The Microscope & Anna “Annina” Lorenzi

About a month after the publication of this collection of poems, here is the complete version of the first interview done by the author…

After the publication of my last book, The Microscope. A collection of snapshots immortalized with a pen (#TheMicroscope Some people call them poems – available in all Amazon stores since February 8, 2021, click here!), extracts of my Q&A have already begun to “go around”…. Today, it is with great pleasure that I present to you the complete version of the interview, conducted by Marika Mendolia, blogger and book influencer.

Curious? Enjoy! 🙂

Marika: “Anna, introduce yourself, briefly. Who is Anna?”

Anna: “Briefly? Anna is a Writer, Author & more…, who – before being born – was on a spaceship waiting to come down! (To cite my own blog 🙂 ) I am a writer, an author, a consultant, and a dreamer with various passions, but who knows, nevertheless, how to keep her feet on the ground. I am curious, and I love everything in which I see something beautiful, profound, and True. And… ahhh, yes, I’m awfully stubborn, but that’s a whole other can o’ worms, and I wouldn’t want to bore you! 😉 (For those who’d like to learn more, here is the link to the ‘About Me’ section dedicated to me and to my literary works.)

M.: “The title of your work that’s coming out, The Microscope, where does it come from?”

A: “When the project was still in its first embryonic stage, the title came to me in a flash without thinking much about it, spontaneously, in a certain sense (just like the whole collection was, in fact, written). The Microscope for two reasons. I thought of the image of the microscope as a symbol of the concept of ‘study the atom to understand the universe,’ that is, the infinitely small and the infinitely big, that – in a certain sense – can also work for observing the details of a single image, independently of the fact that this represents a landscape, a person, a state of the soul or mind…. As for the other reason, call it chance or destiny as you prefer, The Microscope was the nickname that I had given to the person with whom (and in large part thanks to whom) this collection was born, and then developed.”

M.: “Why do you call your verses ‘snapshots’?”

A: “ Well, first of all, because I have never had the presumption – for me, almost embarrassing – to call ‘poetry’ this kind of texts that I have been writing, more or less since forever, since when I was a teen; and, anyway, the reason – and it’s the truth – why I created the hashtag #SomeCallItPoetry for social media is that it wasn’t me who called them that! What can I say? I believe in the value of humility…. Second of all, because I’d like it if people approached these texts as if they were images, like paintings hanging on a wall, as if they were Polaroid snapshots, photographs, and, observing them and reading them, found something in them that they themselves want to find.”

M.: “How much of you is in the work, and how much would you like of you to be understood?”

A.: “When I write something, there is a lot of me in it. There’s not only that, that’s obvious, but, yes, it’s a big part of the whole. Also because, in the moment in which I observe, interpret, perceive and filter that which I find inside and outside of myself, it’s inevitably my eyes, my heart, and my mind that does it, even if perhaps closely connected with something or someone else.

But, honestly, in this case, I’d like it most of all if the readers just let themselves go, without thinking about me, to find – as I said – their own personal interpretation. It’s more important to me that I am really understood in other more intimate moments involving people and/or situations near and dear to my heart.”

M.: “Do you write to communicate or say something?”

A.: “That depends. First of all, I write because I want to. Writing is also really my first means of communication, ever since I can remember. Sometimes writing for me is even a need. And… yes, I can write to say something to someone, whether just one person or many. From text to text, from case to case, it just depends, as I said, and the same text can be ‘aimed’ in a different way depending on who is reading it.”

M.: “What does it mean to you to be an up and coming writer?”

A.: “Not much, to tell you the truth. I’ll try to explain myself. In my opinion, publications, success, copies sold or – a stupid example – the famous little stars of Amazon aside, if you’re a writer or an artist, you are, and that’s that, in general. Then, if we want to attribute to the concept of ‘up and coming writer’ the meaning of ‘you’re not famous = you are up and coming,’ then that’s a whole other thing, which, however interests me only up to a point, and not even that much. In addition to the fact that – and I say it without boasting or pretence – I don’t define myself as an ‘up and coming writer.’ I have been writing for more than 25 years, I’ve published, I’ve worked for blogs and magazines, I’ve participated in writing competitions, my site has a good following both in Italy and abroad,…. Am I famous, and do I survive on the proceeds of my writing? No. However, I have always tried to do my best, my art, and I get satisfaction of various kinds, so… in all honesty, considering everything, I don’t define myself as an emerging ‘new pen,’ but as a writer.”

M.: “Do you have a specific time of day during which you write, a time in which it is better?”

A.: “For me, the best time for anything is always night time, or perhaps evening. However, mornings aside, I can write even in the afternoon, if I put my mind to it…. 😉 ”

M.: “Your ‘snapshots’ / verses can seem ethereal, but they also are very concrete, such as the image of a sundown, fingers that intertwine, how come these two ways of writing that are so different blend?”

A.: “Actually, there isn’t really a reason, in the sense that it isn’t something planned and decided ahead of time. Like I said, before, they are all texts mostly written on the spur of the moment, they just come to me like that. In these cases, the images, the emotions, and that which I perceive come to me, suddenly, in a strong almost violent way, as if they went through me. I just take all this and put it ‘on paper.’ Maybe this blend, as you call it, can be due to the fact that that is my way of reading and interpreting that which I feel, see, and live.”

M.: “Do you believe in inspiration? Or do you also think that planning art can lead to a creation?”

A.: “Yes, of course, I believe in inspiration. Without inspiration, it would be really very difficult for me to sit myself down to write. I don’t exclude the possibility that planning art could lead to a creation, even if it’s not my way. I believe, instead, that – in certain situations and for certain works – the two things can and must peacefully and tranquilly co-exist.”

M.: “Is there a ‘snapshot’ of which you are most fond? If so, which one, and why?”

A.: “Without a doubt, I am very tied to the entire collection for various personal reasons. I’m particularly tied to various ‘snapshots,’ and I don’t know if I would be able to choose one over the others. I’ll try to cite some, to not go on and on too long: ‘Snapshot Zero’ because everything began with it; ‘Snapshot n. 2’ because someone who is very very dear to me, and to whom I dedicated it, when she read it, she told me sincerely that she was moved; ‘Snapshot n. 10’ because I smashed our hearts more than usual with it; and…, yes, well, ‘Extra Snapshot,’ born almost by chance, because it surprisingly involved a very good friend who, among other things, liked it a lot.”

M.: “Do you have other poetical projects in mind?”

A.: “Right now, I want to take good care of the launch of this collection, both in Italy and abroad (I’d like to remind everyone that there is also the original in Italian, The Microscope. Una raccolta…), hopefully get back to writing the sequel to my novel, Meeting Laura, without neglecting my blog, where, incidentally, I have been releasing previously unpublished works called #InOneGo in the style of the ‘snapshots’ of #TheMicroscope. In any event, I have absolutely not ruled out the possibility of working on another poetical project of this kind in the future, on the contrary.”

M.: “One phrase that represents The Microscope?”

A.: “Let’s do three:
Maybe something new… either it’s crazy, or… it’s amazing.
I like the idea of being born.
So, let there be birth, The Microscope.”

M.: “Now, two questions from Silvia Negro of Ciclope Lettore: from your intense collection we can naturally deduce that an immense passion for life and for your most intimate nature co-exist. Is there someone in particular whom you would like to thank for having pushed you to translate your precious gift onto paper? To whom did you dedicate the work, and why?”

A.: “Oh, Silvia! First of all, I really want to thank you, all the team of Ciclope Lettore and the bloggers for all the work that you all are doing for me, for the support, and for having immediately believed in this project (and because Silvia puts up with me almost every day of the week! There’s nothing like saying it out loud, huh?! 🙂 ). Then,… I will try not to repeat everything that can already be found in the book, but it’s inevitable, at least in part.

Ringrazio e dedico l’opera a… I thank and dedicate the work to… my mom and dad and all my friends who – since I was a little girl – have always happily read my works and have always told me never to stop writing, such as, to cite just one, Federica Moschiano. I especially want to thank a lot and to dedicate this work to… Lucia Codato, Writer Coach, because with her – and in part, thanks to her – this collection was born, and developed from the very first word written down. Without Lucia, The Microscope would never have existed, and as far as I’m concerned this ‘little collection’ undoubtedly and wholeheartedly belongs to her, too. I always thank and dedicate the work to… my translator, Starleen K. Meyer, because, in addition to our friendship, if what I write also exists in English, translated in an excellent way, it’s all thanks to her, and I am very proud of it. I thank and dedicate the work to… my friend, Max, for allowing me to use a piece of his in ‘Extra Snapshot,’ for being its ‘Reader Zero,’ and for having immediately commented, ‘very, very, very beautiful.’ And… that’s it. For all the complete thanks, go to my post of the 8^th of February on Facebook account and page! 😉 ”

M.: “Second to the last question… Why should someone buy your work?”

A.: “Well, why not?! LOL! No, OK, I’m joking…. Because it’s genuine, authentic. Because, I think, if readers believe in art, in the true freedom of expression, in originality, in uniqueness,… well, in The Microscope, they will find at least one phrase that most certainly will put a smile in their hearts, and will leave them with something valuable.”

M.: “Finishing up… how about a poetical goodbye to those reading this?”

A.: “Ha! A poetical goodbye… this is the first time that someone has asked me for one! Let’s see…

My friend, I thank you!
For having read and probed,
for your time, and for having read to the end!

And whether you’re here by chance or design,
I salute you with sincere affection,
come back soon,… if you liked it!

There, a silly little thing on the fly… I can’t always be too serious, you know! 🙂 ”

January 26, 2021
Interview conducted by: Marika Mendolia, Lalibraiamatta90, whom I sincerely thank
(IG: @la_libraia_matta90)

Translated from Italian by: Starleen K. Meyer

Booktrailer [EN]: Click on Play, Audio ON!

Anna “Annina” Lorenzi: Author Page on amazon.com
Author Page on amazon.it
Related posts:: #TheMicroscope – #InOneGo

Go to the section: Area Stampa / Press Area
Go to the section: Anna “Annina” Lorenzi – Available Books

Original Title: “The Microscope. Una raccolta di scatti immortalati con la penna” by Anna “Annina” Lorenzi.
Translated from Italian by: Starleen K. Meyer

Reader “Zero”: Lucia Codato, Writer Coach – www.luciacodato.com
Reader “Zero” for “Extra Snapshot”: Max Pezzali