Tony Burnett has been a member of the Writers’ League since 2011 and serves on the Board of Directors. He lives in Davilla, TX.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
Tony Burnett: I spent over 20 years as a singer-songwriter during which time I wrote over one hundred songs; some have won awards. In nonfiction, I write feature articles and shorter pieces on the topics of green building, organic gardening, nutrition and food web law. I’ve had poetry published in several national and Texas-based literary journals. I also write short stories and have nearly completed the first draft of my second novel.
Scribe: What authors would you like to have coffee or a beer with and which beverage?
TB: I’d like to have a domestic IPA and deep dish pizza with Owen Egerton while watching B movies and chatting about dark humor. I’d like to go wildcrafting with Barbara Kingsolver until we had enough for a salad. We’d share that while drinking a cold pitcher of hibiscus/mint tea. And last, for obvious reasons, I’d go barhopping with Tom Robbins. I’d have whatever he was having.
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
TB: I’d like to have my personal copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. When my kids were growing up we read to each other out of it and acted out the plays. We also used the huge volume to press flowers. It might give me a tenuous grip on reality and a reason to survive.
Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?
TB: Like any organization with a primary focus on education, you get out of it what you put into it. I credit the League for most of the success I’ve had as a writer. WLT is the place where you can get an MFA quality education for a fraction of the cost. It’s also great to have a close knit community of very interesting people to hang out with.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
TB: In a perfect world, the New York Times bestseller list. In all reality, I’ll keep writing, keep improving, keep attending classes and keep getting better. The resources are there and I’ll continue to use them.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
TB: In 2014 I formed Kallisto Gaia Press, not only to independently publish some of my work but also to assist authors and artists with regional and multimedia publications. Southern Gentlemen, my recently released collection of short stories has been receiving some very encouraging reviews. It’s available in print and digital formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd and all the “device” related digital publishers. In April I’ll be releasing The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels in hardcover only. It’s a collection of my poetry paired with the art of several visual artists. This signed and numbered limited-edition will also include a previously unreleased CD of four studio recorded songs and a 20 minute excerpt from a live performance recorded at the now defunct Cubita Café.
