«Dawn Pisturino: A Luminary in Contemporary Poetry and Prose»

I am pleased to introduce you to the talented Dawn Pisturino. A retired nurse from Arizona, Dawn has made a remarkable mark in the literary world with her diverse body of work, including poems, short stories, and articles. Her debut poetry collection, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023, has garnered glowing five-star reviews, while her chapbook, Lunar Gazing Haiku, soared to #1 Amazon New Release in six categories. As a distinguished member of Mystery Writers of America, PEN America, and the Arizona Authors Association, Dawn’s contributions to literature are both profound and celebrated. It’s an honor to share her remarkable achievements with you today.

• Can you share what inspired your debut poetry book and how you chose its theme?

When I realized that 65 of my poems had been published, I thought, Wow! That’s enough to publish a book! I used Atticus to design and create the inner content. The connecting theme was that all the poems had been previously published, so I used that as part of the title. Having no common theme like “nature” or “love,” however, made it harder to choose the categories. I dedicated the book to my daughter, Ariel, who has been inspiring me since she was born, and chose the poem I wrote for her, “Ariel’s Song,” for the title. After that, I searched for an appropriate image in the public domain to use for the cover that would look inviting, calming, soothing, and ethereal. I enjoy creating my own book covers because it’s fun, and I know what effect I’m trying to achieve.

• What was your writing process like for your debut collection? Did it differ from your regular online poetry writing?

The book, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023, is a collection of poems published over 36 years. This is my legacy collection. No matter what else I publish, this book will always be special to me. When I collect enough published poems, I will compile and release volume 2. Since I did not write these poems specifically for a book, my writing process was geared to the publications I was writing for. When I submit a poem for publication, it was written with that particular publication in mind and what the editor and readers seem to like.

• How did you decide on the structure and organization of the poems in your book?

I put a lot of thought into the arrangement of the poems because they are so varied in style and subject. I placed the lighter poems in the beginning, the more serious poems in the middle, and the darker poems at the back.

• What challenges did you face while writing and publishing your first book, and how did you overcome them?

I first approached an independent publisher who turned my book down because the poems had been previously published. She was concerned that Amazon would not accept the book. I realized I was going to have to self-publish. I already knew about Lulu and went through the process of publishing an EPUB, PDF Ebook, and print book for their bookstore. It was so easy! Their customer support was quick and responsive, and they produced a quality print book. I was obsessed with getting my Ebook onto Smashwords because it used to be a very popular site for Ebooks, so I went through the process at Draft2Digital and signed up for their wide distribution services for the Ebook only. That got me into Barnes & Noble and some foreign stores. After doing the research, I decided to use Ingram Spark for the Ebook and print book and signed up for their even wider global distribution. (Ingram Spark, as the leading book distribution company, is the recommended go-to for wide distribution services.) I still wanted to get my book onto Amazon, so I signed a contract with Ingram Spark, and they got my book onto Amazon and Wal-Mart, as well as Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other online stores. The challenging part of dealing with Ingram Spark was using their cover creation tool. They rejected the files generated by Lulu, and I spent a lot of time figuring out how to meet their particular template and software requirements. It was very frustrating, but after several attempts, I finally submitted an acceptable file.

• How has the success of your book impacted your writing career and your approach to blogging?

I am thrilled at how well my first poetry book was received. If I had not been blogging and participating in a supportive writing community, my book would have been just one more poetry book in a sea of poetry books. Building up a following and a reputation affected the success of the book. Getting it onto Amazon definitely made a huge difference. Publishing a well-received book boosted my credibility and motivated me to publish a second book, with more coming in the future.

• Can you talk about the role of social media and your blog in the promotion and reception of your book?

Clearly, social media is a must when promoting any product or service. I also know that people get tired of being preached at and advertised repeatedly. I use my blog for promotion purposes a lot more than I used to, but I’m not just promoting myself and my writing. I try to promote other people and their writing, too. I promote anthologies and online publications, as well. Independent authors, if they hope to succeed in this competitive business, must support one another and be willing to promote each other. A lot of authors seem unwilling to do that, and it really irritates me. But people have their own reasons for self-publishing, so I try not to judge.


• What has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from readers or critics?

When someone tells me that my poetry touched them in some way, I feel rewarded. Some of my poems reflect dark and painful experiences, and if those poems touched someone in a meaningful way, the pain and turmoil were worth it.

• How do you balance your work as a poet and a blogger, and do you find one role influencing the other?

They are separate beasts but still connected. Sometimes, the blogging and social media become overwhelming, and I have to take a step back and separate myself from them. Otherwise, I would never get any writing done.

• Are there any particular poets or writers who have influenced your work or whom you admire?

As a teenager, I was engrossed in reading all the great English poets, like Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Byron, and Robert and Elizabeth Browning. I taught myself how to write Petrarchan sonnets. Great Russian writers like Dostoevsky and Tolstoi fascinated me. Later, Poe, Lovecraft, and Stephen King caught my attention.

• What advice would you give to emerging poets who are looking to publish their first book?

Take your time and do your best work. Build up a following and a reputation. Write from the heart. Do it because you love it. If you’re doing it to make money, you will probably be disappointed.

• Looking ahead, what are your future writing projects or goals?

I released a chapbook of haiku, Lunar Gazing Haiku, in Ebook and paperback through KDP which became a #1 Amazon New Release in six categories. My next book of haiku, Haiku for the Midnight Hour, will be released in Ebook and paperback in early September. I’m writing another haiku book, Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine, which probably won’t come out until 2025. After that book, I’m done with haiku and will continue working on another book of poetry, a middle-grade mystery, a memoir, and novels that I already started. I want to gradually write more fiction and less poetry.

• How do you stay motivated and inspired in your writing, especially after the success of your first book?

After bringing out Ariel’s Song, I felt like I would never write anything again. But I started writing haiku as a writing discipline to improve my writing, and it took on a life of its own. When I’m finished, I will have written over 500 haiku – quite enough to last a lifetime.

Ariel’s Song is a collection of intensely personal poems written between 1987 and 2023 that features various styles and themes, from twisted limericks that make you laugh to traditional sonnets that make you think and feel the world around you. There is something for everyone to enjoy: dark poems, love poems, nature poems, funny poems, poems about death and grief, poems about abuse and heartache, children’s poems, and experimental poems.

In Japan, tsukimi (moon gazing) is an annual Harvest Moon Festival celebrated in September. Dating back centuries, when the noble classes composed music and poetry while viewing the full moon, the festival now includes everybody and marks the celebration of the autumn season. Looking for the «rabbit in the moon» while picnicking under the stars, appreciating the moon’s sacred splendor, giving thanks for bounties received, and looking forward to a prosperous future make this a special event. The 62 haiku in this digital chapbook celebrate all seasons and all aspects of life, with the last chapter dedicated to moon gazing. Enjoy the fun!