An Interview with Dean Jolly

I am a former funeral director turned self-published poet, author, and occasional events organiser. I was born in North Shields where I still reside with my family. I have self-published several poetry pamphlets, a full collection, and more recently a novelette titled Nirvana: A Tale of Poets & The Beautifully Mad.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

When I was in my early teens I found a book in a charity shop titled Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig. I bought this book, took it home and when I opened it and started reading I was instantly hooked. There was something about the author’s writing that really resonated with me and by the time I was through reading it I knew I wanted to be able to write like that and so began my journey to becoming an author.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I wanted to find a new and unique way to showcase my original poetry other than simply publishing another pamphlet. I decided to write a story and include my poetry within that story as part of the narrative.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I chose the title Nirvana: A Tale of Poets & The Beautifully Mad for two main reasons. “Nirvana” alludes to the name of the bar in which my story is set. “A Tale of Poets & The Beautifully Mad” alludes to the cosmic balance and link between Creativity & Madness which plays a major role in the story. It took me some time as my original working title was “Are There Poets In Hell?”

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

If my book were to have a soundtrack I would imagine it would be classical-like music, perhaps some haunting violins. “Danse Macabre” comes to mind.

Describe your dream book cover.

A bluebird and a black dog are two characters within the book, which represent cosmic balance amongst other themes, so perhaps a bluebird and a black dog in a yin-yang symbol.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve had many different jobs over the years including working in a bar, which was wild, charity fundraising, which was fun until you got your 100th “NO” of the day, working for a claims management company, which was demoralizing, working in sales, which was cutthroat, working for the co-op, which was simply just boring. Can see a theme emerging? I could never quite settle.

I once attempted to go self-employed as an antiques dealer and made a pretty decent effort at it but I don’t drive and so I couldn’t really travel very far to find interesting pieces.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I read and reread Pulp by Charles Bukowski which I would consider the key inspiration behind my book. I also re-read a lot of his poetry, specifically Bluebird and Nirvana, which I also drew inspiration from.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Despite the somber nature of my former professional background, my writing ultimately celebrates life in all its complexity. I strive to encourage readers to embrace life and find beauty in fleeting moments. Through my evocative poetry and prose, I hope to touch the hearts and minds of readers, leaving an indelible mark on the literary world. My perfect reader would be just like me—beautifully mad.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.