Who Are You? Anna Saunders
Who Are You?
Name: Anna Saunders
Year of Birth: 03.11.65
Place of Birth: Hoylake, Wirral.
In no more than six lines please describe what you do in “the poetry world.”
I am the author of four collections of poetry; Communion and Kissing the She Bear,(Wild Conversations Press),Struck,( Pindrop Press) and Burne Jones and the Fox,( Indigo Dreams). I am a teacher and mentor. I am the founder and CEO of Cheltenham Poetry Festival. We offer an exciting programme of spoken word, poetry, music, comedy and more every May.
Where do you live now?
Cheltenham.
What puts a genuine smile on your face?
Good poetry.
What keeps you awake at night?
Good poetry. And the screams of the vixens in the park..
Which living poet do you most admire?
Are you trying to get me into trouble? Many of my friends are poets.
Which dead poet do you most admire?
There are far too many to choose from - can I go for all the usual suspects - Plath, Berryman, (Dylan)Thomas, Sexton, Yeats, T.S Eliot…
What irritates you most about yourself?
My indecisive nature.
What irritates you most about others?
I couldn’t possibly say.
What has been your finest hour?
The first ever Cheltenham Poetry Festival in which John Cooper Clarke took to the stage in front of hundreds of punk poetry fans.
What’s your favourite album / cd?
Anything by The Fall. That driving bass guitar and shouty poetry - electrifying.
What’s your favourite indulgence?
Good poetry. And vodka. And chocolate.
What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
It was Titanic! Ha ha, I haven’t been for a while have I?
Politically, do you swing to the Left or to the Right?
Left.
What is your favourite poem?
Don’t do this to me.
Where would you most like to go on holiday?
Wales, or Cornwall - rugged coastlines, wild seas and ancient forests please.
If you ran the Arts Council what would you really want to do?
Pretty much what they are doing now. Supporting large established projects and exciting independent ventures - like Cheltenham Poetry Festival.
Do you like shopping in malls?
No.
Least favourite kind of art event to go and see?
Folk.
How often do you write poetry?
I’d like to say every day - but I don’t always manage that.
How often do you read poetry?
Everyday.
What single thing would make your artistic life easier?
More time to write.
Where do you want to be this time next year?
I’d like to be running the eighth Cheltenham Poetry Festival and bringing many more acclaimed artists to the town. I’d also like to be completinng my fifth collection Ghosting for Beginners.
Do you believe in life after a bad gig?
It depends if I am running it or not.
Do you believe in life after death?
No. Though of course we hope our books will live.
How would you like to be remembered by the poetry world?
As someone who helped others to fulfil their potential as writers, and who created inspiring poetry events.
Find Anna’s website here: www.annasaunderswriter.com
Find out more about Cheltenham Poetry Festival here: www.cheltenhampoetryfestival.wordpress.com