John Hoag has been a member of the Writers’ League for four years and is attending the 2015 Summer Writing Retreat in Alpine. He lives in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
John Hoag: Mostly I have been writing poetry. Of late, I have renewed interest in telling stories and describing events and people from the time when I was growing up in a small farming community on California’s central coast.
Scribe: What authors would you like to have coffee or a beer with and which beverage?
JH: Billy Collins is my favorite poet, hands down. Depending on the mood of the day, it would be plain black coffee or a glass of chardonnay. I also would love to hang out with singer-songwriter and jazz pianist Dave Frishberg, whose musicianship and creative wit bring together good music and writing in a very approachable, penetrating way.
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
JH: Maybe a good book on astronomy and related mythology. A deserted island suggests the opportunity to see the heavens in a way we rarely get to these days.
Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?
JH: The League has far more resources available than I first realized. You hear a lot about the solitary life of the writer. With this group, you are never alone, except by choice.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
JH: I find myself re-living in my mind many life experiences, and I would like to make some sense of them by capturing their essence and whatever life lessons might be revealed as a result of creating these “word pictures,” employing satire, humor and a large dose of humility.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
JH: You know, we all come in various sizes and shapes. In the creative sense, we have the opportunity to mold the written word to present our own unique perspective on the human condition. If I can do this in a way that brings a smile to someone’s face and perhaps a new understanding, I am very happy.
To register for the 2015 Summer Writing Retreat, click here.
