Stephanie McKee
Stephanie studied Psychology and English literature, then joined a travelling musical roadshow, and later co-founded a rural ‘intentional community’ on a burnt, abandoned farm. Now decades later the community project has evolved into an intergenerational solar eco-village and regenerating native forest.
In mid -life she worked as a music teacher in many settings, urban, rural, mainstream, kura kaupapa. Her love of poetry has been around since teenage years, and throughout her life, expressing and processing experiences through poetry, has been a lifeline and a true friend of mental health.
Stephanie has a research interest in the links between creativity and mental health.
To keep up with the information revolution, Stephanie completed a Grad Dip. in Education Technology in 2005. Then in 2013 she trained as an Independent Marriage and Funeral Celebrant, and now officiates at local weddings or memorial services.
In 2010, Stephanie published her first poetry collection, “Crystals in the Streambed”.
In 2016 a second collection, “Walking the Mānuka Path” was published.
Now she has published a new collection of poems “Singing in the Key of Epiphany”.
“ The Muse keeps knocking on my door.”
Do you try more to be original, or to deliver to readers what they want?
With my poems I am expressing what I hope is true to myself, that others can relate to. Events and experiences trigger that feeling of ” a poem coming on” and I let my Muse loose. I am not trying to conform to a particular ” school of poetry” or obscure academic style, I like to think my poems are very accessible to a wide range of people. I like to play with the rhythms and musicality of language and have fun with using a variety of shapes and poetic forms.
How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
Publishing my first poetry book boosted my self-confidence, that it is OK to be vulnerable and share both the concerns and joys of life. I don’t put on the editing hat until after the free flow of the poem/story has been complete.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have two “works in progress” in the pipeline. These are in the hybrid non-fiction genre.
What is it about your chosen genre that you love?
What I love about poetry is that it has so much freedom – there are thousands of ways you can express yourself or tell a story. Poetry plays with the rhythms and music of language. It can be read silently or spoken out loud, or performed theatrically. Poetry is like a chameleon, a shape-shifter, a multi-headed hydra, whatever you want it to be. There is also a poetic aesthetic, a certain form or rhythm may suit the subject matter. Poetry can resonate with people’s moods, can uplift the spirit or shake you til you see it. Also there is a vast body of poetic literature to explore and learn about. Poetry is universal across cultures. I could go on…..!
These are just some of the reasons why I love poetry.