12 | From the Editor
An Interview with Poet Billy Barnum, Descendant of P. T. Barnum
Sloane: What inspired you to start writing poetry?
Barnum: Stuff just started coming to me from who knows where and I had the urge to write it down. Every time that happened, I kept writing it down.
Sloane: Your books Move over Shakespeare: Tales from the Baron and The Unbelievable Believable: More Tales from the Baron are selling very well, how does that make you feel as a poet?
Barnum: Knowing that I have the support of my peers, friends, and also just people that love to read a great story or poetry in general makes me feel that my words are being heard and it’s actually worth it to write more and put more books out because someone, if not a lot of people, are loving what I write. When people write me and tell me awesome things like “Wow, there is some wisdom in these books” or “How did you write about the 1000-year storm that just happened a year before it actually happened?” make me feel happy and fulfilled.
Sloane: Your ancestor was P. T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman on Earth,” is that a source of inspiration for you?
If it makes you profoundly think or feel something, then even P. T. Barnum would agree that it was worth the price of admission.
Barnum: P. T. Barnum was a creative genius and I’d like to think because I have the Barnum blood that it carried on through the generations. If it makes you profoundly think or feel something, then even P. T. Barnum would agree that it was worth the price of admission.
Sloane: Any new books of poetry in the works?
Barnum: After my second book, as the last poem in the book suggests, I had nothing left to write, but somehow an ember turned into a spark and now I am proud to announce that I am currently working on my third book, which should be out in the spring of 2023.
Sloane: Throw one of your favorite lines of poetry at us — preferably, something you’ve written.
Barnum: “The rose that burns before my eyes, will soon my friend again arise.” From “The Black Rose the Unforgotten Tale,” 1st poem in book 1.
Sloane: Where can we buy your books?
Barnum: The best place to go to buy my books are on my website http://talesfromthebaron.com or on Amazon, Barnes and Noble online and everywhere worldwide where books are sold online.