Featured Poet: Barbara Soehner

Barbara Soehner recently published her first book of poetry, the glittering bird. We had the opportunity to interview her about her creative process and body of work.

Congratulations on the release of your debut collection of poetry, "the glittering bird"! What inspired you to share your craft with the world?

When do I write, whenever it comes to me, I have always thought of my writing as a gift that comes to me in my heart.

How did you become a poet?

I first started writing when I was around 17 and away at junior college. Mostly I wrote little stories. The first poem I wrote was sweet:

FLOWER BUDS

Do you have any love in your life
Is it real or is it false
Does it resemble fantasy or is it cold
Like the ice blue sea

I can remember being young
I thought that no one cared
When I grew up I felt the same
Where will I find love where

Will I find love in flower buds
Will I find love in trees
Or should I just wait for love
To come along and find me
-BARBARA SOEHNER

I never studied writing so my poetry is not a studied form.

I spent years as an actor/singer/songwriter and made my living as a voice over artist for about 27 years. As a songwriter many times you are given a project and instructed as to the subject you should write about. I had success with my work. I think that is why I don’t go crazy with all the prompts here on Instagram. It makes me feel I am writing as a job. Don’t get me wrong I have tried a few prompts, but only the ones that come from the prompters beautiful ideas. The ones that inspire and excite me.

Can you describe your creative process?

My favorite time to write is when I am sleeping and suddenly wake up and ideas just pour out. It is usually still dark out. I don’t fall back to sleep because the words need to come out. So I take my IPhone and go to Google docs App. I turn on the mic and out come the words. It is a fascinating occurrence.

What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is my home here in Chelsea, NYC. I love writing at my long dining table in my living room where the skylight floods my room with light. It is a wonderful table which used to be a church door. I also enjoy doing my lives on Instagram with fellow poets from this table. Ha ha it is a table that has been with me through my marriage, as a mother, through my many losses and now my steady friend during the Pandemic.

What does literary success look like to you?

I am currently working on my autobiography. I turned 75 on May 5th and my autobiography encompasses my life from the time I lost my mother when I was three all the way up to now.

Success to me is sharing my story as so many of us have gone through similar experiences and writing is a healing tool. So only time will tell where my journey leads.

Where can readers read more of your work?

I currently have one published book, the glittering bird. It is published by Adil Dad who owns the company Leaf Publishing House. It is a beautiful book of poems and I am so grateful for the opportunity to put my words out into the world.

You can find it on Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. On Amazon I have 13 positive reviews but sadly Amazon never has books available. It has saddened me for many people would prefer buying from Amazon. I am still trying to figure it out. I own the rights so maybe I should publish it again on my own. It really is a special book.

I also took my own savings and went into the recording studio for six months in 2019. I recorded an audiobook which holds all the poems from my debut poetry book along with several more stories from my life. My coproducer added beautiful sounds and music. Since I have always felt the studio to be like a home (due to my years as a narrator and voice over artist), the experience was wonderful. I am in the process of searching for a distributor and hopefully will have it out on Audible. The audiobook has 10 chapters.