Author Interview with Adam Levon Brown “Musings of a Madman”

By Raja's Insight on September 6, 2015 • ( 2 )

Introducing Author Adam Levon Brown

Adam Levon Brown is a poet and author residing in Eugene, Oregon. He has one published poetry book out, Musings of a Madman, which is a collection of poems made to enlighten and inspire the reader. Adam attributes his love of poetry to the many great poets he discovered in the school library during his formative years. He is currently a student at the University of Oregon, pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. He is a straight A student with a 3.75 GPA. He enjoys listening to political hip hop music and is a political activist himself. It is with great honor that we introduce Author Adam Levon Brown to you.

Creative Talents Unleashed: Hi Adam, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Adam: Thank you for having me. Glad to be here.

Creative Talents Unleashed: Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Adam: I am an only child, a university student, and an activist. I attend the University of Oregon and in the third year of my bachelor’s degree as an English literature major. I was born and reside in Eugene, Oregon where I organize online as an environmental and social activist. Politically, I’m an anarchist and an intersectional feminist. I am an avid listener and lover of rap/hip hop, and I enjoy writing poetry and fiction, as well as playing with my two kittens, Oreo and Grey.

Creative Talents Unleashed: So when did you fall in love with poetry or writing in general, when did you decide this life was for you? Tell us a bit about that discovery process.

Adam: I guess when I first discovered it was when I was read Edgar Allan Poe by a 6th grade teacher. I started writing poetry last year at the advice of my therapist. I fell in love with the very first poem I wrote, “Star Stuff.” Writing it made me feel elated and powerful. I guess that’s the moment I knew that this was the life for me. From there I started writing one to two poems a day until I had well over one hundred saved on a Microsoft Word document. I had a leisurely thought, “Hey, this looks like a poetry book.” I didn’t think about it again for a week. Then I started thinking serious thoughts about it. I put the book together after that. I was determined to find a publisher.

Creative Talents Unleashed: Why do you write, what is it that you’re trying to communicate through your work?

Adam: I write because I am human. I write to inspire and share my innermost thoughts and feelings. I also write to convey political messages to rally people around causes that I care about. That’s the activist part of me showing. I am trying to communicate pain in some of my poems as well. Writing about pain brings me to a sort of emotional release.

Creative Talents Unleashed: Where does your inspiration come from, what might inspire you at any moment to write a story or poem?

Adam: I get inspiration from everything. From advertisements to a woman passing on the sidewalk. Anything that sparks deep feeling or thought.

Creative Talents Unleashed: What was the hardest thing about writing your book?

Adam: Honestly, deciding which poem went where in the book.

Creative Talents Unleashed: What was the easiest thing about writing your book?

Adam: The writing itself. I had an easy time expressing myself in my poems.

Creative Talents Unleashed: There are many authors who say that in the process of writing a book you learn things about yourself. Did you learn anything in your book writing process about yourself, if so what?

Adam: I learned that I have a lot to say. Once I started writing, I realized that I have a lot of pent up emotions inside of me. Writing has been great therapy for me, helping me to release these emotions.

Creative Talents Unleashed: What in your view is the role or responsibility of a writer or poet, if there is any?

Adam: I believe that the poet has two responsibilities. Number one is to bare their soul for everyone to see, allowing a real connection between poet and reader, resulting in emotional gain. The second responsibility of the poet, is to teach with words. Readers will learn from your poems if you’re willing to teach.

Creative Talents Unleashed: What are your ambitions as a writer, where do you hope to see yourself in say 5 years?

Adam: I hope to improve in my writing by getting into and completing an MFA creative writing degree. I also want to publish several more books, both poetry and fiction. I want to win more contests, become published in more magazines and anthologies, and winning some kind of award would be nice. My highest aspiration as a poet is to receive an award. If I can get some kind of award in the next 5 years, that would be great.

Creative Talents Unleashed: Who is your favorite writer or poet? Perhaps you have a favorite quote from them that you would like to share.

Adam: I have several favorite poets, including Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, and W.B. Yeats. My favorite non-poet writer is Charles Dickens. My favorite quote is by Dickens as it seems to sum up my life, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Creative Talents Unleashed: What advice would you give to aspiring writers who have dreams of publishing or making writing a career choice?

Adam: My advice is to put your time in. Nothing happens overnight, and everything takes time, writing even more so. Don’t rush it.

A poem from his book Musings of a Madman

Bird Song

I let no religion define me
No government confine me
No borders deny me.

I am free.

As a free person,
I am entitled to my free thoughts.
I let these thoughts carry me beyond all of these
man-made restrictions.

I see beyond the black and the white.
I was meant for more than to die for a nation.
I will not bow to a God; I do not believe in.

I will not worship the borders
that were decided by horrific war.
I am an Earthling, first and foremost.

As an Earthling,
I am responsible for the health of the earth.
I live simply so others may simply live.

I believe in the goodness and in the intellect of humankind to throw off these rust laden chains of self-destruction.
We can all achieve greatness, this is true.

It comes one day at a time. . . Believe.

Preface . . .

Some say that Madness is linked directly to creativity. I don’t know about that, but I can tell you one thing, I am definitely mad. I chose these 55 poems to entice and teach people just what a maddened mind can create. When you’re reading my poetry you are stepping into the mouth of madness itself. I hope you enjoy the ride…

Now Available at the following Retailers:

http://www.ctupublishinggroup.com/adam-levon-brown-.html

http://www.amazon.com/Musings-Madman-Adam-Levon-Brown/dp/0996147667