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Welcome to the interview where
You Ask the Questions! But first a word from the poet, Roger Stevens, himself...

A huge thank you to the following who supplied the questions -
Nicole Braganza, Sally Burns, Jonathan Hayes, Katherine Kirkby,
Samantha Lundy, Lucy Maple, Nikki Plummer,
Kayleigh Priest and Eleanor Reader.

How old are you?

That's rather a personal question, Sally. Let's just say I'm over 50 but not yet 173. By the way - this will be a serious interview.

When you came to our school and we asked you questions a lot of your answers weren't true. For example I don't think you were taught how to write poetry by aliens. Why did you say that?

A writer's job is to make things up. So, yes, I admit it. I wasn't captured by aliens and they didn't teach me how to write poetry. I was just doing what writers do. Making up a story. The real way I learnt how to write poems was by trial and error. I started at school, just like you. I found that I enjoyed telling stories, and playing around with words and with rhythm. And I practised and got better at it. Like everything you do. If you practise you usually get better.

What was the first poem you wrote?

I can't remember the first poem. But when I was at Primary school I wrote a story about a tramp whose clothes were multiplied into rags. The teacher seemed to think was was a very good image and the praise she gave me spurred me on. The first poem I ever had published was this one.

Haiku

When I write haiku
I always seem to have one
syllable left o -

ver

Was it hard to get started being a poet?

No, it wasn't hard. But it took a long time. It was Brian Moses who inspired me, got me started and published my first poem. He came to the school where I was teaching and I thought - Hey, I'd like to do that. So I sent him some poems and he used one in an anthology that he was editing. Then I sent some more poems to publishers and I had one or two more published. And so it went on. It was a few years, though, before my first solo book was published and I was able to stop being a teacher and become a full-time writer.

How many books have you written and what is your favourite?

Well, I've had eleven books published although I've written more than that. My favourites are probably my poetry books - I Did Not Eat the Goldfish and The Monster that Ate the Universe, and my verse-novel for teenagers The Journal of Danny Chaucer (Poet)

Are you going to write a second book on Danny Chaucer? Will it be for older readers? When will it be published?

I have written the second part to Danny Chaucer but it doesn't look like it will be published for some time. When it is I'll let everybody know!

What's the favourite poem that you've written?

I like the haiku one above. My favourite to perform is Louder. My favourite to perform written by someone else is Mr Moore by David Harmer.

Who's your favourite poet?

I have several. My all-time favourite poet is probably Roger McGough. Plus I like Billy Collins, Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy. My favourite children's poet is Allan Ahlberg. My favourite poets of days gone by are Lawrence Ferlinghetti and e.e.cummings. Oh, and I like Bob Dylan and... and... gosh, there are so many brilliant poets!

What book are you reading right now?

I've just finished The Fire Eaters by David Almond. It's brilliant. There's a huge pile of books by my bed. I don't know which one I'm going to read next.

Do poems have to rhyme?

That's a trick question isn't it?
Here's a question for you which I ask all the time.
What's more important - rhythm or rhyme?

If you weren't a poet what would you like to be?

A rock star. With several best-selling albums to my name.

How hard do you find it to write poetry?

Well, it's a tough life. Some mornings I have to get up as early as eleven o'clock. I have to go for walks in the country with Judy or watch TV to get ideas. It's tough. And it can be hard - trying to find exactly the right word to use, or the right rhyme. But then again, there are much tougher jobs! I'm very lucky that my particular talent enables me to do a job that I enjoy.

What's the best thing about being a poet?

I like performing poetry the best. I love visiting schools and libraries and festivals and reading my poems.

Do you enjoy what you do and do you earn a lot of money?

Yes, I love being a writer. Although it isn't actually very well paid. Only writers of best-sellers get a lot of money. But I think that doing a job you really love is much more important than doing a job just because it pays well.

Where do you get your ideas for new poetry from?

There are ideas for poems and stories all around us all the time. You just have to be on the look out for them. When I have an idea I write it in my notebook which I carry around all the time. I jot down things I see or hear. This morning a baby bird tried to fly through the glass of the greenhouse. I wrote -

How the other birds laughed when the fledgling flew into the greenhouse glass.
Remember when we did that? they say and sigh. Time - why does it go by so fast?

Well, it's not quite a poem yet. But it might be one day.

How are Scampi and Judy and did Judy really write a poem?

Alas, Scampi is no longer with us. He went to that big Cat Sanctuary in the Sky. Judy is very well, though, and sends her love. And yes, she did write a poem. In fact she's written several.

Since this interview was published Judy, who was very old, has died. She was a very clever dog. This interview is dedicated to her.

Thanks to everyone who sent me questions. Bye for now...

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roger