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The
ShatterColors
Standard Interview
-- Author Version:
Adelaide
Cummings (7/2009)
(Interview
consists of 15
pre-set questions.
Authors have published
at least one novel
or short story/poetry
collection.)
1)
Why did you begin
writing, and how
long have you
been doing so?
It
was the only positive
aptitude that
I ever had. I
used to write
stories as a child.
I started publishing
in magazines in
1933 at age 19
including: Harper's
Bazaar, Town and
Country, Readers
Digest and Country
Life. I published
about 20 articles
in a period of
a year-and-a-half
starting at that
age.
2)
What does your
writing routine
consist of?
Working
several hours
every day, and
when I am on a
creative spurt,
I often will work
for 10 hours at
a time (sometimes
forgetting to
eat), and, then,
I burn out. That
is how I get a
lot done and have
been able to write
a book a year
for the last 6
years.
3)
Have specific
events ever flung
you into an extended
and productive
period of creativity?
Trying
to finish my latest
book in time for
my 95th birthday
put me into one
of my excessive
frenzies to get
it done. I worked
nonstop for a
month to finish
it.
4)
What are common
sources of inspiration?
Nature,
more than anything,
or dropped remarks
or a word that
captures my fancy.
Even a line or
two or a thought
engendered from
something that
I am reading.
The best poem
that I ever wrote
came to me complete
in a dream. Before
I went to bed
one night reading
the poems of Edna
St. Vincent Millay,
I remember thinking
how much I would
like to write
just one poem
like hers, but
it would never
come to pass since
she wrote of heartbreak,
and I am basically
a happy poet.
At 2:00 AM, I
was jolted awake,
and the total
poem came to me,
in its entirety.
I jotted it down
as fast as words
could be put to
paper. I felt
as if I had just
passed a kidney
stone and felt
a huge sense of
relief and fell
into untroubled
sleep. I couldn’t
remember a word
that I wrote the
next morning until
I read the piece
of paper next
to the bed. I
consider it to
be my best poem,
which appeared
in my book Finale.
Now, I wonder
whether it was
the power of suggestion
(at which case
I should read
Shakespeare at
bedtime), or did
I receive a visit
from Edna? I prefer
to think that
it is the latter.
5)
What does a book
need to do to
get you to read
it from beginning
to end?
It
needs to be well
written.
6)
Who are some of
the authors you
most admire?
I
admire the poets
Sara Teasdale,
Matthew Arnold
and Edna St. Vincent
Millay. I have
been influenced
the writers by
Ernest Hemingway,
Jane Austen and
John Updike.
7)
How familiar are
you with the literary
canon?
I
am certainly familiar
with all of the
better known classics.
Also, I like to
keep up with books
on the best seller
list. I am an
avid reader. Being
bilingual, I like
Dumas and Andre
Maurois and other
French classics.
8)
What's your take
on politics and
literary endeavor?
I
am not particularly
drawn to political
poems, I am more
drawn to political
fiction, and especially
to nonfiction.
9)
What are your
feelings about
formal vs. free
verse?
From
a poem of mine
in Grand Finale
entitled “Cause
For Wonder,”
I can sum up my
feelings with:
“Who knows
why they print
this turgid prose.
I, who do not
hesitate to tread
on toes, rate
New Yorker ‘poetry’
as I do the Emperor’s
clothes.”
10)
Do you feel "flash"
fiction (300 words
or less) is a
viable form, or
nothing more than
a writing exercise?
The
latter.
11)
When not writing,
what do you do
for amusement?
I
love travel, sailing
and tennis. Tennis
has played a big
part in my life.
Although I had
to give it up
at 92, I won 4
Senior Olympic
gold medals in
Women’s
Singles, Women’s
Doubles and Mixed
Doubles and 1
U.S. T.A. National
title. I am also
a great lover
of nature and
gardening.
12)
What's one of
the most annoying
things you can
think of?
The
bad English and
grammar used by
television commentators
and in the media
in general.
13)
Briefly describe
what you consider
to be one of your
standout childhood
pranks.
I
can’t think
of one that I
did alone; however,
I was usually
in on pranks played
by my twin brother.
Since the two
of us were so
close, I can claim
partial responsibility
for this one:
My twin brother,
Joe, my youngest
brother, Harry,
and I all went
to schools in
the northeast,
even though we
grew up in Memphis.
We we were home
in Memphis for
the holidays.
Since it was during
the Depression,
money was tight.
Harry worked part
time while at
school, so he
was able to buy
a 1st Class train
ticket from Memphis
to New York to
return to school.
My twin brother
Joe only had a
bus ticket. I
am not sure exactly
how he did it,
but Joe either
spiked Harry’s
drink or put something
in it that caused
him to pass out.
When Harry woke
up, he found himself
riding on the
bus to New York.
Joe had swapped
his ticket and
put Harry on the
bus. Joe rode
the 1st Class
train to New York,
having taken his
place!
14)
What are your
upcoming projects/works
in progress?
After
6 books in 6 years,
I am currently
on sabbatical,
but don’t
want aimlessness
to sink in. I
would like to
try other forms
and outlets for
my poetry and
may make DVD of
a compilation
of some of my
best poems.
15)
Care to conclude
with a sweeping
philosophical
statement?
My
following poem
entitled “Ahead,”
inspired by Dylan
Thomas expresses
my beliefs: “Blessed
with zest for
living, to most
health woes immune,
I greet each day,
it’s fair
to say, rejoicing
and in tune. So
be sure I won’t
‘go gentle
into that good
night,’
nor is it accidental,
that the prospect
holds no fright.”
_______________
The
ShatterColors
Standard Interview
-- Author Version
©
2006 by Robert
Scott Leyse
Adelaide
Cummings Responses
© 2009 by
Adelaide Cummings
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