in Kansas (Or Kentucky) Anymore
Falling in Love with John Steinbeck: A Meter Cute Interview with Kevin D. LeMaster
Hello! It’s been a bit since I’ve done a Meter Cute, sorry about that. The fall was pretty dang busy for me with promoting my book The Swellest Wife Anyone Ever Had. I’ll be making some changes to Meter Cute going forward to hopefully allow me a little bit more balance in my world. To find out more, check out this short video.
Today’s Meter Cute is with Kevin D. LeMaster, who I actually got to meet in person in October when I was in Portsmouth, Ohio for my book launch! He runs an open mic night at the Port City Pub, so not only is he honing his own craft, but he’s helping others find their voice as well. He lives in Northeastern Kentucky and has been nominated for both the Pushcart and Best of the Net. His poems can be found in journals such as Sheila-Na-Gig, Gyroscope Review, and Main Street Rag with work forthcoming in Appalachian Places Magazine and BigCityLit Journal. He’s the author of two chapbooks, 2023’s Mercy from Arroyo Seco Press and In the Throes of Beauty, out now from Finishing Line.
Take a little time to hear Kevin read from his latest collection.
And now, for a brief interview with the poet!
What book created the most mayhem in your life?
Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck. I knew people that were gentle and didn’t know their own strength and this book showed me why restraint was always so important.
What advice do you have for your younger self?
This is a two-part answer. 1) I would tell my younger self to eat better. 2) I would tell him to take his writing more seriously and have more confidence in what you want to do.
What advice do you think your younger self would have for you now?
My younger self would tell me not to get in my own head and trust the work more. Know that your work is good and stand by it, even when others don’t trust in it.
Are you ready to do a little writing inspired by Kevin’s work? Me to!
1) Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write about the geography of the place you grew up. Whether it’s rivers and fields or suburban shopping malls, how were the spaces that surrounded little you set up? Remember, keep the Editor Voice turned completely off and follow your brain wherever it goes. You might move from the place to the people, that’s fine. Or you might go into great detail describing one small physical thing, that’s also fine. Nothing’s off topic and the only wrong way to write is to not write at all during this phase of the process.
2) Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write about the geography of a place that you consider to be the opposite of where you grew up. Who defines what “opposite” means? You do. Just follow your brain and let whatever needs to come out come out.
3) Now time to en-rhythm! You’ll read a poem out loud for 10 minutes (Yes, that will probably mean reading it more than once. Yes, the WHOLE ten minutes and yes, out loud!) What poem should you use? I’m going to suggest Christmas Trees by Robert Frost, but you should pick whatever poem strikes a chord in your heart today. Set the timer for 10 minutes and read it aloud. Not feeling like using a poem for en-rhythming? How about a little dancing and moving? How about “Broomazoomzoom” from the Man and Witch soundtrack? Man and Witch is a cute and nostalgic film, just perfect for watching with the whole family over the holidays (and no, no one is paying me to say this!). The movie is available for rent or purchase on Prime, but you can also get it from their website. I have a special code for getting it half-off (good on their website only), so if you’re interested, message me and I’ll share the code.
4) Ready to draft??! Okay, turn that Editor Voice up just a hair, maybe to a 2 or 3. Now draft a poem, short story, or essay about whatever is on your mind. Need a little more direction? Write about where you grew up, but use an image or descriptions that apply more to its opposite. This is taking its inspiration from Kevin D. LeMaster’s "Skipping Stones from the Edge of a River in Kentucky." Set the timer for 10 minutes. Think a little about structure, but not too much. Don’t get bogged down in making it perfect or making it do what you want it to, just write.
And there you go! You’ve got a draft of something to work on revising this weekend, next month, or the 12th of Never!
Thanks for letting me stop by!