Official Apex Reviews Interview: Chase Von (Your Chance To Hear The Last Panther Speak)

AR: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Chase, as well as for sharing your book with us. We truly appreciate your time.

The Last Panther contains a wide array of poems covering a vast range of topics. Where does your inspiration come from?

CV: I imagine it should be simple to answer this inspiration question, but it comes from every where, and I feel like it is natural for me to capture it when it does, almost like a duty. I think poets in general tend to feel things a bit deeper than most and if not deeper, with a certain gift or ability and self imposed responsibility, of bringing it back so that it can be actually read or heard and remains close to the experience. Or one could essentially say, captures that experience in a time capsule so to speak. I can't tell you how many times people have read for example, "A Poem" and told me that they lived that, or are living that and I must have been the proverbial "Fly on The Wall." Maybe we even empathize with others to where it is as if we are seeing the world through their eyes. It's safe to say that I write on what ever really touches or moves me, although I don't force it either, meaning, I have dry spells where I don't write anything at all. And not to sound weird but often when I am writing it feels more like I am remembering. Which is why when people ask me to write on a particular subject, I might try, but in essence, I know, before I address that subject on request, it might be awhile:) (Normally I have something I have already written though:)

AR: The book includes everything from poems to songs to short stories. How long have you written in such different styles/genres?

CV: I started writing poetry when I was 12 or 13, song lyrics when I got my first guitar in my early twenties, although I didn't know how to play the guitar, and play what one would call poorly now:) Poetry and song lyrics to me are pretty much the same thing. If you remove the music and the tune from song lyrics what you generally end up with is a poem, with a bridge and a chorus. Smokey Robinson, Sade, Prince, Alicia Keyes, Mariah Carey and someone that the world has yet to hear of at large, Rachael, Rachael are all incredible poets but I think the world misses that fact, because the words are being sung. As for short stories, I've dabbled at that for a while now, but just like with poetry, it's like I am remembering or being shown something to share.

AR: Who are some of the poets that have influenced your career, and why?

CV: Really too many to list them all but Kahlil Gibran without a doubt, because he took words and made them sing from the page. Javan for his ability to take simple words, in a very short presentation, and leave you with profound thoughts. Ed Roberts is also someone that I admire immensely, which is why I included his "Poetry For Life" project in my book. I've read countless testimonials he has received where people are crediting him with changing and or saving their actual lives. Bryant H. McGill as well because of his ability to make you stop, and think, and then reread, and think more. Langston Hughes is another one that was incredible, he was in his generation what I aspire to be in mine. A voice saying things that many are thinking but few dare to share.

AR: The book includes many touching observations of your relationship with your daughter. How has having her changed your life?

CV: I think any parent who has their first child, realizes that priorities have changed, and that they have to come first now, we've since had a son, and sometimes when I look at them my heart hurts because of the amount of love I feel. Most importantly though, when one has a child, one takes a harder look at the world we live in and it really brings the madness home. It's one thing to deal with it yourself, but quite another when you know the world is steadily declining across the board, and their are innocent children living in it that you are responsible for. I've become more protective, more aware of the world, and more interested in seeing some changes take place so that the world is a safe place for children. Something I read a while ago and although not verbatim, nor can I recall at present who it is by, said something to the effect of, the world is the birth right of the children and that the adults are the ones tending it until they take over, a never ending process or one would hope. I can honestly say however, that morally, environmentally, and so many other areas have been done so poorly, that it isn't a pleasure to hand over a world we temporarily used to the children these days, it's an embarrassment. We also should be fixing that in whatever way we can.

AR: In that same vein, is there a children's poetry book on the horizon for you?

CV: (Smile) Funny you should ask that:) My wife asked me the same question just the other day, when we were watching "Baby First TV", I put some song lyrics in my book about "Peanut Butter Cookies" that was aimed at children. And I think she asked me that because I had just told her, I would rather watch this program than half the other things that are on the air. I'm still kicking around that idea, it would indeed be a huge leap considering some of the other purely adult topics I have addressed that are not for children, like gangs, aids, racism, infidelity, etc, so I am giving it some thought:)

AR: There's a biblical saying that goes "A prophet is never respected in his own country" - and many poets feel the same about the craft of poetry. Do you agree?

CV: A HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT!!! Sorry, I know large type means shouting so back to normal type. I'm not saying any names but I think that there are a lot of people out there that are known because of corporate backing, and that there is a virtual army of talented poets, writers, musicians, and singers etc that aren't being noticed because although the public might love them, if they heard them, that isn't what the large corporations that fund these things care about. It's boils down to the dollar and yes I believe, control. I recently read an article on Kelly Clarkson in Readers Digest where she is taking back her creative control, and that isn't going over too well but I applaud her. I started my own publishing company so that I would be in control, not some huge company like well, just think of a company that publishes books. Consequently me, and other "Indies" (Independent Artist), like me are not being heard by the masses because we don't have that financial backing. Ed Roberts, a good friend of mine has pages and pages of testimonials of people crediting him with saving their lives by reading his words, or changing their lives for the better and few even know who he is. The irony to me is, with what "IS" out there, the public at large isn't aware that there are alternatives to what they are basically force fed. Fortunately there are a lot of groups banding together like Circle of Friends created by dear friend and singer The Artist C and various other groups that are pulling together to change things, so we can in fact, be heard, and I would have to say I consider Apex Reviews a large part of that movement as well.

AR: As influential as it is, why do you think poetry remains such a low-selling genre?

CV: Because poetry by the populace is still seen very much as "Sappy" or "Hallmark" and despite Def Poetry Jam doing it's part to change that, most in the publishing establishment and the public at large still think it is always about love, or love lost. Poetry can be about anything! More importantly, it can capture what everyone else might be thinking on a single page! More work needs to be done to change the publics perception of it as a whole and I would hope, that those that read "Your Chance To Hear The Last Panther Speak" might come away from it thinking the very same thing....

Why is poetry the lowest selling genre? Because I have had people actually tell me that they keep the book in arms length and every time they read it, something else will jump out at them, or they see something else from an entirely different perspective. Unless more people have reactions like this and demand that their local bookstores start stocking the shelves with it as well as romance novels, and mysteries, it will perhaps remain the case. People by and large think that what is advertised, is what is the best reading and few companies are willing to put an advertising campaign or financial backing together and put that in front of peoples eyes when it comes to poetry.

Add to that you can't make a movie off it in most cases, so for multiple purposes those that deal in dollars are looking for something that can be used in a variety of manners for profit. I.e. A book about an adventure can sell, then a movie can be made, then a campaign can be done to sell things from the movie.

Even if the public demanded more poetry, those that deal in dollars and cents would rather have something "They" can make repeated and residual profits from. But poetry feeds the soul you say? Well, that isn't what motivates the ones who see dollar signs. Perhaps one day that can change I hope, and I want to thank you very much for having me Apex:)

AR: Thanks again, Chase, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!