Friday, February 3, 2012

Welcome Catherine Evans Latta, Author of Beirut Summer



Please help me welcome friend and fellow author, Catherine Evans Latta! I adore her and she's a very fine writer.
Beirut Summer, a heartfelt and stirring book of poetry, is a book I tend to leave out on the coffee table as an offering for anyone to pick up and read. It's easy to become immersed in, and you find yourself going from poem to poem again and again! For more about this wonderful book and this fascinating woman, visit her website at http://catherineevanslatta.com/

Let's get to know Catherine a little better with her answers to the interview!

1. What is your favorite book? No one favorite

2. Who is your favorite writer? Scott Turow

3. If the answers to 1 & 2 are different, why? I read a lot

4. How old were you when you were first published? Not counting school,: 43

5. What writing style do you most abhor? Introspective self examination

6. What is your favorite writing clichĂ©? Don’t Know

7. What is your favorite word? Just no favorite, but one’s I just try to avoid – like “just”

8. When and how do you write? (typewriter, Mac, in a café, for four hours each morning, etc?) PC 4hrs mid morning to afternoon

9. What is your greatest fear when you first turn in a manuscript? Typos and overused words

10. In what era do you wish you’d been born? I’m happy with this one

11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? JUST EVEN

12. Which talent would you most like to have? Artistic

13. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting poetry published

14. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? No one in particular –read too many books

15. How would you like to die? Old and suddenly!

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See below for a sample of Catherine's stunning poetry:



Driving at Noon 4/7/08
heat waves are rising from the road
drawing the snakes from their winter pits
calling them--come lie with me
follow my curves to linger in my heat
and lie on my black bed.
Let your tongues flicker and play
across the pungent scents rising
from me— find bliss, ecstasy
and ease your ribs upon my back.
Forget the wheel that
brings a writhing climax.
Heady as the snakes longing
for heat in June, I am drawn
to you to twine myself and roll
as the curves of passion coil
down on us to the last
inevitable shudder.

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Thanks for dropping by, Catherine! Once again, here's the link to Catherine's website http://catherineevanslatta.com/

6 comments:

Pat Dale said...

Wow, some poem. Sensual and icky all rolled up together. I hate snakes, but can't escape the symmetry of Catherine's words.
She's also a lady of few words, like most poets I know.
It's good to learn about you, Catherine. Thanks for sharing with us.
PD

Unknown said...

Wow Heather, after your month-long tour, your generosity in opening your blog again to us is very gracious, just like you.

Thank you for introducing Catherine and her poetry. The poem is a bit stark yet sensual. Thank you for sharing.

Heather Haven said...

When you read Catherine's book of poems, and realize she was trying to keep her husband and two young children safe and together that summer in Beirut, it becomes all the more moving. Thanks so much, Karen and Dale, for dropping by!

gail roughton branan said...

Beautiful imagery. (Don't let Ro Dowell read it though. Any mention of "snake" and she's up all night.) So nice to meet you Catherine.

Wendy said...

Crisp concise and captivating. I see sensual snakes slithering. So much imagery, tension and emotion. So nice to meet poet Catherine. Thanks for introducing Catherine, Heather.

hotcha12 said...

HI CATHERINE AND THANKS FOR COMING AND SHARING!!

lindarb49@hotmail.com