Britain comes to UmatillaKay DayI agreed, along with a dozen or so of my fellow writers, all members of the Florida Writers Association, to do a book-signing event at a large Jacksonville mall in January, 2003. A friend of mine told me David Taub would be there. The first surprise came when she also told me he lives in Umatilla, Florida. I had no idea. I’d never met David, but I was already familiar with his articles for Poetry Now Magazine, Great Britain’s largest print magazine devoted to poetry. The magazine also plans to incorporate other genres, and it tends to encompass different styles of writing. David’s other writing credits fill several pages, and he’s been interviewed by dozens of correspondents in different media. David is one of three poets in the book he was signing at the mall, Language of Souls. I’m not sure why, but I figured David would be anything but the David I met. I pictured him as an older, conservative, slightly stodgy Brit. The stereotype I’d created dissolved seconds after I met him in person. David Taub, journalist and author of articles for the likes of BBC Wildlife Magazine, is outspoken, lively, and intense. In addition, he’s married to one of the most interesting writers I’ve ever read, k.t. Frankovich. If you don’t believe me, read her autobiography, Where Heavens Meet. I read the book straight through. It’s full of twists, turns, surprises and expose-all delivered in professional, straightforward style that urges the reader to believe the incredible. Ms. Frankovich-of the Hollywood Frankovich clan-has also enjoyed a distinguished film career which earned her accolades and a special presentation to the Queen of England. She’s read her poetry to an American president, and has traveled the world while working on film projects with cinematographers who worked on the James Bond movies and films for National Geographic. David and I became friends, and we encountered each other at a number of book-signings. One of the things we quite naturally like to talk about is poetry. Because we both have a poetry book, favorite topics include how to sell that book and how to write good poetry. A chief aim we both share involves how to sell more poetry books. Language of Souls also includes poetry by k.t. Frankovich and Ruth Solomon. That alone gave the book an excellent foundation-three talented poets, each with an established audience. David notes, “It was wholly independently contracted and published. I believe less than 1% of poetry books, and I include chapbooks with or without ISBN, are independently published. And of those, nearly all are university/academic press published.” Here’s the asset I find most amazing. Each poet was paid an advance royalty. A comparative statistic to that might be the frequency of snow in Florida. In addition, the book is hardcover and beautifully illustrated. “Add to that,” says David, “a gloss cover and sewn-in silk bookmark!” The Florida Writers Association was impressed with the book. Language of Souls won the Best Book of the Year Award for 2002, and that award selects a winner from all genres submitted. The same organization, with about 500 members in one of the largest states in the United States, also named the book Best Poetry Book for that year. Considering two coveted awards and a publishing contract most poets can only daydream about, what comes as a surprise is David’s frustration with this very beautiful book, a book that is by all standards, quite successful, having sold over 1,000 copies in over a dozen countries. “With all the unique aspects of LOS, I had expected some sort of reasonable impact-at the very least within the ‘poetry circles,’” he explains. He also believes the FWA didn’t offer the book the attention he believes it deserves, having officially been selected as the best, not just once but twice. As David shared his feelings with me about his own book, I reflected on books by noteworthy poets. I thought of one of my favorite poets, a multiple award winner who is widely published, with several books to her name. Recently, when I tried to find a copy of her book published by a highly respected press, I expended almost two hours before being able to track down a means of purchasing the book. This has happened more times than I care to admit. I recently listened to Steve Wasserman, Book Review Editor for the L. A. Times, as he participated in a panel discussion at the Los Angeles Book Expo. He mentioned that his predecessor had quit doing poetry reviews, on the basis that poetry doesn’t sell. In my own opinion, poetry doesn’t sell because it isn’t widely available. Go to any bookstore, even an independent. A poetry section usually consists of one stand-alone display, back and front if you’re lucky. Often, it’s not possible to find some of the finest poets writing in the English language, unless those poets have been put in a grave. Any poet with a book quickly learns one thing. He or she has to push the book, regardless of who published it and how widely the poet has been published. “Poetry, “ says David, “like any other writing, needs marketing and promotion as much as it needs exposure, another subject I have written about repeatedly. If anyone considers writing poetry purely as a commercial venture, he will be in for a huge disappointment.” I asked his opinion of the latest incarnation of poetry’s death, a pronouncement by Bruce Wexler in Newsweek magazine. Wexler confesses he doesn’t read much poetry, and turns to television and the Internet for entertainment. “I can't comment on the article in respect of not having read it,” David responds, “BUT if the thrust is that Poetry is 'dead' and is of little or no interest, I think it's more the case that the average person sees little or no relevance to themselves in regards to general 'contemporary poetry'. “ He notes a letter he read in a British newspaper years ago, one he likes to cite when he speaks at events. Written by a gentleman named John Fletcher, the letter appeared in the Observer, in March, 1998. Part of it read: "Surely it is not the public which has deserted good poetry, but poets who have deserted the public.. often state-subsidized poets have developed an arcane and theoretical style and subject matter relating to no one outside their own closed world." David agrees with this position, but says, “There is still tremendous interest in poetry among the general public, as opposed to academic/intellectual circles. I think that a great deal of writing churned out in the guise of poetry is simply not turning on the average reader. I think it is particularly difficult to find much contemporary poetry which is of interest to the general public. I think the majority of poetry these days simply does not strike a chord, and is not memorable for the average reader.” David’s not just an activist on behalf of poetry. He’s also interested in environmental causes, having just finished the BBC story, in light of recent legislation signed by Governor Jeb Bush that he believes will be harmful to Florida’s Everglades. Although he’s an ocean away from his native land, he feels a strong kinship with the small town of Umatilla, where he and k.t. now live. “From an aesthetic point of view,” he notes, “it is a truly beautiful and inspirational part of the world-the Ocala National Forest. Paradoxically, it is a frustrating and isolating place to be in terms of next to zero literary or poetry scene-not a place to be if one wants to be involved with or develop such events and activities.” He adds that he has a passion, an “obsessive passion” for trees. “A number of my poems reflect that,” he says, pointing to the work, “If Trees.” He says in Umatilla he’s “engulfed” in trees. His wife, k.t., is drawn to the wildlife, long one of her interests, in addition to her work on behalf of the poor. “The poverty in our area,” he says, “is stark and grim.” David plans to continue touring on behalf of Language of Souls, writing his regular magazine column, and doing other freelance work. He makes regular trips to Northeast Florida, where there is an active and vibrant literary scene. He has two events scheduled for mid-July in Jacksonville, one an appearance at an event for Primerica/Citigroup July 17(Primerica Building, 9625 Hood Road, 7 p.m.) and an appearance at the Barnes and Noble on San Jose Boulevard July 19(2 p.m.). He seems content with living in an area some describe as one of the most beautiful in Florida, population 2,500. Many of David’s better known works were written in Norfolk, in his native country. He sums up a goal for his work that other poets share. “If any of my poetry attracts a reader who would not otherwise read poetry,” he muses, “I consider that a far greater achievement than attracting favor from a thousand poets.”
http://www.ukpoet.cjb.net/
http://www.kt.cjb.net/
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Kay Day