Interview With Author Hazel Allen
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m a writer, poet, and blogger from Portland, Oregon. About two years ago, on December 24th, 2023, I published my first collection of poems called “Inside the Sun and Moon.” While I haven’t released anything new since then, I also have a poem included in an anthology titled “Revision’s End” put together by Kevin Watt.
Aside from my writing and poetry, I run an indie author focused publication called BookStack. It’s also a dedicated book directory as well, designed with making it easier for readers to discover their next read, all while promoting the indie writing community. So far, we have over 300 books listed from 150+ authors, which is amazing.
When I’m not working on the blog or my writing, you can typically find me hanging out with my cat Apollo, playing videogames, taking classes, and so forth.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Inside the Sun and Moon is a small collection of ten poems, and was inspired by my friends pushing me to get my poetry published. Before this collection, I’d only toyed with the idea of becoming published– typically through the means of cobbling together a collection of poems and printing it out to see what it looked like in my hands, or through that aforementioned anthology my work was included in.
As for the poems inside the collection, I’ve always felt drawn to the sun and moon, and how they tie to our emotions and world. Inside the Sun and Moon is pretty light in theme, though it does deal with some heavy topics. One of my friends had passed away from cancer earlier that year, so I couldn’t help but pour my grief into at least one poem.
Over all though, releasing this collection helped me get over the mental block in my head telling me that my poetry doesn’t deserve to be published. For years, I’d been telling myself the only worthwhile way to become an author is to release a novel. Yet, that’s not true, publishing poetry is just as valid.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not really sure, honestly. I suppose I always get writer’s block whenever I have to proofread or edit my work. Other than that, I don’t know.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Largely I drum to my own beat when it comes to my writing, but I’d say poets like V. Walker (The Fragile Humans We Are), Melanie Cole (Maybe Blue), and R. William Parmenter (Between the Dark and Light), are just a few of the writers who have influenced me.
What are you working on now?
I have a few projects in the works including three poetry collections, and a novel. However, I don’t have much to share on any of those. Three of those four projects have been on pause as I’ve been too busy to keep up with everything. But one of the poetry collections is being drafted, and I’m hoping to release it around February.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Threads and Substack have been the best for me, and I also love doing giveaways for my book to celebrate special occasions. Many writers also offer serialized versions of their novels or poetry collections on Substack to their monthly subscribers, and I’m also hoping to do the same.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to put you and your writing out there. Your voice deserves to be heard, and your creativity NEEDS to be seen. You will find your audience, but you have to put yourself out there.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“I don’t have a lot, but I have a lot of notebooks. They comfort me by reminding me that no matter how hard life gets, I can always write.”
-Emm Roy
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading a fantasy novel from David Niemitz called Guild Mage: Apprentice, and is absolutely fantastic so far. I’m about a fifth of the way through, but David is really talented. The novel is about a young girl named Liv Brodbeck with a handful of problems: being small, weak, and supposedly a burden on her mother. No, there might not be much hope for her… that is until she releases a powerful burst of magic by accident, and everything changes.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now I’m going to continue working on my blog and that one poetry collection I mentioned before.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only four? Oh, what to choose… I guess maybe these ones:
– The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
– As You Prefer: Mi Lup Micut by Cie Gives.
– Love in the Liner Notes by Katta Kis.
– All that Falls by A.N. Horton.
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Author Websites and Profiles
Hazel Allen’s Social Media Links
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