Author Bio And Interview With April Lee Fields
April Lee Fields is not just an author, but an artist with multiple talents. Next to writing, both novel and poetry, she is a musician and a model too. Travelling was a big part of April's life and we can read about the lessons she learned during these times in her works too. She self-published two books. In 2017, a travel memoir, 'A Version Of You' and 2 years later, in 2019, 'Wild Flower', a book of poetry. Next to these, April composed and produced an album, 'Wanderlust'. April still travels a lot, she performed at many of Australia's leading festivals, and across the globe. She won a number of Spoken Word competitions, also played in a multitude of venues throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe and America too. At universities across New Zealand, April gave motivational talks too about creativity and the importance of following your dreams.
Find more information about April Lee Fields and her craft here:
https://www.aprilleefields.com/
https://www.aprilleefields.com/books
A Version of You: paperback, audiobook & ebook:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/154233568X/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_i_Eqr4EbN2WEHRF
Wild Flower:
Music/Spoken Word Albums.
WanderLust:
https://aprilleefields.bandcamp.com/releases
Steeped in Story & Song:
https://aprilleefields.bandcamp.com/album/steeped-in-story-song
https://www.facebook.com/aprilleefields/
https://www.instagram.com/april_lee_fields
Spoken Word Videos:
The interview
1. You are not just an author, but a singer too. What inspires you the most when you create a song, or a story?
Real life circumstances and the documentation of such circumstances are what inspire me the most to create from. I don’t need to make anything up because it certainly is true when they say that ‘Fact is stranger than fiction.’ This world truly is an incredible orchestra of movement, often happening faster than we can ever really grasp. And I am constantly inspired by the act of capturing and solidifying a stolen glance, a tender moment, an act of debauchery or a fantastic and bombastic dance move in action through the art of storytelling, song, poetry or photography.
2. When you are working on a book, do you also like making songs especially for it?
Because I started off writing poetry, there’s always been a real rhythm to my work: even ‘A Version of You,’ is like one extremely long, 550 page poem. Therefore, my style of writing makes it easy to play with and create songs from. I also enjoy freestyling with my voice, and my published works offer me a base of material from which to work from whilst still allowing me room to improvise. Getting back in touch with the music and with my singing voice, however, came about after the publication of my first book so it makes sense that the music almost comes as an after effect to my storytelling and poetry. I rarely write with the intention of composing a song, rather, I sample pieces of my written work within the music. With that being said, I wouldn’t even really call myself a song writer. I’m more like a writer who sometimes sings their writings.
3. Do you have a favourite instrument? If yes, why that instrument?
I’m quite enamoured by the versatility of the voice box. I consider the voice to be a wonderful instrument and find myself quite fascinated with beet boxing and the various differing sounds that so easily rise up out of the lyrical ash like a phoenix rising from the waves of Sound. I am also very partial to the saxophone and living here in New Orleans, my fondness for that full and deep sound grow deeper each day.
4. Are you working on any new projects momentarily? If yes, can you tell me about it?
I recently began writing again, quite studiously. I haven’t written this way since ‘A Version of You’ was published three years prior because that book, in all honesty, damn near killed me. It was like an entity that needed to be birthed into this world and I carried that thing for nine long months. It took a lot out of me and the pen never felt the same again, until recently.
The pandemic put a serious halt on my artistic endeavours this summer which, in turn, encouraged me to move to New Orleans. The city itself is bursting with music, history and culture and I find myself completely inspired once again and, in turn, effortlessly transcribing my time here.
The blog can be found on my website: https://www.aprilleefields.com/blog
5. As a poet, what kind of poems do you prefer to create and what do you find the most difficult?
I prefer to create long story-based poetry that has a beginning, a middle and an end. I love to incorporate precious moments that are paired alongside of transformational lessons. The most difficulty that I experience in this poetic process is condensing these long, rhythmic stories down into a ‘digestible’ time frame of 3-4 minutes.
6. 'A Version of You' and 'Wild Flower' are connected. Do you plan another book as another piece next to them?
No. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time working with A Version of You: creating two hour long musical storytelling performances with it, recording parts of the book for my album, WanderLust, and even recording and narrating the entire book as an audiobook. Any new material, like the pieces that I am currently writing regarding my adventures here in New Orleans, will be entirely independent from my former work… although still connected somehow, I’m sure.
7. Are there any topic, or genres, about you've always wanted to write about? If yes, why is that?
Give me a good story and I could write about just any topic. When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be April O’Neil from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I may have never gotten the job working for the newspapers, but in many ways, I began documenting life and all of its in-betweens in my own kind of way. I would, however, like to one day explore the limitless world of fantasy fiction writing.
8. Do you have a favourite poet, or poem?
Dr Seuss. ‘Oh the places you’ll go.’
9. You do also modelling. Do you like making photos connected your books, stories, or songs?
Taking photographs specifically for poetry is yet to be something that I have explored as I have always modelled for people, then gotten a few press shots for myself. However, just the other day I was photographing of a fellow poet friend and as she lounged in her pool modelling a copy of Wild Flower for me and we began discussing doing our own photoshoots with the goal of putting poetry upon our pictures. So… yeah, watch this space.
10. If you could be anybody in any real, or fictional universe, who would you be and where?
“In a world where you can be anyone you want to be, be yourself.” Dr Seuss.
Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from April Lee Fields? ☺️
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