The Soul Pitt Writer’s Block

SP Bonita: Marc Livingston hails from the windy city of Chicago. Marc tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be the Greatest Living Poet.

Marc: Thank you, Bonita. Well, I am the author of the best selling, critically acclaimed boo of poetry entitled THE CONFESSIONAL HEART OF A MAN, the founder of the poetic website I Blow Your Mind and a member of the poetry performing collective called the LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY POETS. After leaving my poem that I had written to perform at a wedding, I did it freestyle and was outstanding. From that moment forward, I have felt that I, along with my LOEP, am the best in the genre.

SP Bonita: Where does your poetry flow? And does it always take the direction you want?

Marc: My gift flows from God to my heart then from my mouth and pen. And no, the rhymes don’t always go where there are supposed to because they touch someone or an audience I hadn’t intended it too. And isn’t that the way poetry or any art should travel? I think so.

SP Bonita: Are there any life experiences that haven’t inspired you to write?

Marc: My life, the rollercoaster that it has been, has been my inspiration to write. Everything I have been thru is told in my poetry.

SP Bonita: In your live performance of the poem “Where R U Going,” you said to the crowd, “Ladies can I talk to you?” They responded with a resounding, “Yes you can.” What messages would you like the ladies to come away with after reading or attending a live performance?

Marc: I want women to understand that sometimes it is not a pair of shoes or an expensive purse is all there is to romance. I believe that most women want to be courted, want to be wooed, and my poetry gives them that and more. That particular piece was a man trying to talk a woman out of leaving. I have been there.

SP Bonita: This past June you participated in the Chicago Poetry Love-In, do you enjoy participating in live readings of your work?

Marc: I love performing live, especially for an appreciative audience. The LOEP went thru a tour where it was nothing but bars and lounges, so the distractions were plenty! But we took poetry where you normally wouldn’t find poetry. In my opinion, that wouldn’t have occurred if not for our love of poetry.

SP Bonita: On your website I Blow Your Mind you posted a poem titled The Wrong Man. I believe countless women will connect strongly with this piece. Personally I’ve been in relationships that never became fruitful as men gave me excuses that I was the right woman at that wrong time, or they met me too late, or they weren’t ready for me, blah, blah, and more blah. Were these the same excuses that women gave you that inspired you to write this particular poem?

Marc: Not necessarily, Bonita. I was inspired by the Anita Baker song of the same name. At times, I have been the “wrong” man with the right woman or the right man for the wrong woman. In both scenarios, I was the “wrong” man.

SP Bonita: The name of your book is The Confessional Heart of a Man, what does this means to you and what theme does it play throughout your book?

Marc: I wrote THE CONFESSIONAL HEART OF A MAN in twenty-nine days. I wrote it thinking of everything I have been thru, think about, or let my mind wonder about. Throughout my book, you see the hills and valleys of my life, but I only express what a lot of people feel. I just happen to be blessed with this gift to express my life experiences.

SP Bonita: Do you love Black women? Can you count the ways?

Marc: I LOVE BLACK WOMEN! My only regret is a lot of times the love hasn’t been reciprocated. It is honestly difficult to fathom that a handsome, intelligent, talented, individual like myself doesn’t get the full support from my sisters like I should because I am confident in myself. But I still love!!

SP Bonita: Where can your book The Confessional Heart of Man be purchased?

Marc: Amazon , iUniverse, and soon on I Blow Your Mind.

SP Bonita: Give us a briefing on some future projects.

Marc: Along with my LOEP, I plan to resurrect poetry and make it “the” genre for expression, both written and verbal. We are working on a compilation book with all our members. I have just completed my second book which I plan to release at the end of the year. I am currently working on improving www.iblowyourmind.com to soon be on par and compete with Facebook. Also, I continue to perform at the SONOMA CAFÉ every second Sunday of the month along with the LOEP band. Bonita, thank you very much for this opportunity to get my message out there.

Confessional Heart of Man can be purchased at www.favortwou.net

Marc Livingston, GPA (Greatest Poet Alive), can be reached via email at superpoet@iblowyourmind.com or gpaloep@yahoo.com.

Visit Marc at his website I Blow Your Mind.

Listen to Marc’s reading the selection A Thousand Times from The Confessional Heart of a Man.

 

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Filed under: Writers' Spotlight