Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello Jennifer,
My name is Matthew Johnson, and I am a poet, editor, and publisher. I am the author of two books, and I am working on/shopping around another full collection, as well as a chapbook collection. My second poetry collection, “Far from New York State,” was released in March of this year by New York Quarterly Press. I formerly worked in the field of sports journalism as a reporter and editor (The Daily Star in Oneonta, NY; The USA Today College). Besides my own work, I am also an editor at the literary magazine, The Twin Bill, and I am the managing editor of, Portrait of New England. My work has appeared in journals such as, The Maryland Literary Review, The Northern New England Review, and The Roanoke Review. I am a three-time Best of the Net nominee, and I have served as a Writing Fellow for Sundress Publications.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest collection, published in March of 2023, is titled, “Far from New York State.” This poetry collection was inspired by my personal experiences as a resident of my home state. I am originally from New Rochelle, NY, grew up in Stratford, CT, and have lived in North Carolina for about 13 years now, though these would be non-consecutive years, as I shortly worked in journalism in Upstate New York. My collection was also inspired by the writings, music, sports, and culture of New York. From the works of the Harlem Renaissance writers and Washington Irving, to hip-hop, jazz, and folk, and to teams like the Yankees and Giants, my collection was inspired by the art and culture which sprang out from that part of the country, from Upstate, to Downstate, and to the City.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual writing habits; Hmmm…I imagine one habit of mine that makes me unique is that I typically lie down on the floor to write and that I begin each day with either a run or a walk. If I am walking, I’ll typically listen to songs of Spirituals or Jazz Standards and Folk.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Harlem Renaissance writers have been the most significant influence in my career. From the jazz forms of Langston Hughes, to the British Romantic style of Countee Cullen, to the exploration of place and region in the works of Jean Toomer and Zora Neale Hurston, and many others in that era, those would be the writers who most influenced me. Additional influences would be the works of Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, and Washington Irving, as well as the research and journalism of Ida B. Wells, the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and the stories of John Steinbeck. Modern influences would include Kevin Young, Sonia Sanchez, and Yusef Komunyakaa.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a baseball-themed poetry manuscript, which explores ideas of race, region, music, and art around the game, as well as a chapbook centered on similar themes about the sport of boxing.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found that the best method for me has been social media, specifically Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. While I have my own personal website where my information and published poems are parked, interaction with others, I have found, to be the greatest way to promote my work and books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
One piece of advice I routinely tell new authors is to read the work of others. If an aspiring jazz musician never listened to jazz, or an aspiring baseball player never watched a baseball game, they would most likely not be successful in their craft. Writers need to be exposed to writing for a variety of reasons: to learn and see new ideas, to actually see the structure and development of a poem/fiction piece, it provides inspiration for your own work, and it also lets you see what the audience/market may enjoy and may not enjoy.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I am sure it’s a piece of advice that is well-known, but the idea of not letting the fear of failure stop you from pursuing your goals is something that has really stuck with me. Rarely do people strike gold on their first attempt, so it’s important to be resilient against the doubts that may come up during the trial-and-error period, and understand the importance of patience, practice and repetition.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading, “Making our Future: Visionary Folklore & Everyday Culture in Appalachia,” by Emily Hilliard.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently working on the next issues of the literary magazines I am a part of, which are both due out in the coming weeks. Following that, I hope to continue editing my own poems and submitting them to literary magazines.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh, that’s a tough one, and I feel like my answer varies by the day. Today, it’s Jean Toomer’s “Cane.” Tomorrow, it may be, Ellie Wiesel’s, “Night,” or Dante’s Divine Comedy, or The Autobiography of Malcolm X, or Macbeth by William Shakespeare or The Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexander Dumas.
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