What an adventurous ego-trip
it is to have a website. Rather like colonizing the wild west, only without
the guns. Aidan of Solas
Web Design has been extremely patient as I inflicted mental torture
on myself (and probably on him, but I block that out) trying to decide
what to put up, what not to put up, and how to 'present' myself. Basically,
such sites are promotion tools. Cerainly I want to increase the number
of workshops and lectures I give abroad. When it comes down to it, though,
I think of this as an opportunity for a special type of communication
- a great big letter with pictures. One that goes out to more people than
one would normally meet in many lifetimes. This is an incredibly exciting
thing! Certainly the Internet has its detractors. There are those who
distrust its openness and what it invites, but my view is that we must
be grateful for this expansion and treat it as creative opportunity. No
one suggests that we abandon discretion!
Integral to this site are photographs of my friends, my animals and my family. I couldn't put up a totally commercial site because my life is so much the opposite. Poetry and poetry publishing have dictated how I live and, as I always say, one can get away with a lot if one is involved in the arts! After all there's not much material gain!
A perk of this 'arts life', and of the IT world, is that I can live on a hill in rural Co. Clare, and have all I need to keep Salmon Publishing going. I lived in cities for many years; rural Ireland is definitely the most satisfying environment I've experienced. I'm one of those 'animal people'. My dogs, Zach and Zena play a huge part in my life. Zach is a gorgeous golden and white Labrador/Sheepdog and Zena (yes, I know it's spelled with an 'X', but I prefer Zs!) was aptly described by our postman as 'your common black and white Irish sheepdog' as in 'the best there is'.). Zookie (also a golden Labrador/Sheepdog cross) who died in March, 2000 was my constant companion for 13 years.
In the last few years the dogs have been joined by Clint (a horse/donkey cross) and Hilly (a female pony). There's a long, crazy, story behind their becoming part of the household and if you're really interested let me know and I'll tell it to you! The last animal family member is an incredibly loud, sharp-fanged, deaf, white cat;officially named Lilly. I call her Fang and Def Leopard most of the time and she allows us to look after her. She has adopted Zena as her role model, but she's not herding sheep yet (actually, neither is Zena since we only have cattle around here, and they don't belong to us)!
When we have friends and writers (and friends who are writers) staying with us, they always go home with an animal story. Clint learned how to open the front door and unless we keep it locked he will waltz in unannounced. A few of the writers have had close encounters, and Clint is probably the most photographed horse/donkey of his generation! No harm done to the writers, I hasten to add. You'll find illustrative photos in the Animals, People and Landscapes section of the Photo Gallery
A big part of my 'natural' world, too, are my Aussie cousins: Floyd, Sausage, Daisy Mae and Wentworth 'roo; Wanda and Henry Wombat, and Kevin Cockatiel (to name just a few) They live with Bob and Jan Cleaver on the Wombat Rise Sanctuary, Sandleton, South Australia. Photos © copyright Bob Cleaver. Not to be reproduced without his permission
I won't mention the bears just yet...
Yes, there are humans in my life and even in my house! Siobhan Hutson looks after production and design; the Salmon Poetry website (which she designed), and many other invaluable jobs. Photos of the secret workings of Salmon can be found on The Salmon Publishing Website. We do have fun, but it's pretty hectic much of the time!
Much of my writing concerns landscape and place. I am fascinated with wilderness, and how environment forms poetic consciousness. There are a couple of essays on this subject on my Publications page. The terrific 'Book of the Burren' (TirEolas Press) has just been re-issued in a new edition and contains an essay of mine on poetry inspired by the magnificent Burren landscape of Co. Clare. The anthology 'Irish Spirit', edited by Patricia Monaghan, also contains an essay of mine, Holy Ground, on Ireland and our society's changing relationship to the land (http://irishspirit.org/aboutthebook.html).
I am very keen that people know what publishing poetry is all about. It's an increasingly difficult task. Bookshops are cutting back on poetry, while Arts Councils are tightening the noose on production by cutting back funding. I give advice to aspiring poets on the Salmon website at http://www.salmonpoetry.com/advice and at http://www.salmonpoetry.com/publishersdiary. Also, we'll be reissuing my "Salmon Guide to Poetry Publishing in Ireland" in the autumn. there are excerpts from a couple of my essays on the Publications page.
I'm aiming to get away to work on a novel this summer and have booked a cabin at the wonderful Atlin Arts Centre in Atlin, British Columbia. No, I can't do my creative work at home! Later in the year, I'll be in the States on a Salmon fundraising tour. I'll give more info about this as my plans shape up.
Anything else you'd like to know?? I'd love to hear from you!
Jessie