Poet Susan Gillis was invited to be the Guest Poet at Cobourg Poetry Workshop’s Third Thursday Reading Series for March. Postponed because of Covid 19, we hope that her reading will take place later in the year, but in the meantime please enjoy our conversation with Susan, which we recorded  recently  by using ZOOM.  Her books include 2018’s Yellow Crane: part love poem to her former home and part meditation on the ecologies of place, writing, and desire. A member of the collaborative group Yoko’s Dogs and the performance group Bon Echo, Susan also co-curates the online journal HALIBUT for micro-poetry, and offers workshops, manuscript services and mentorship online and in person.

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Meet Cobourg poet Marion Fuessel.  Marion describes herself as a late bloomer. She never really thought about school beyond grade 12.  However, as she grew into her skin, she decided to go back.  She graduated with honours from Seneca College in her 30’s, studying part-time while raising three children.  She found she had a vocation to work with young children and was most interested in the Montessori Method. She researched and then pursued this, obtaining her Montessori qualifications and entering a very satisfying career. After retiring Marion and her husband moved to Cobourg and love its beautiful surroundings and friendly people. She has written several children’s stories, but attracted to poetry she joined the Cobourg Poetry Workshop three years ago and has been learning and writing ever since.

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As part of our celebration of Poetry Month we are very pleased to be broadcasting our interviews with poet Anne-Marie Burrus, which we have recorded on Zoom—a new adventure! Anne-Marie who also answers to her pen-name Mia, lives in the country north of Cobourg in a restored one-room schoolhouse, making occasional forays into Toronto, where she continues to provide accounting services for various charities.  She prefers, however, using words and images to explore the boundaries and spaces between what is spoken and silent, solid and ephemeral, known and unknowable, and mindful and mindless.

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This week we talk to Katie Hoogendam. Katie is a writer, artist, educator and communications specialist. Her past vocations include High school teacher, copy editor and radio host and producer. She remains professionally and personally concerned with environmental issues and educational theory and practice. Spirituality, faith, feminism and identity are ongoing topics of interest for her. Katie writes poetry, essays, creative non-fiction and tried her hand at drama last year. Her first play, Plan X, was produced at Spirit of the Hills Festival of the Arts 2019.

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