Interview with Lucinda Clark - Author and Compiler of "View From the Middle of the Road Vol II"

Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is pleasedis older, has been previously published and is actively
to be joined by Lucinda Clark, who is responsible forworking in the commercial end of the arts. He has a
compiling "View from the Middle of the Road, Volumefamily and supporting them is his primary concern. I
II," PRA Publishing (2006), ISBN 9780972770361, ahave several educational degrees, have worked in
poetry anthology that showcases four Africanresearch and health care, and am married to a
American Poets from the East Coast States. Thephysician. I am also raising teenagers. Our backgrounds
poets write about love, life, and what it is like to bespeak volumes on how our ethnicity comes second to
African American in this country.status as Americans. We are actually having the
Lucinda Clark is the founder of P.R.A. Publishing. She"American" experience. We just happen to be Black.
has worked with visual artists and authors on theTyler: This second volume of "View from the Middle of
promotion and marketing of their creative works forthe Road" is subtitled "U.S. in Us" while the first volume
the past nineteen years. She wrote her first volume ofwas subtitled "where the greenest grass grows."
"View from the Middle of the Road, where theWhat is the difference between these two volumes
greenest grass grows" in 2004. She has published 8of poetry?
other titles by other authors since then. She currentlyLucinda: The subtitles serve two purposes:
resides in Martinez, Georgia with her husband RobertOne is to get the reader to see the artwork on the
and their two children. She is the publisher of twofront cover.
"View from the Middle of the Road" volumes, and oneTwo it shapes the perspective of the poets being
of the poets included in the second volume. She plansshowcased.
to release the next edition in the series next winter.For example, in View I, if you look closely at the cover
Tyler: Thank you, Lucinda, for joining me today. First ofart, walking in Faith by Audrey Crosby, you will see a
all, "View from the Middle of the Road" is one in awoman walking down the middle of the road. There is
series of poetry books. Would you begin by telling us aa tornado and a volcano erupting in the background.
little bit about that series and how it came about?When you read the poems you will see examples of
Lucinda: The View series began as an experiment inexperiences I either viewed experienced or had
my transition from a visual artist agent to publisher ofrelated to me. My perception of each experience
authors. I kept hearing how difficult it is to break intoshifted based on where I was on my journey that we
the business so I wrote and published the first View tocall life. The poems by my children at the end helped
get the total experience first hand. The art you find onme understand that the middle is okay. And that the
each View cover is the way I stay connected to thegrass is never as green as it may look on the other
art world; each new edition will showcase work by aside. We must always keep our eyes forward for that
talented visual artist.is where we will find ourselves.
How the idea for the anthology developed--myIn View II, Toni's artwork speaks to the turbulent times
husband and I started sponsoring an art and writingwe (not just African Americans) find ourselves in.
contest at our children's schools about 8 years ago.America the great "melting pot" is going through an
As the contest grew and queries from poets to beidentity crisis. The culture in America is now statistic
published have come in, we have found that we coulddriven for marketing, research government funding
expand our tribute to poetry platform by changingpurposes and so we are being labeled by ethnicity
"View" into an anthology to expand visibility for all theinstead of what is a common bond for us all; we are
poets out there who may never get the chance toall part of this country. So if you look at the cover art
see their work in print.titled U.S. in US, we as African Americans are part of
Tyler: Lucinda, you are also a poet, but there's a bigthe fabric, which makes up the American flag. No
difference between being an unpublished and amatter how the statistics or past history may label us.
published writer. How has your life changed sinceTyler: I'm very interested in your description of cover
you've published your poetry?art. The old saying is true that a book is judged by its
Lucinda: People are always wondering when will Icover. Will you describe for us the process of
publish my next book or suggesting things I shouldchoosing the cover art? Do you yourself conceive the
write about.idea for the cover art, or do you pick an artist and give
Tyler: Publishing books yourself as opposed to being athem free rein?
published writer also adds a challenge, but probablyLucinda: I am still constantly exposed to art because of
also advantages and insights into the industry. Whatmy time as an art agent. I usually have a concept in
have been the biggest learning curves and alsomind so that the image for the cover just pops out
advantages to you as a publisher and poet?from all the art I am exposed to. We have yet to
Lucinda: I don't really see that much of a differenceselect an artist to create a cover; if we continue, as
between publishing my work and having it published bywe are, who knows?
a bigger publishing concern. This is what most authorsTyler: Lucinda, as the publisher of "View from the
don't understand. A publisher can only put a setMiddle of the Road," why did you decide to publish
amount of time money and PR resources to a givenanthologies, and what are the challenges you face in
project; then they must move on to the next project(s).marketing an anthology?
It is up to the author to keep the title constantly fresh.Lucinda: We have published 8 titles to date. One deals
My biggest learning curve, all the details that must bewith Alzheimer's, another with being an Iranian refugee,
covered pre, during and post release of a title.one as a tribute to African American Daughters, one
Sometimes it can drive you mad!that deals with stages in a woman's life and one
I have found the biggest advantage to being adealing with the transitions from birth to death, a
publisher is the great number of people you get to helpchildren's book about a Hispanic family, and two view
by showcasing literary works along with the programstitles.
we put on to promote what we do.I believe an anthology is easier to market than a single
Tyler: "View from the Middle of the Road, Volume II"poet's title. It takes the same energy to promote one
focuses on four African American Poets from thepoet as it does to showcase many. If one gets heard,
East Coast States. Would you briefly tell us a little bitthen others benefit. Because the anthologies are tied
about each of those poets' works?to our annual contest, I feel we are creating
Lucinda: Each of the poets selected for View II haveawareness, expanding minds and seeding the future of
had some sort of connection with us prior to thethe literary arts.
book's publication. Toni Quest is not only featured in theThe biggest challenge is the statement poetry is hard
book, she is also the artist whose work is on theto sell. My answer: do you have a favorite song? If
cover of the book. I heard Makal read at an annualyou remove the melody from any song, the lyrics if
arts festival here in Augusta; his reading and other self-read alone are poetry. I believe poetry to be one of
published chapbooks were so powerful that wethe remaining higher literary art forms, because you still
selected some of his previous works for this edition.have to put on your thinking cap to create it, perform it
Robert Ward was one of the winners of our contesteffectively and to appreciate it when you read it. That
that we held in 2006. He lives in North Carolina andtakes a lot of imagination.
writes wonderful sci-fi pieces that he is going to haveTyler: Lucinda, when did you first decide or discover
published.that you were a poet?
Tyler: You didn't mention yourself, but I understandLucinda: When I was a teenager I wrote poetry all the
you're the fourth poet included in the volume, andtime. My parents strongly encouraged me to think
consequently from one of the East Coast states.about other ways to make a living. So I stopped writing
Lucinda: I am originally from Philadelphia, PA. I lived andand studied to become a doctor. After a failed
studied in New Orleans where I received both my B.S.attempt in becoming a doctor, I worked with artists and
and Masters degrees from Dillard and Tulaneauthors in Philadelphia. I re-found my writing muse after
Universities respectively. I have written for my sororitymany of the artists I represented encouraged me to
newsletter and the newsletter for my rotary club. I alsofind my artistic voice. The courage to write poetry
have one or two articles I have co-written. I have alsoreturned full force in 2003-2004 for the first View
written lots of promotional material and press releases.book. For example, I would be brushing my teeth and a
I functioned as an artist agent before my leap intopoem would come fully formed into my brain. I find that
publishing.some event or experience triggers my writing.
Tyler: How did you choose which poets to include inTyler: What do you think are the biggest challenges a
the anthology?poet faces publicly, especially compared to novelists or
Lucinda: Our choices were made based on entries andnon-fiction writers?
contact we had available at the time. We now receiveLucinda: This is a great question!
queries from all over the world. So our pool ofHaving the ability to wear many hats in this business I
selection has expanded greatly.would say. If you as the poet can appreciate the fact
Tyler: Did you find similarities among these poetsthat your readers/audience are having at least two
because of the region where they live?types of experiences when they partake in your work.
Lucinda: Not really.One is when they read your work, without you there
Tyler: I know it is difficult to summarize, but what doto share and give background, your work is received in
you feel is the message in these poems about what ita totally different way. Second, when you are reading
is like to be African American in this country?to the audience. The audience can now be fully
Lucinda: Diversity of a culture within a culture is theengaged in all aspects of the creative process. They
best way to describe it. If you take the backgroundsknow exactly what you meant when you wrote it, and
of each poet showcased you will find that beingthey come away enriched because you shared. This
African American is what we all have in common. Icannot be stressed enough.
tried to work for balance by having an equal numberTyler: Thank you for joining me today, Lucinda. Before
represented by gender. Our educational backgrounds,we go, would you tell our readers where they may
social economic status, age, marital status andpurchase a copy of "View from the Middle of the
professional work are as diverse and varied asRoad, Volume II" and where they may go to find out
America. For example, Toni is married to a Jewishmore information on the book and others in the series?
man; she battles daily with Multiple Sclerosis, yet sheLucinda: The book can be purchased online at
teaches art and runs her own art company. Makal,Amazon.com, Barnes and or by visiting our website
who is probably the youngest poet represented, lives inThank you Tyler for having on your program!
urbanized Aiken, S.C. He feels a strong connection toTyler: Thank you, Lucinda. Best of luck with this
youth based ministering and speaks as a single blackanthology and the ones to come.
male living in the modern day south. Robert Ward, who