Today we talk about LIMERICK TALES, a book by Pamela Fowler published with our Publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Pamela Fowler, to get to know her better, what prompted her to the writing of her book of poems LIMERICK TALES, as well as what poetry means to her.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What prompted you to the writing of your book of poems?
I have never been any good at the really funny Edward Lear kinds of limericks but have always liked to write my ideas in limerick form. When I was working I wrote limericks about many of my colleagues: maybe some of them not very kind, I now regret. This book began at around 4.30 am one morning over three years ago. I woke up with a limerick in my head. It made me laugh so much I got up and wrote it down. I think the limerick was Rambo the Vampire Flea. Got back in bed and there was another one. This happened a few more times every morning and I ended up keeping a notebook and pen next to the bed permanently. Over the weeks and months the ideas and odd lines would pop up at any time in the day or night. The vampire bus limerick came while I was on a bus. After the ideas, or lines, came I then had the work of knocking them into a verse. The hard bit.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
What I would enjoy hearing from other limerick writers are stories about their own work. How did they get their inspiration? If they wrote the very amusing “There was a young lady….” type I of limerick. I would like to see some of their work if they were kind enough to share. What has inspired other limerick writers? If they love the Spike Milligan limericks as much as I do. Just sharing would be good.
- What messages did you want to convey with your book?
I’m not sure I have any messages I would like to convey. These are just simple silly ideas written in limerick form. I don’t think it is necessary to just stick to the original form. Although I love my favourite “There was an old man with a beard…” type, it would be so good if anyone who has an idea and is not interested in writing a book could simply put their ideas and stories into these simple verses for others to enjoy. Books are such hard work and it is simpler to convey many different thoughts and ideas this way.
- What does poetry means to you?
As far as poetry in general is concerned I am a Philistine. I totally dislike the, what I see as pretentious versifying writing with arty lofty sounding phrases where nothing rhymes. I totally love the work of poets conveying vivid pictures and all rhyming beautifully. My very favourite is Edgar Alan Poe. How can anyone better “In a kingdom by the sea” evoking an immediate picture. “Gaily bedite (a gallant knight) is another of my special favourites. So, yes I love poetry that rhymes and tells a story, but not keen on the rest, to put it politely.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
I am not working on anything new now. At the age of 89 (nobody is too old for limerick writing) I don’t think I have the energy left for another project. It has taken over three years for this project to come to fruition as the first publisher took over two years to do nothing and it was only when I managed to get my work back, with the aid of my niece Emma and the BBC Morning Live programme, that Europe Books took my work and magicked it into print within 4 months. So thank you to Europe Books for a great rescue.
Europe Books thanks the author, Pamela Fowler, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book LIMERICK TALES. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, I hope this book captures your attention and keeps you glued to its pages. At the same time, it provides you with useful thoughts and reflections to apply in your everyday life.
So, my dear readers, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!