Donna Parkinson
ISBN: 9781906439439
Mad Jock Publishers
Reviewed By Wendy Paulson
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
D’Personally Yours..., the third collection of poetry by Donna Parkinson, is a full-bodied display of an artist at the absolute peak of her creative powers. Ranging from the simple to the profound to the amusing to the heart-rending, each of the pieces in Parkinson’s opus has the singular ability to stir up a sea of emotions within the reader, and the overall collection is a powerful testament to a formidable literary talent that is here to stay.
D’Personally Yours... is broken up into two sections: “Sonic Tonic,” which touches on a wide range of issues taken straight from the pages of everyday life, and “From The Inside Out,” which delves deeply into the innermost regions of the heart, exposing the all-too-familiar feelings and emotions that we all wrestle with from day to day. The likes of what readers can expect in the “Sonic Tonic” section is best reflected in this passage from “You can’t just sit there”:
“But you can’t just sit there,
pretending not to care.
We all have our crosses to bear,
‘Though some of us take things too far.
It’s just how we are.
It takes all kinds you know!
To make the world turn
we all need to learn,
that we can’t just sit there,
It’s time to care.”
And in this passage from “It’s simple”:
“Simple things please simple minds.
The meaning of life is revealed as the story unwinds.
Just go with the flow,
enlighten that, which you didn’t know.
Stay the course,
let go of remorse.
Free your soul,
make yourself whole.”
While both passages address significantly different aspects of life, Parkinson’s insightful approach to each one easily draws the reader into the greater overall poetic context within which she successfully frames them.
And for a succulent taste of “From The Inside Out,” simply peruse this passage from the eponymous title poem that leads off the section:
“But I belong
to a long
line of sufferers;
bad news discoverers.
I seem to pursue,
misery and pain.
clouds and rain,
are always surrounding.
Doubt is resounding,
from the inside out,
yet I am devout,
in my decision.
There is no provision,
for me to fail,
I must prevail!”
With her first two offerings, A Different Perspective and New Beginnings On The Endz, laying the roots, D’Personally Yours... has now given Donna Parkinson the wings that she needs to ascend into the stratosphere of the poetic elite. Her outstanding new collection is a refreshing, entertaining, enlightening addition to the literary world, and one that lovers of truly compelling poetry will surely embrace and appreciate.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Donna Parkinson (D'Personally Yours)
Apex Reviews: Donna, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking
forward to learning more about your book.
Donna
Parkinson: Hello, and many thanks for having me here again.
AR: The pieces in the collection cover a wide range of topics and issues that
we all encounter in some way in everyday life. How did you ultimately decide
upon which ones you would include in the book?
DP:
This time I actually wrote the majority of the poems for the book and added
pieces that I had written before that I felt fit in with either the ‘sonic
tonic’ or ‘from the inside out’ theme. I
came up with the title sometime back and the headlines of each section and just
took it from there really.
AR: Where does your poetic inspiration come from?
DP: Well, from anywhere and everywhere, since I have started writing everything inspires me, TV programmes, overheard conversations, songs and all sorts of things. Everyday life inspires me; the people around me play a huge part in my writing.
Angela Edgar, as you know, is a fantastic writer and a wonderfully supportive friend who inspires me so very often. My family are a constant source of motivation, especially my daughter. My colleagues often encourage me to write at lunchtime and are always so keen to get involved in choosing themes and titles.
The
people on My Space are also an unstoppable fountain of inspiration...David, Bob
and Norm are 3 special friends that I have found on MySpace who have inspired
me so many times to write, in so many different ways. It’s amazing what
inspiration you can draw from others.
AR: Dare we ask...what inspired you to compose the piece "My vaginal
animal"?
DP: Oh, that was penned during one of our Lunchtime ‘suggestions for poetry’ sessions, Nikhil Rathore, a very very funny guy, decided it would be an amusing title and so, as ever, I rose to the challenge. Once it was finished everyone thought it was hilarious and they decided that it just had to go in the book. Sonic tonic was always meant to be uplifting and therapeutic and what better therapy than a good old laugh, eh?
AR: Is it difficult for you to summon the turbulent emotions necessary to write poems about pain and heartbreak?
DP: Not really, to be honest, I am a very straight forward, to the point, kind of person and I have had my fair share of pain and heartbreak over the years but I figured that many people have experienced those emotions too and so sharing might be a way of showing others that they are not alone.
AR: What are some of your favourite topics to write about?
DP:
That’s easy, Gun and knife crime, peer pressure, gang life and those sorts of
topics. In fact, the complete spectrum of social behaviour, those issues, that
our younger generation face on a day to basis. That is where my poetic heart
really lies; in raising awareness and trying to curb the urban violence that
plays such a prominent role in our day to day lives.
AR: For those who don't know, please share more with us about precisely who
"D'Persona" is.
DP: D’Persona is an ordinary 40 year old working mum who just loves to write. She is a woman driven by determination to one day make a difference.
AR: Are things still going well for you with your publisher, Mad Jock Publishers?
DP: Ha ha, you could say that… I bought Mad Jock in February and now I am the publisher!!! The owner Rols Sperling had commitments that meant he couldn’t devote the time necessary to keep the business going and so we talked and I bought the company.
AR: All three of your poetic collections have generated considerable positive buzz. Is there a fourth collection on the horizon?
DP: Now, if you had asked me this 2 weeks ago I would have said no, but I have been trying out a new style of poetry Inspired by a very talented writer and Rapper called David Cardenas ( A.K.A. D-Cipher) from MySpace….Yes, believe it or not I have been writing rap lyrics Lol and loving it too I might add.. So I have been thinking that since my heart lies in raising gun and knife crime awareness with the younger generation and since the younger generation seem to love Rap, what better way to reach them than through a medium they already feel a connection to. It’s all just an idea at the moment but I would perhaps like to put out a conscious collaboration with other poets and rappers etc about the dangers of gang culture, carrying weapons, drugs, peer pressure etc. So you will just have to watch this space.
AR: Your writing style is quite unique and innovative. Who have been some of your chief poetic influences?
DP: Wow, I’m at risk of sounding conceited here, but I have no poetic style influences other than myself, as I tend to just write what I feel. As I said before, people definitely inspire me to write with a topic or a title but what flows, is what flows, I don’t get hung up on syllable counts and technical expertise; I am more interested in the message. I never started out with a particular style of writing in my mind but many people comment on my ‘style’ but it’s not an intentional approach, I really just start writing and see where it takes me. Often I don’t even know where it’s going ‘til its there!!!
AR: What advice would you give to aspiring poets and spoken word artists seeking to get their works in print?
DP: That’s simple - check out Mad Jock!! www.madjockpublishers.com.
AR: How can our readers keep up with all your latest activities?
DP: Through the Mad Jock website for publishing developments and through MySpace, Authors den, United World Poets and Poets inkwell for my personal poetic developments.
AR: Also, how can they contact you directly?
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
DP:
Yes, I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me so far and I hope to keep
delivering what you want to read.
AR: Thanks again, Donna, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
DP: Many thanks; I’ll keep you posted on any developments.