How
to publish poetry book?
The greatest contemporary authors who will
remain immortal one century from now in my humble opinion are:
Adam Donaldson Powell, Albert Russo, AZsacra ZARATHUSTRA, Moshé
Liba, Jan Oskar Hansen, Floriana Hall, Ban'ya Natsuishi,
Sayumi Kamakura and Joseph S. Spence, Sr. The distinctive
quality of these authors is their brilliance and versatile
genius. All these writers avoid "gaudiness and inane
phraseology".
AUTHOR,
LITERARY CRITIC AND EDITOR IN CHIEF OF TAJ MAHAL REVIEW, AND
CYBERWIT.NET'S COUNTLESS LITERARY ANTHOLOGIES.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Dr. Kumar, when I look at the number of literary journals and
anthologies that you have edited, I am astounded by your
capacity and drive. It is obvious that you have a very strong
love of literature, and a relentless passion to promote
contemporary authors. How did all of this begin? Do you still
actively recruit interesting writers to contribute to Taj
Mahal Review and other anthologies, or do they find their way
to you themselves nowadays? And do you notice changing trends
and genres in the submissions that you receive today, as
opposed to those in previous years?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: I'm deeply obliged for your kind
words. Most of the authors have been contributing to
Cyberwit's journals and anthologies for quite a long time.
Their sustained interest heralded the emergence of our Art
& Poetry Journal Harvests of New Millennium. A change
seems to be discernible in the increasingly large number of
submissions received by us. Haiku seems to represent the new
age of authors. This genre is admirably suited to the frenzied
pace of modern civilization.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Literary journals and anthologies were quite popular in the
1970s, 1980s and 1990s, but there seems to be fewer that
survive and flourish today. One might think that – with our
fast-paced, instant gratification world of today – such
publications would find a much larger public than they
presently do. Although not a literary magazine, Reader's
Digest has been in circulation since 1922, has a global
circulation of 17 million, and boasts editions in twenty-one
languages. That would suggest that the need for much
information, in one place, in digestible servings is
self-evident. Is this also a possible new area of renaissance
in literature? Can you comment upon the importance of literary
journals and anthologies as a publication form from today's
perspective, as opposed to previously? Can literary journals
and anthologies today survive as mere print magazines, or is
it wise to have a web edition in addition? If so, how would/do
such web journals and anthologies pay for themselves –
through subscriptions, advertising?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: Literary journals and anthologies
in print editions will definitely survive in this postmodern
era of chats, videoconferencing, e books, CD, digital
depositories due to these reasons: (1)Electronic publishing
reaches only a minority of people in developing countries like
India due to illiteracy (Nearly 50% of Indians are
illiterate), and lack of technology. (2) Printed books are a
hundred times better than web editions due to portability,
usability and aesthetics. Binding, artistic cover, and
typography turn the printed books into art objects. (3) The
quality, merit and scholarship is decreasing in e publishing.
Anything without any merit can be published by electronic
publishers. (4) The printed books can be read in bed, in the
train, bathroom, restaurant. Will I drag out my computer in
all these places?
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
You have a distinctive style of literary criticism this is
highly «academic» in the way that you cite historical and
literary references and present astounding comparative
analysis. That kind of literary criticism takes perhaps a
lifetime of reading, studying and dedication to world
literature in order to master it as a form. I imagine that it
also requires quite a bit of work locating specific references
and quotes. Could you comment on: 1) the importance and
function of literary criticism today, as opposed to the
previous century; and 2) the pertinence of academic critical
literary essays as opposed to less-academic ones? Do you
sometimes vary your style of criticism in regards to genre,
the individual work, and the tailored and specific needs of
various authors and publications receiving the reviews that
you write, or is your style your «trademark»?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: The main function of literary
criticism is to be a "disinterested endeavor to learn and
propagate the best that is known and thought in the
world" (Matthew Arnold). Derrida's (b. 1930)
Deconstruction theory emphasizes "a dismantling of the
structure of text itself". In the modern age, Derrida's
new theory inspired the critics to re-interpret the classical
poets and also Shakespeare. No doubt, a critic changes his
style in regards to genre. I try to conceive the essential
nature of the book I'm reviewing. For example, the breath and
spirit of all books by yourself - Adam Donaldson Powell - can
be understood only if we study Platonism and
transcendentalism. Without this, the criticism of Powell's
poetry will be incomplete. Similarly, in order to understand
Ban'ya Natsuishi's haiku poetry, we should have knowledge of
Japan's classical poets.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
It would appear from your Cyberwit.net bibliography that you
began publication of your own editions of poetry rather late
in life, starting with «Helicon» in 2006, followed by «New
Utopia» in 2008, and most recently «No Nukes» in 2009. All
three of these important works have passionate sociopolitical
messages. How do you define your «literary figure» as an
author of books, do you have other previous literary
(non-academic) publications to your credit before these three
poetic works, and how would you react to the premise that
authors have a socio-political responsibility as world
citizens?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: Even before Helicon was released
in 2006 followed by New Utopia (2008) and No nukes (2009),
some of my poems were published in Indian Verse by Young Poets
(Calcutta), Krishna Srinivas's Anthologies World Poetry 95
& 96, PROMISE (USA), (DWAN). In fact, the internet created
a great upheaval, the beginning of a new life in the field of
World literature. Now the poets aspiring after publishing
their poetry became eloquently optimistic that a happier and
brighter future was possible in the arena of creative arts. To
add, NO NUKES (2009) is based on my earlier thinking nurtured
in my heart during 90s. Nuclear darkness will clear away, the
world will be renovated and Utopia will be brought about by
some incarnated angel (Divine Daughter in NO NUKES) with
sacred powers of super psychism strong enough to destroy about
20 thousand nuclear weapons. I have been devoted to this
thought for quite a very long time. The modern poet should
express poignantly the devastation by nuclear rain, and the
spiritual sterility and indifference of contemporary society.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Some people read for sheer relaxation and entertainment, while
others seek out deeper themes in literature that provoke
reflection and analysis. Obviously, a writer – like any
artist or philosopher – is constantly making decisions about
what to express and how. What kinds of literature do you
prefer to write, and to read, and to review – literature
primarily designed to be light and entertaining, literature
that explores deep thematic questions, or perhaps literature
that provides both reading entertainment and a call for
analysis/reflection?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: The author should be the prime
mover, and provide impetus in answering the contemporary
problems in an artistic way. All attempts should be made to
avoid nihilism and pessimism. With richness of passion,
spontaneous emotion, subtle use of ancient myths and
traditions we should criticize proliferation of nuclear
weapons. This will undoubtedly be a tremendous thing if
several authors become united against nuclear war in order to
save the extinction of our earth. Witty and satiric writings
with this antinuclear vision will provide both entertainment
and a call for reflection. Literature - as you wisely - say
should deal with "deep thematic questions". Poetry
should no longer be considered an art form of escape.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
If you were asked to list your five all-time favorite authors,
active before this century, who would they be ... and why?
Which contemporary authors do you personally believe will be
remembered one century from now ... and why?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: This is really a tough question to
answer. T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, George Bernard Shaw, Walt
Whitman, James Joyce- are perhaps the greatest authors the
world has known. The greatest contemporary authors who will
remain immortal one century from now in my humble opinion are:
Adam Donaldson Powell, Albert Russo, AZsacra ZARATHUSTRA, Moshé
Liba, Jan Oskar Hansen, Floriana Hall, Ban'ya Natsuishi,
Sayumi Kamakura and Joseph S. Spence, Sr. The distinctive
quality of these authors is their brilliance and versatile
genius. All these writers avoid "gaudiness and inane
phraseology".
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
And finally, Dr. Kumar, what is your own personal vision for
India as a nation as regards to publishing international
literature? Do you seen Indian publishing houses as
potentially taking the lead in this area, as the economies of
the United States and Europe change in size and prioritized
business sectors?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: I feel that the USA and Japan will
take the lead in publishing international literature. India
might take a lead if our infrastructure including streets,
transportation is improved. Besides, there are starvation
deaths, half of the population is illiterate. Mother Teresa is
unequaled by anyone in her tremendous efforts in India to
improve the conditions of the poor.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Thank you very much Dr. Kumar.
--
Adam Donaldson Powell, 2010
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