Michael Randolph is a horror author, poet, and editor currently living in San Antonio Texas. He is the owner-operator of Eldritch Press. He is a U.S. Army Veteran of Desert Storm/Shield where he first witnessed the true horrors of the world. A navy brat, he travelled to many countries throughout his childhood and still travels sometimes more than he likes. He’s a certified Gemologist and has spent nearly twenty-five years in the aviation field, mostly in military defense as an airplane/helicopter structures mechanic.
I’m incredibly grateful that Michael took some time from his busy schedule to talk to the HWA Poetry Page about the current state of dark/horror poetry.
HWA: Where do you see the state of poetry in the horror genre today?
MR: Poetry has always taken a backseat to the other forms of literature, but I have seen poetry take a surge these last couple of years in the market. Horror poetry, or as I prefer to call it “Dark Poetry” is a definite subgenre though the form is beginning to become more accepted in the mainstream literary corners. In all, I believe Dark Poetry is healthy, though a still ailing form of literature.
HWA: Where do you see it going in the future?
MR: Honestly in a lot of ways that is up to us. We need to bring back the excitement and draw of poetry. All literature has its ups and downs. The market is a cruel mistress at times, yet I see Dark Poetry becoming more of a mainstay in literature.
HWA: As an Editor, what are you looking for?
MR: First and foremost, I like originality in the form. I like a poem the reader can live through, which means I like meanings and stories interwoven inside a poem. Maybe that comes from my love of the greats that preceded us, but I look at the substance when I read a poem before anything else. I like experimental and unconventional forms and also at times lean toward the classic forms and look for structured poetry. I am not a big fan of rhyming schemes in dark poetry but think that just employing free verse is a disservice to yourself and your art.
Currently at Eldritch Press we are running a contest that was strictly created to find new poets. Voices that have not been heard before. While we have and continue to publish award winning authors, one of the most important aspects we all look for is that unknown voice that has the quality of voice to be the next great.
Not just that, but I go out and seek out people in the music and film industry. Rocky once said to me that most of the accomplished lyricists started out as poets but moved on because of the lack of monetary gain. That is a very true statement. As an editor and a publisher I am proactive in looking for poets and know a lot of those type of folks, so naturally I tend to look in that direction.
HWA: As a poet, would you be willing to share a poem or two?
Interview with Poet Michael Randolph
2015-08-05 19:40:53
Michael Randolph is a horror author, poet, and editor currently living in San Antonio Texas. He is the owner-operator of Eldritch Press. He is a U.S. Army Veteran of Desert Storm/Shield where he first witnessed the true horrors of the world. A navy brat, he travelled to many countries throughout his childhood and still travels sometimes more than he likes. He’s a certified Gemologist and has spent nearly twenty-five years in the aviation field, mostly in military defense as an airplane/helicopter structures mechanic.
I’m incredibly grateful that Michael took some time from his busy schedule to talk to the HWA Poetry Page about the current state of dark/horror poetry.
HWA: Where do you see the state of poetry in the horror genre today?
MR: Poetry has always taken a backseat to the other forms of literature, but I have seen poetry take a surge these last couple of years in the market. Horror poetry, or as I prefer to call it “Dark Poetry” is a definite subgenre though the form is beginning to become more accepted in the mainstream literary corners. In all, I believe Dark Poetry is healthy, though a still ailing form of literature.
HWA: Where do you see it going in the future?
MR: Honestly in a lot of ways that is up to us. We need to bring back the excitement and draw of poetry. All literature has its ups and downs. The market is a cruel mistress at times, yet I see Dark Poetry becoming more of a mainstay in literature.
HWA: As an Editor, what are you looking for?
MR: First and foremost, I like originality in the form. I like a poem the reader can live through, which means I like meanings and stories interwoven inside a poem. Maybe that comes from my love of the greats that preceded us, but I look at the substance when I read a poem before anything else. I like experimental and unconventional forms and also at times lean toward the classic forms and look for structured poetry. I am not a big fan of rhyming schemes in dark poetry but think that just employing free verse is a disservice to yourself and your art.
Currently at Eldritch Press we are running a contest that was strictly created to find new poets. Voices that have not been heard before. While we have and continue to publish award winning authors, one of the most important aspects we all look for is that unknown voice that has the quality of voice to be the next great.
Not just that, but I go out and seek out people in the music and film industry. Rocky once said to me that most of the accomplished lyricists started out as poets but moved on because of the lack of monetary gain. That is a very true statement. As an editor and a publisher I am proactive in looking for poets and know a lot of those type of folks, so naturally I tend to look in that direction.
HWA: As a poet, would you be willing to share a poem or two?
Michael Randolph is a horror author, poet, and editor currently living in San Antonio Texas. He is the owner-operator of Eldritch Press. He is a U.S. Army Veteran of Desert Storm/Shield where he first witnessed the true horrors of the world. A navy brat, he travelled to many countries throughout his childhood and still travels sometimes more than he likes. He’s a certified Gemologist and has spent nearly twenty-five years in the aviation field, mostly in military defense as an airplane/helicopter structures mechanic.
I’m incredibly grateful that Michael took some time from his busy schedule to talk to the HWA Poetry Page about the current state of dark/horror poetry.
HWA: Where do you see the state of poetry in the horror genre today?
MR: Poetry has always taken a backseat to the other forms of literature, but I have seen poetry take a surge these last couple of years in the market. Horror poetry, or as I prefer to call it “Dark Poetry” is a definite subgenre though the form is beginning to become more accepted in the mainstream literary corners. In all, I believe Dark Poetry is healthy, though a still ailing form of literature.
HWA: Where do you see it going in the future?
MR: Honestly in a lot of ways that is up to us. We need to bring back the excitement and draw of poetry. All literature has its ups and downs. The market is a cruel mistress at times, yet I see Dark Poetry becoming more of a mainstay in literature.
HWA: As an Editor, what are you looking for?
MR: First and foremost, I like originality in the form. I like a poem the reader can live through, which means I like meanings and stories interwoven inside a poem. Maybe that comes from my love of the greats that preceded us, but I look at the substance when I read a poem before anything else. I like experimental and unconventional forms and also at times lean toward the classic forms and look for structured poetry. I am not a big fan of rhyming schemes in dark poetry but think that just employing free verse is a disservice to yourself and your art.
Currently at Eldritch Press we are running a contest that was strictly created to find new poets. Voices that have not been heard before. While we have and continue to publish award winning authors, one of the most important aspects we all look for is that unknown voice that has the quality of voice to be the next great.
Not just that, but I go out and seek out people in the music and film industry. Rocky once said to me that most of the accomplished lyricists started out as poets but moved on because of the lack of monetary gain. That is a very true statement. As an editor and a publisher I am proactive in looking for poets and know a lot of those type of folks, so naturally I tend to look in that direction.
HWA: As a poet, would you be willing to share a poem or two?