The husband-and-wife poetry partnership of Herne Bay residents Dan Lake and Lulu Gee consists of successful worldwide book sales with Lulu winning the Vera Rich Prize in 2013.
CommunityAd sat down with both Dan Lake and Lulu Gee to discuss their early beginnings, most memorable career moments, the future of poetry and what they love most about living in Herne Bay…
When did you both realise that you not only had the talent and skill to be successful poets but that you wanted to pursue a career in poetry?
DL: I personally have been writing songs way back as a young teenager and later, after reading certain poets started to write what I thought was poetry. At first it was quite raw as I only write in rhyme and found the book ‘The Ode Less Travelled’ by Stephen Fry. That book guided me in the right direction.
LG: I was 60 when I wrote my first poem about my pet dog which on reflection was pretty awful but I joined a worldwide poetry site to learn the techniques of poetry and incidentally I met Dan, thus enabling me to write a book for children called ‘Miss Twizzy’ about the adventures of a little mouse. My second book, ‘My Old Rocking Chair’ is a collection of poems and was well received in both America and Australia.
You are both stranded on a desert island and can only take one book with you, what book are you choosing and why?
DL: An impossible question to answer. So many books so many brilliant authors but I have to go back to my childhood for a quick answer. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
LG: ‘Collected Poems’ by Emily Dickinson. An American poet who I will never get tired of reading, she is regarded as one of the most important figures in poetry.
If you could pick three memorable moments from both your careers, what would they be and why?
DL: Meeting each other through international poetry groups, being published jointly with Lulu Gee then my own book ‘Electric Winds’, then being asked to judge international poetry competitions.
LG: 1; winning the Vera Rich Memorial prize with my poem, ‘The Bride’
2; being made ‘Poet Laureate’ in Australia by Prism poetry magazine
3; a poem of Remembrance being read out on an American radio station on their national ‘Memorial Day’.
Will poetry still have a future in say 50 years’ time and will it need to adapt to survive?
DL: That’s another toughie. Poetry in the UK is in serious decline, especially rhyme but around the world it seems quite healthy especially in the USA and Australia.
What advice would you give to aspiring poets looking to become international such as yourselves that maybe don’t have the confidence in their work?
DL: Join international poetry groups and persevere, listen to advice and use the best of it.
Do you have any upcoming work that local readers should look out for?
DL: Poetry is an extended emotion so writing comes from within. Your best will always appear at critical moments, highs and especially lows so at the moment I’m quiet so my quill is still.
LG: l have another book of poetry about to go to the publishers and should be out by the spring of next year.
Away from poetry, what are your hobbies and interests and what do you enjoy most about living in Herne Bay?
DL: We live in Herne, just outside Herne Bay and love the peace and quiet but often go into Herne Bay to various music festivals, meals etc. I am a retired bespoke cabinet maker by profession and took advanced studies into specialised Antique Furniture Restoration and Conservation.
LG: I love gardening and cooking and walking along the beach here in Herne Bay and especially Reculver.