Interview with Barbara Spring

I was born in New York City, spent some growing up years in Columbia, Missouri, then my family moved to East Lansing, Michigan when I was 10. After high school I graduated from Michigan State University with a major in English. I always liked to write. I became an English major after taking a poetry class at Michigan State from the Poet Laureate of Canada, A.J.M. Smith. I have taken many post graduate courses in outdoor education, art, photography, and I have studied writing with Wm. Stafford, Robert Bly, Nancy Willard, N. Scott Momaday and many other notable writers Lisa:Why did you write The Dynamic Great Lakes? Barbara:I could not find an up to date book on the five Great Lakes and their connecting waters, dunes, wetlands and other features. I could not find any book for the general public about the interconnected Great Lakes. So I wrote one.

Lisa:Who were your mentors?

Barbara:My first mentor was my father, E. P. Reineke, a research scientist at M.S.U. in the physiology dept. He did some important original research there. I learned to love and appreciate nature from him. My husband, Norm Spring has been a long time outdoorsman and conservationist. I have learned a great deal about nature and the democratic process from him.

Lisa:What are some books that have changed your life?

Barbara:Silent Spring by Rachel Carson opened my eyes to what we are doing to the environment. After reading the book and recommending it to my husband, we both became activists on behalf of the environment before the first Earth Day in 1970. I also loved A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. I required my students to read it when I taught writing classes at Grand Valley State University.

Lisa:Who do you think would enjoy reading this book?

Barbara:I wrote The Dynamic Great Lakes for a general audience.

I spoke to school children this week. I opened my talk with a space photo of Planet Earth and explained that the water they saw was 98% salt water-only about 2% is freshwater. "Dang!" said a kid in surprise.

The audience for my book is really adults, but school age kids will find it interesting, too. It is an up to date reference to the five Great Lakes and their connecting waters: their fishes, dunes, wetlands, seasonal changes and changes caused by people. The Dynamic Great Lakes will be an eye-opener for anyone.

Lisa:Why is the Dynamic Great Lakes an important book?

Barbara:The Great Lakes are important but often misunderstood. They are about 20% of all the fresh surface water on this planet. People need to understand their dynamics in order to make sound decisions about them. Recently a grassroots movement in Michigan blocked oil companies from further oil exploration under Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The risk of polluting the lakes with oil and noxious gases was intolerable. There will be more schemes that threaten the health of the Great Lakes. Armed with knowledge, people will demand the right thing of their government. They will also be careful of what they do in their personal decisions. The lakes' water is low this year, but it will rise again. People who know this is a natural cycle will not build too close to the water.

Lisa:Why is this book a good choice for Earth Day?

Barbara:The book encourages people to think globally and act locally. Everything is connected to everything else. This means that what we burn, what we release in the water and land and what we eat are all connected. We often forget that we are part of the whole and flowing web of life. Our actions will affect us now and in the future.

Lisa:How is your book different from other books about the Great Lakes?

Barbara:I limited my topic to changes in the Great Lakes, both through natural forces and through changes caused by people. There have been a great many changes and I believe people will be interested in learning about the Pacific salmon planted in the lakes to feed on the pesky alewives that invaded them through the canals around Niagara Falls. They will be interested in other exotic species such as the zebra mussels and how they got into all five Great Lakes Lisa: How did you research the book? Barbara:I began with observations. We live within view of Lake Michigan. I can observe the change of seasons and what kinds of fish are being caught. I have also observed all the other lakes and their connecting waters. I then set out to find out authoritative information about the lakes by interviewing experts. The book is interdisciplinary. I interviewed a geologist, fish biologists, and naturalists. I asked them for good sources in print. I went out on Grand Valley State University's research vessel, Angus to see what research was being done. I enjoyed working on the Dynamic Great Lakes because there was always something new. Lisa:What else have you written? Barbara:As a journalist, I have written articles for the Grand Rapids Press, a major newspaper in West Michigan. These articles were about travels, profiles of interesting people, and outdoor subjects. I also have had articles published in Michigan Out of Doors magazine, Michigan Natural Resources magazine, Muskegon Magazine, Field & Stream and many others.

http://www.authorsden.com/barbaraspring  click the link

Interview

Betsie: To start this off, why don't you give an idea of what the book is about?

Wilderness Within is about wilderness places in nature and wilderness places within the psyche. The poetry comes from where these two places intersect.

Betsie: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life?

I grew up around university towns: Columbia, Missouri and East Lansing Michigan.  The University of Missouri and Michigan State University respectively. I always loved reading and began writing little poems as soon as I learned how to write.

Betsie: Who were your earliest influences and why?
My earliest influences were my parents.  My mother taught me to read since I had a serious case of pneumonia in the first grade.  My father understood good literature, so there were always good books to read around the house.  He was a scientist and did original research.  He let me observe what was going on in his lab when I was quite young.  He also took me on nature walks and explained a lot of natural phenomena to me. When I had a question, my mother would say, “Go ask your Dad.”

Betsie: What would a typical day be like for a writer?

I receive my inspiration from many sources: dreams, people, observations of nature.  Sometimes I wake up and write down something that has arrived through a dream.  It may take years before I understand the meaning.  My poem, “Bear Woman” was inspired by a nightmare.  A grizzly bear was battering at my front door in the dream.

The poem took a few years to write because I did not understand it fully right away.  People touch me, especially children.  My grand daughter hated to go to bed when she was small.  I believe it was because she was afraid.  That is the origin of “Bedtime

Story.”  It begins, “Bako, tell me about the pterodactyls.”  A big scary dinosaur that flies embodies a primal fear.  Fear is the idea behind the poem.  Sometimes I am moved and amused by nature.  My haiku about frogs is about their courtship in the spring.  They get pretty noisy.

Betsie: How long have you been writing and in what capacities?

I have been writing for many years.  I wrote feature articles for the Grand Rapids Press  and other publications for a number of years and I really enjoyed interviewing people.  I liked older people especially since they have had life experiences and wisdom that was worth noting.

I also wrote a great many travel articles.

My first book, The Dynamic Great Lakes, is non fiction.  I interviewed scientists, and naturalists in different disciplines such as geology, fish biology, limnology and the like to get the information I needed.  These people are generous and like to share their knowledge.  I enjoyed going out on a research vessel on Lake Michigan to observe and learn.  I was an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University at that time and I wrote some articles about the research vessel and those were published.  The department appreciated that.

  

Betsie: Which is more difficult to write - Poetry or nonfiction and why?

Writing non fiction is difficult because you must get your facts and document them. Then you must make the writing engaging to the reader.  Poetry is challenging because you are working with the language in a way that will be pleasing to the ear and eye as well as meaningful.  I have written some fiction, but I have not published any of it yet.

Betsie: Has there ever been a time when you wanted to throw in the towel and give up? And if so, how did you defeat those instincts?

While working on my book about the Great Lakes, I nearly gave up since I had too much material and I had to put it into some kind of format that would be easy to understand for the readers.  The Dynamic Great Lakes is about changes in the Great Lakes and so if the material didn’t fit the concept of changes, I cut.  I cut and cut again until I had something I believed would be useful and readable.

I never gave up hope on The Wilderness Within because poetry is something I love to write.

Betsie: What is the hardest part about being a writer?

When I worked for the newspaper I hated being edited.  I still hate being edited.  Sometimes an editor can really help, but not very often.

Betsie: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

I like the exercise of yoga.  It keeps mind and body limber.  I like to play the guitar and sing.  This helps me to hear.    I like to dance. Dancing helps me to feel.   I like to paint watercolors and work in other art mediums. This helps me to see.  But since time is limited, I have chosen to write over the other arts.

Betsie: Articles and media alike make it sound as though the only way to rise to the top is to sacrifice. What do you find to be good sacrifices?

I have not sacrificed and so I have not risen to the top.  I know others that have paid their dues, but this sort of thing does not appeal to me.

Betsie: What question do you get asked more than any other?

Is it o.k. to eat the fish?

Betsie: What’s the coolest thing a reader has said to you?

Several people have said, “I loved your book.  I am buying more for friends.”

Betsie: What has been your feedback from readers? What do they say to you about their interpretations of your book?

Both men and women like The Wilderness Within.  They laugh at the poem Vernal Equinox—about the part where men stand up to pee in the water. Responses vary depending upon the reader’s experiences. A few liked Easter Morning. A few have said my book is comforting to them.

Betsie: Do you think that as a writer you are more prone to watching what goes on around you and observing behaviors than most people are?

Writing trains the ear and the eye.  But you don’t have to be a writer to make these sorts of observations. My grand daughter Rachel does great imitations of people.  She’s an actress.

Betsie: Who are some of the authors you consider to be "don't miss"?

I have enjoyed reading Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, Rachel Carson, Diane Ackerman,

Barry Lopez.  There are too many to list.

Betsie: If one were looking to start his/her own career as a writer, what would you suggest his/her first step to be?

Keep a journal because you want to, not because you have to.

Betsie: What kind of movies do you enjoy?

The Cohen brothers have some good ones.  I like their regional approach.  I liked Fargo because the people from this region were so convincing, especially the woman police officer.

Betsie: What is your favorite city to visit, but one that you wouldn’t want to live in?

I was born in New York City but did not live there very long.  I must have some early memory of it though since I feel wonderful when walking around Central Park.  My mother used to push my baby carriage on those sidewalks.

Betsie: What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked in an interview?

If you were czar(ina) of the Great Lakes, what is the single most important thing you would do for them?

This was a good question and I enjoyed answering it but the czar (ina) part was rather strange.

Betsie: What’s the best part of being a writer?

The best part of being a writer is writing something that means a lot personally, and then sharing it with everyone who reads the book.

Betsie: Thanks to Barbara Spring for taking the time in interviewing with us and we wish her much success!