Friday Feature @Poetsdream
We hope this Friday finds you well, happy, still full of turkey and stuffing and without a hangover. It may be the day after Thanksgiving for our American Prosers, but for the rest of us, we are just happy it's Friday. Yes, of course, that means Friday Feature time. This week we hear from someone that we hope you know of; but if you don't, you soon will.
P: What is your given name and your Proser username?
K: Kevin / Poetsdream
P: Where do you live?
K: Chesapeake, Va
P: What is your occupation?
K: Material handler on an assembly line at Stihl inc
P: What is your relationship with writing and how has it evolved?
K: Writing poetry basically saved my life. I began writing in 1995, at the age of 16.
Growing up, I suffered with severe depression that almost led me to suicide. I worked at a seafood restaurant for 2 years through high school. I struggled immensely, my manager noticed me very down, cutting myself and overall really sad. He took me under his wing and mentored me all the time I was there at work. Several times after work, he would stay with me and talk to me all night to get me on a positive road. It got so bad, he took me to a hospital without my parents knowing because he thought I was a threat to myself.
He introduced me into poetry back in 1995, where I never knew I had a writer within me. I started writing tons of poems, pouring out all my feelings on paper and things started to get better for me. After being hospitalized, I continued writing and it became a therapy for me. I needed to write all the time and when I did I felt so much better. My mentor's name was Scott and if I wasn’t for him, I don’t know where I would be today.
He gave me the life that I have today and I owe my life to him. I am doing better now and have learned many things from my friend Scott. Today, I constantly want to pay my experience forward and help high school kids today struggling with depression, self esteem issues etc. I plan on doing that soon as I know my story will resemble many kids today, I plan on using my poetry for an aide to help others like I was helped by my friend/mentor Scott. [Prose salutes both Scott and Kevin]
P: What value does reading add to both your personal and professional life?
K: I honestly don’t read much. I have never been diagnosed with it but I think I may have ADD. I have a very difficult time focusing and reading chapter after chapter of books. My attention span is quite short. I do read Runners World magazine and I do have poetry books that I read from other author friends I know. I know reading is very important and it can really improve the craft of writing. Poetry is pretty much straight and to the point that’s why I enjoy reading things of that nature.
P: Describe your current literary ventures and what can we look forward to in the future.
K: Through the years, I compiled so many poems, that in 2012 I started publishing my own books which was a dream of mine to do. I always wanted someone to see what’s inside my mind. This is where I came up with the name called Poetsdream. Currently I have 4 books self published on Amazon.com under my name Kevin Amon, I am also working on 4 more which have a few more things I need to do with them to publish them. In 2014, I was on a local TV show where I live, talking about my experience with my writing and my story behind it. You can search that video on youtube, its called "I am Hampton Roads Kevin Amon"[The link is attached below - Prose]. Just put that in the search box if you would enjoy seeing it. It was so much fun doing the TV interview and I brought my handicapped dog on the show named Hogan [Prose's heart has exploded from the love]. I brought him along talking about my journey with depression and how he is so happy even with his condition. He creates a positive mood for me and really helps me everyday caring for him and his condition.
P: What do you love about Prose?
K: I found Prose about 4 months ago. I was searching for something new and interesting. I love it here, its very inviting and a great community of awesome writers. Prose by leaps and bounds is my favorite place because the people are so nice here and there is no negativity. I really enjoy reading other's work and commenting on people's work. I’m very glad I found this site and I really can’t get enough reading all the great poets here. I would love to see a video version too, where poets could have a virtual open mic for all to view their poetry. That would be so much fun.
P: Is there one book that you would recommend everybody should read before they die?
K: I’m not much of a reader which I should be more of, but I feel reading any poetry book can give you great insight on life’s perspectives. To me, poetry is real, raw, and straight to the point in which all can relate to. Grab any poetry book is what I recommend.
P: Do you have an unsung hero who got you into reading and/or writing?
K: My mentor and friend Scott who I owe my life to. I will never stop writing because of him
P: Describe yourself in three words!
K: Romantic, Passionate, Determined
P: Is there one quote, from a writer or otherwise, that sums you up?
K: Actually, a quote I came up with that’s in my first book: “Life is like an ax splitting through a piece of wood, sometimes it’s hard to get through”
P: Favourite music to write and/or read to?
K: I don’t usually listen to music when I write. I just have so much on my mind that I don’t need much to get my feelings out.
P: You climb out of a time machine into a dystopian future with no books. What do you tell them?
K: Let’s go grab a cup of coffee :)
P: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you/your work/social media accounts?
K: Besides writing for over 20 years, I am an avid runner. I’ve been running for 10 years now which also saved my life. Growing up with depression I was also really heavy at a weight of 255lbs. I started running 10 years ago and the weight came off. For years now, I am currently 200lbs and altogether lost 10” on my waist. I would say many of my titles for my poems were created while I am running. I do listen to music when I run and I come up with ideas either personal or made up. I create poems/ideas along my path running. I would come up with a title and immediately write down it down once I got home. Sometimes I would have a bunch of titles and pick and choose which one I feel like writing at the given time..........I also have a youtube page with a few videos there under my full name again Kevin Amon. I actually have a few videos with me dressed up like Hulk Hogan promoting my current books on amazon. its quite funny and actually sold some books from the videos alone. I do also have a facebook page called poetsdream to where I post several times a week.
What an inspiring, heartfelt and wonderful Friday Feature it is this week. Please, you know what to do. Follow Kevin, interact and do what the Prose community does best.
If you want to feature, or want someone else on Prose to feature, then do please get in touch at paul@theprose.com
Those that we’ve taken the time to message and send the questions out to, do please send the answers back or tell us if you are no longer interested in featuring. Thanks, all.
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