Suse MacGillivray
This is Suse’s first book of poetry. It follows her ancestors from Islay in Scotland to Aotearoa. She lives on the outskirts of Levin and co owns a cafe in Porirua. She has previously published in Landing Press in the Anthology Now and Then 2024.
Do you try more to be original, or to deliver to readers what they want?
I try to write poems that will resonate with others. I like to observe the little things and love it when my readers connect with the poems and find joy, humour and tenderness in them. I see the world through poetry and am always thinking of how I could write about it.
What is it about your chosen genre that you love?
Poetry is my love. Some influences are Mary Oliver, Seamus Heaney, Andrea Gibson, Joy Harjo, Patti smith, Tusiata Avia, and Maya Angelou.
What was the first book that made you cry?
Reading Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou deeply affected me.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I would like to have the space to write every day . Not be thinking about rosters, orders and cafe things. But always think about food…
Are there any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? Can you tell us one? Or give us any hints?
I write about my observations which can be very personal and expose a vulnerability. It is an anathema to me that I keep things very close to my chest yet write about them for others to read about.
How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
Writing my first book was exhilarating. It was self published with help from my kids. They edited, designed and brought it to life. It is published by Three White Camellias.
I learned so many things about pulling it all together. Now I just have to ensure that I don’t have boxes of books under the bed.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Another one on the go.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Waiting for these!