Antuan Rene Simmons Antuan CD

(The information has been updated, but it stays trueto the original interview.)Antuan SimmonsStatsAge 34Published first book "The Phoenix's Dying Light" and second book "The Crab Syndrome" and two C.D's "A Poetic Journey" and "Antuan Live"Interview with the Poet Antuan Rene Simmons Email- goodpoetry29@yahoo.com Interview was taken by Nadia Sykes who was a representativefor KCCU radio station in downtown Wichita Falls. Antuan Rene' Simmons Poet Where did you go to school? K-3 Kate Burgess, 3-8 City View, 9-12 Hirschi 1. How did you get interested in poetry? I was trying to reach my spiritual side about 20. I guess most young people live there twenties trying to find out who they are. I guess there was a lot of questions I was asking. Should I go to church, hang out with buddies, date a lot of women, or help out with communion? Whether to pop in Too short (rapper) or play Anointed (religious group) in the C.D. I guess I was trying to figure out where I was in all this. So I started a journal-diary called Dear God. To ask daily questions to the Lord. That was my first time I started writing on my own. 2. Who are your influences with your regard to poetry? I always like the old poets. When every other line rhymed. Each line you try to cram full of imagination. I called them life poems, because they talked about life. Ecclesiastes, proverbs, and psalms are great examples. As far as writers. Writers like Omar Tyree, Michael Baisden, and E.Lynn Harris influenced me. I followed their marketing strategies. Going on the radio, driving city to city with the books in the trunk of my car. Trying to promote the book. 3. How long did you take to write your book? 3 long yrs. I was working at Wal-Mart and every weekend I would write down some pages. Spent most of my time at the library. 4. What inspired you to self publish. Thought I could make money right away. In which I did but not as much. Learned it takes more that a notion. I am in my late twenties (now early 30s) so I was ready for some adventure. The Last Hurrah or the beginning of a Hurrah. I doubled my initial investment in 6 mos time. I thought for a book of poetry that was good. 5. What do you feel you have to contribute to the world of poetry? Try to give what I like to read. I like books that are encouraging inspirational, but is also real. Not sugarcoat and tell things how they are. So I try and give that. I hope those who read my book feel entertained, not as in TV shows, but trying to understand life. A writer who gives his tid-bit of knowledge. 6. What inspired you to self-publish? I guess the challenge. I heard so many times you should write a book, youre so talented. I thought it was going to be easy. Just throw some paper and words together and thats it. I found it to be a lot harder than I expected. 7. What do you feel you have to contribute to the world of poetry? I hope inspiration and wisdom. Story telling that can give the reader a deeper insight on life. All the things I like about writing. Try to have a conversation with the reader. Write to try and touch him/her not because I am trying to make a dollar. 8. What are your plans for writing? I hope to write for the rest of my life. Currently I am committed to two more books of poetry. 9. What are your plans for another book? I hope to have one out by next spring. 10. What are you currently working on? I am currently working on my 2nd (Completed the 2nd book, "The Crab Syndrome") book of poetry. It is basically my outlook of the world. Just a book on who we are as a people. 11. Tell me a little about your background/family/growing up? I came from an educational family, a father who has a masters degree from the University of North Texas, a mother who holds bachelors degree from Southern University A&M at Baton Rouge,