Guest Blog: Rosemary Wilson on One Single Rose...

So, the bad news is, it´s Tuesday. Yeah, yeah, I know, at least it isn´t a Monday! But Tuesday still falls pretty low on my worst day list! I do, however, have something to perk you all right up! An author interview. Or, in this instance, an interview with an internationally renowned poet! Yes, you read that right! See, I bring a varied mix to this blog, don´t I? And all for you! :D

Rosemarie Wilson, or One Single Rose, is an award winning poet as well as a writer. For the last two and a half years, ever since her first self-published collection of poetry, One Single Rose…Poetry Blossomed from a Rose Core, she has been dubbed an inspirational poet. With countless awards to her name and a SAFE Ambassador Award to boot, I´m more than pleased to bring her to the fledgling house!

But before I start the interview, let me give you today´s song of the day, and as corny as it might be, I couldn´t resist! Regardless of the coincidence, it´s a fab song...

Seal – A Kiss From A Rose :D

Forgive my corniness, Rosemarie. :D I couldn´t help myself! One Single Rose with A Kiss from a Rose as well- heck, we´ll have a bunch soon! :P So, my much lauded guest, welcome to my little fledging nest! I hope it isn´t too small for you! :D Why are you here today, Rosemarie? What instigating factor turned you into a writer?

Life, love and laughter fuel my poetic energy.  I’m not a biological parent, but I’ve birthed poems since the second grade when I won my very first poetry contest.  My official poetic journey began about seven years ago as a woman scorned as a result of being let down by an ex as well as others in my life.  I was able to escape the madness by writing poems about my experiences with heartache.  After penning a few “I hate you poems,” I began to motivate myself past the pain with inspirational pieces.  Before I knew it, I had enough poems to fill my first poetry collection “One Single Rose . . . Poetry Blossomed from a Rose Core” which focused on motivation, kissing a few frogs before meeting your prince or princess and the joys and pains of living life.  Since that time, I have been dubbed an inspirational poet.

Wow! What a great way to exorcise the past and pain! I must admit I dabbled a tad, during an angst ridden phase during adolescence. They weren´t too bad, enough to get me an A* grade in my English Lit class. :D So, I can´t complain! Aside from the intensity of emotion you experience when creating your work - and that emotion is really easy to feel-  why do you love what you do?

I love to write because it allows me to poetically share pieces of me with the world.  When I embraced my love for poetry, my goal was to touch at least one person which happened before my first collection was released.  I authored a MySpace blog in response to a troubled teenager who had been sexually abused.  Somehow a teen from Montana who had contemplated suicide read the blog and informed me that I’d helped her make it through a tough time.  If One Single Rose touched no one when it was released almost a year later, my goal had already been fulfilled! 

Oh my goodness, what an achievement to have made. Aside from all your awards that must feel absolutely fantastic to have touched someone´s life so powerfully, so intrinsically. Wow! So, now, I´m intrigued and can´t wait to read one of your poems! No pressure here! :D From One Single Rose Out of Darkness and into Light, which is your favorite poem and why?

Hmm…that’s a tough question, Serena! Shame on you! :) I have a special love for every one of my babies!  I would have to say my favorite poem is a haiku entitled “Priceless.” 

“I am not for men

who do not treasure my worth.

My gems are PRICELESS.”

The heartache I spoke of previously wasn’t always someone else’s fault.  I have to take the blame for enabling my mates to a certain degree.  We all have choices and should make wise decisions when it comes to matters of the heart.  Men know the buzz words to get attention from women.  Yes, ladies we are beautiful, but not every handsome man with deep pockets who utters the words “I love you” is actually in love.  We have to take our time to weed dandelions from the grass, and once they’re gone, fertilize and cultivate the lawn for greener pastures and healthy relationships.  I tell myself every day that I’m priceless so that I won’t fall prey to slick talkers who don’t have my best interest.  Also, “Priceless” t-shirts are available in your size. 

That´s fabulous! Firstly, before I make another comment, I had to wiki haiku! Lol. To my equally ignorant readers, a haiku is an “ epigrammatic   Japanese   verse   form  in   17   syllables”. Before I even read the part at the bottom, I immediately thought that makes a FABULOUS slogan! :D And I also love the way you discuss a woman´s love life. Great imagery there! Dandelions! Hehe, that´s the nicest rephrasing of the term jerk I´ve ever heard! Lol. So, Rosemary, to craft your fabulous work, do you have a writing routine? Or do you just allow the muse to take you as and when it wants?

Definitely the latter, Serena. I write when I’m inspired.  I don’t have a certain routine that I follow, but quite a few of my poems have been born as I slept--I awake to give birth by way of the computer keyboard.  There have been times when I’ve wanted to write about a certain issue but the words weren’t revealed right away.  I had to wait until I received them to pen the piece.  I watch the news a lot and write about social issues that wear heavily on my soul.  I find solace writing by the river or in silence in the comforts of home.

I know you´re going to be performing in Belgium soon, are you brimming with excitement about this? Silly question maybe, but hey, I´m nosy! :D

OMG, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have been excited about Detroit Dealers since I was selected for the tour with Wunderbaum (www.wunderbaum.nl) this past December.  Wunderbaum is a collective of five theater makers from The Netherlands who have been acting together for the past ten years.  Every year Wunderbaum produces different performances and this years’ production focused on a love affair surrounding the auto industry (www.wunderbaul.nl/detroitdealers1.html).  We premiered inPittsburgh,PA in February and our second performance at the Holland Festival in June was met with standing O’s at seven sold out shows.  I’m totally stoked about the fall/winter schedule in Rotterdam (September 22-25),Utrecht (October 5-7), Antwerpen (November 21-23), andGent (December 12-15).  There will be a few surprise events during the Antwerpen performances and I hope these dates sell out as well.  It was such a blessing to have met such a talented and down to earth group of actors in my first international performance.

That sounds absolutely fantastic, Rosemarie. Well done! Your hard work is paying off and on that note, do you have any wise words to pass on to the fledglings who read my blog?

Can’t = won’t.  If you tell yourself you can’t do something, you most definitely won’t.  The word can’t limits abilities and you CAN do whatever you set your mind upon.  It’s also important to keep a pen and paper, laptop, smart phone, iPad, some sort of writing utensil handy at all times because inspiration can hit at the most inopportune moments—be ready to answer the call—words wait for no one.  Also, I believe every writer has experienced writer’s block.  When writer’s block hits, don’t fall under the block, rise above it.  If you tell yourself you’re not writing because your thoughts are blocked, writer’s block wins.  Speak positively if or when that happens so that you don’t get stuck…positive affirmations will always fuel your little engines that CAN!

You´re so right, Rosemarie! I guess it´s the whole law of attraction thing, isn´t it? By concentrating on the blockage rather than the need to express oneself, we´re creating more trouble for ourselves! Typical! :/ So, Rosemary, one final question for you. Are you a poet who should be on everyone´s radar?

My babies speak of truth; they are autobiographies with twists of fiction, written with humility.  I don’t mind sharing pieces of me because every person on this earth has experienced at least one trying time that someone else has.  I’m not ashamed or afraid to share what I’ve personally experienced, seen or may have heard that someone else has gone through.  We all can learn from each other.  The moves I make poetically aren’t just for me…I share myself with the world because without you, there would be no me.

I’m grateful that the poetic world has embraced my work.  I look forward to living in this world for many years to come.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me and my readers, Rosemary. I wish you all the best for the future and hope you have a lovely time in Belgium! :) 

So, everyone, if Rosemary´s haiku has intrigued you for more- I know it has me!- then, you can buy her anthology, One Single Rose...Poetry Blossomed from a Rose Core, on her website! You can also follow her career via twitter or facebook! And if you´d like to check out the aforementioned blog on Myspace, then click here! 

I hope everyone has been inspired, and ladies, I hope you´ve taken Rosemary´s words on board! I certainly have! Priceless, that´s me! :D 

Take care and have a great day!

Love

Serena 

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