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Dan Provost

Dan Provost is a writer and coach from Worcester, MA. He could very well be one of the nicest men you will ever meet. He is a man unafraid to wear the rawest parts of himself on his sleeve for everyone to see, touch, and experience. He is no stranger to the darkness in himself that most of us so often deny.

Dan is an avid reader who has been publishing in the small press for years, always supporting new writers through reading and promotion and lending his hard earned wisdom. It is my pleasure to share with you this candid interview with Dan Provost.

-Aleathia Drehmer

AD:  You grew up in a household heavily laced with music and athletics.  How do you think this has affected your outlook on the world as a child and as an adult?  Do you think these things influence your writing and if they do, in what way?

DP: Being exposed to such a variety of music gave me an opportunity to experience different genres.  My grandfather and father were both jazz drummers; they introduced me to George Shearing, Buddy Rich, and Gene Krupa.  My brothers, Chip and Tim, were influenced by rock and blues, while my sister Judi, who played the organ and piano–played everything from classical to the Allman Brothers.  For me, the lyric content was always the most fascinating and relevant.  What was the writer of the lyrics trying to portray and how did he say it?  Was he indignant, sly, and boastful?  I always admired those who could sing in a way that could relate to the theme of the song.  Even today, great lyricists heavily influence my writing.  Continue Reading…

Paul Corman-Roberts

Paul Corman-Roberts is a poet and performer out in Oakland, California. He is the poetry editor at Cherry Bleeds and his recent poetry collection (neocom)muter is out now from Tainted Coffee Press. Interview by Lynn Alexander.

LA:When was the first time you can remember calling yourself a writer, describing yourself that way? When did you start writing poetry?

PCR: I probably first described myself as a writer when I was drunk and trying to impress a girl at a party or something. I do remember getting kind of snotty and elitist about it around the time I started working at the New College of California just before 9/11. I got sick of everyone calling me a poet so I started referring to myself as a writer. Of course, everyone totally made fun of me after I started doing that.
I didn’t really start thinking of myself as an actual poet until quite recently, probably around the time I published my first book Coming World/Gone World (Howling Dog Press) in 2006. But I really did start writing poetry in 1989 for the sole purpose of trying to impress girls, while I was burning to be a tortured playwright, or filmmaker, or sketch comedy writer. When I got tired and burnt out on all that shit, and tired of impressing only girls with poetry, I found I still wanted to write poems for myself. Continue Reading…