12 or 20 (second series) questions with Shannon Bramer
Shannon Bramer
writes poems, plays and short fiction.She is the author of
Climbing Shadows: Poems for Children
, illustratedby Cindy Derby, and several poetry collections for adults, winning the Hamiltonand Region Arts Council Book Award for her first book, suitcases and otherpoems. Shannon’s plays include Chloe’s Tiny Heart Is Closed (forchildren) and The Hungriest Woman in the World. In 2020 Book*hug presspublished
TRAPSONGS
, a collection of Shannon’s plays.
Robot, Unicorn, Queen
, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, is out this month with GroundwoodBooks. She lives with her family (and two beautiful old cats) in Toronto,Ontario.4 - Where does a poem usually begin for you? Are you anauthor of short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or are youworking on a "book" from the very beginning?
It's a little bit of both at this stage; poems always startwith a word or a line or a voice stuck in my head, but once a few have arrivedI usually notice something tying all the little pieces together and an idea fora book happens.
5 - Are public readings part of or counter to yourcreative process? Are you the sort of writer who enjoys doing readings?
I love giving readings; I am always exceedingly nervousabout the before and after (small talk and socializing!) because I am on theshy side, but something happens when I occupy my work and have anaudience--it's electrifying and so much fun. Readings always help me refinepoems as well. I often read to test audiences (the kids I work with!) and learnwhere things work rhythmically, emotionally and also where things land (ordon't!) in terms of the humour in my poems.
8 - Do you find the process of working with an outsideeditor difficult or essential (or both)?
Editors are amazing and essential. Editors are attentive todetails, they ask important questions, they push you to see your work fromdifferent angles. I have also found that having an editor helps a writer unpackand articulate why they might make certain choices. I've been blessed withincredible editors over the years: Alana Wilcox, Jen LoveGrove, Nan Froman andlast but not least, David Derry, my husband--who is one of the best writers andtoughest editors out there!
9 - What is the best piece of advice you've heard (notnecessarily given to you directly)?
Travel--you have to travel, Shannon. My NanaBramer always said that. And I think she's right; and I've tried to do thatboth on and off the page.
10 - How easy has it been for you to move between genres(general poetry to poetry for kids)? What do you see as the appeal?
I think having children and working with children means thatI am immersed in a world of language and conversation and observations that Iam always internalizing. I love kids as much as I love poetry. I love listeningto them, I am dazzled by their ideas, sensitivities, bravery, humour--so I lovetrying to make them laugh, feel, and think with poems. I want to help them seethemselves, how beautiful they are, how funny, how much they teach the adults.They are not always easy to impress, so writing poems for them is a delightfuland thrilling challenge.
13 - What fragrance reminds you of your childhood?
Cigarette smoke! My mama is a long-time smoker of manycigarettes.
14 - David W. McFadden once said that books come frombooks, but are there any other forms that influence your work, whether nature,music, science or visual art?
All of the above for me! I get a little obsessed withsomething--a variety of mushroom, or a painting, or a song or an artist--and Iwill pour my heart into finding out as much as I can about it/them. Theobsessions often lead to poetry.
15 - What other writers or writings are important foryour work, or simply your life outside of your work?
There are so many writers that have been important to meover the years; I have a few close friends who are writers and I am so gratefulfor the ways they inspire me and also cheer me on when I need it. My husband,Dave, is the most important, to be honest. He knows when I'm not working enoughon my writing I can get very down; he pushes me through those slumpy phases.
16 - What would you like to do that you haven't yet done?
Practise mandolin consistently and learn how to play morethan one song!
18 - What made you write, as opposed to doing somethingelse?
I love writing and I have needed writing my whole life. Likemost writers I have always done other things alongside writing. I am a motherof three, I work in a nursery school, I teach poetry, I've been a lunchroomsupervisor and a bookseller. I am also a passionate cook; cooking is a kind ofpoetry for me and when I'm cooking I become hyper-focused in the same way thatI do when I'm writing poetry.
19 - What was the last great book you read? What was thelast great film?
The Vegan Chinese Kitchen by Hannah Che. The recipesare as beautiful as the stories and photography in the book. The first one tocome to mind is Little Orphans, written by Newfoundland playwright andfilmmaker, and directed by Ruth Lawrence. It's a love letter toSt.John's, and explores what it means to show up, as mother, as a friend. It'san austere but tender film that broke my heart.
20 - What are you currently working on?
I'm working on the edits for a new book of poetry for youngaudiences, forthcoming in 2025. It's called Nightmare Jones and I am soexcited about it because it will be for slightly older kids. There's scorpionsand monsters and lots of spiders in this book. All the best things.
