Interview

I am Italian and moved to England with my family in 2007. Food and family relationships are very important to me and interweave in my daily life. Preparing good food and cherishing family connections shaped my personality and make my identity. In Italy, I was an English teacher, and in England I became an Italian teacher.

English and Italian language, cultures and literature mingle in my everyday life and my readings. I write in English though Italian inspires my work too.

I started to write poetry a few years ago before moving to England, attending American classes online. When I moved to Lancaster, I joined workshops at the Adult college and readings in pubs and at the Storey. On Friday night we used to meet for the Spotlight event organised by Sarah Fiske and Ron Baker. There was always a featured poet or prose writer, music and open mic sessions.

Writing became very important as it gave me the possibility to communicate what I felt and to connect with people I liked. In Lancaster I met two important poets who supported me, Sarah Hymas and Elizabeth Burns. Sadly Elizabeth died just before I moved to Surrey in 2015 but I’m still in contact with Sarah.

In Lancaster I attended the MA in creative writing and decided to self-publish my first pamphlet, A Winding Road in 2011.

Reading renowned and less known poets has expanded my understandings and inspired more poetry and form new contacts.

My favourite poets are well known names such as Coleridge, Emily Dickinson, William Carlos Williams and contemporary poets are Hannah Lowe, Fiona Benson, Elizabeth Burns, Helen Mort and others.

Last year I completed a PhD on Margaret Atwood’s work at Reading University. Margaret Atwood is my hero and the best writer ever. She has written poetry, fiction and non-fiction, reviews and essays; she’s published about sixty texts in all, amazing!

I wrote a lot of poems about food and family relationships, and read them at open mics. Janice and Donall from Dempsey & Windle publishing suggested I publish my poems centred on food.

At the time I also had a sequence on my father’s death (he died in 2016 of pancreatic cancer less than a month after the diagnosis) and more poems about my family. They liked them so much that they decided to publish a short collection of my work in 2020. I was so excited and happy. The launch was online because of COVID and there were about fifty people attending the launch from the UK, Italy, Canada and Australia. It was wonderful.

My favourite part of the book is about my father’s death, I tried to communicate his pain and my affection for him, though our relationship was not easy.

I am writing poetry regularly prompted by workshops I attend online with Second Light and Tears in the Fence. I read a lot of poetry, and that has become central in my practise and study.

I am currently working on a new collection Workwear that I hope to publish at the end of 2022. I am also carrying on with my research and studies on Margaret Atwood’s work. I write and publish articles on her work, and attend conferences.

(Huge applause from the audience)

There is not a best or a worst gig. I usually enjoy all the poetry readings. I especially like the atmosphere of poetry gigs and I love this feeling of diversity and inclusion.

I’m very active on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I post what I do daily, my impressions, opinions, readings, pictures I take that move me. I enjoy being in constant communication with people. We share what we love and above all, we stay creative which keeps us alive and lively.

Gosh Carla, what lovely and profound answers, I could talk to you all day.

Let’s have a round of applause for the talented and innovative Carla Scarano!

( Loud thunderous applause)

Now, you must be going on somewhere groovy…

Oh yes, I wouldn’t miss that for the world! Put that in your diary, everyone, and watch this great poet read. 17th June from 7.15 till 9.15. Message me if you want to tune in or have a reading spot.

Thanks once again, Carla, for coming on the show, it’s been a real privilege.

(Carla elegantly leaves the building during ecstatic applause)