Michael Turner and his book cover
Michael Turner completed his MFA this past summer at UBC Okanagan. His book, 9×11 and other poems like Bird, Nine, x and Eleven was recently published by New Star Books.
The launch of Michael’s book was on September 11th at Massy Books in Chinatown in Vancouver, and he will be joining us in Kelowna at the Milkcraters f the Moon Reading Series on September 20th, 7 p.m. at Milkcrate Records.
We met with Michael to discuss his book and to get some insight on his writing process.
Tell us about your new book.
9×11 and other poems like Bird, Nine, x and Eleven was inspired by the events of 9/11: how certain incidents — be they catastrophic or affirmative — can turn us into cameras, where we capture and store details we might otherwise forget.
What was your process in writing the book? How long did it take you? Was this your thesis project, or related to your thesis?
My previous books often began with titles, from which I would write in earnest, usually in a linear fashion. Hard Core Logo(1993) is an example of that. Same with Kingsway(1995) and 8×10 (2009). But 9×11 was composed only after the writing was done. If my thesis is related to this book, I would say that it had me more focused than usual and working at a greater pace. 9×11 was completed in a weekend while taking a break between writing the bulk of my thesis and its conclusion. I literally opened a file I had been contributing to over the past five years, printed out its documents and laid their pages on my living room floor. That was Friday morning. By Sunday evening I had a manuscript.
Tell us what it was like to work with an editor.
I have had the good fortune of working with a number of editors throughout my writing career and cannot imagine publishing anything without one (my blog notwithstanding). Some editors get what you are doing with form, content, tone, etc. while others don’t. Some get what you are doing but edit your work into a house style, while some don’t get what you are doing but come up with amazing suggestions nonetheless. All of us should be so lucky to have another pair of eyes on our work, if for no other reason than to protect us from ourselves.
Tell us about why you decided to complete your MFA degree.
The MFA was an opportunity to get out of myself, refocus, develop some new, more sustainable study habits. I had grown bored and needed to be amongst those from different walks, cultures, generations. I am thankful to those in my cohort, all of whom gave of themselves so generously in our discussions of land, language, identity, aesthetics, ethics. I am also thankful to faculty and support staff, for they too provided related forms of editorial.
Tell us about your other recent publications and articles…or past ones.
During my time at UBCO a lot of my published writing was focused on the work of visual artists living and working in the Okanagan Valley. I am grateful to those artists and institutions who invited me to contribute to their exhibition catalogues: Katherine Pickering (Vernon Public Art Gallery), Scott August (Lake Country Art Gallery) and Gary Pearson (Kelowna Public Art Gallery).
What’s next?
I will begin composing an academic c.v. After that, turning my thesis (Course Language: How the Reader is Encouraged to Collaborate on Our Seminar and Pass Me) into a course I can facilitate through a gallery or museum education/outreach program.