YA Author Peter James Billing
This week’s Writer Wednesday features Canadian author peter james billing of Walkerville, Ontario. Peter is the co-author of the new YA novel, “The Road Hockey Crew.” He also founded The Faculty of Wonderment, a team of writers, illustrators and creatives that produced the book. Peter is a poet who’s participated in our monthly Art of Poetry events, and he’s working on a screenplay with Detroit Writing Room coach Tim Leonard.
He shares what it’s like being a writer in Windsor and treated us to one of his poems too!
What writing projects are you currently working on?
Thank you Stephanie and the coolest rooms around for writing and hanging my toque…DWR & NYWR!...I'm getting ready for new poems/short prose and film short for POE BALTIMORE Saturday Evening 'Visiters' Award Fest. I was honoured to be an Official Nominee finalist in the Original works section for my love letter from the grave to the living in KNOCKING OF THE NAILS. As well as working soooo hard to get my screenplay into the hands of talented DWR Screenwriting Coach Tim Leonard. It is tough but it will be ready in 2029 😁 teehee. I’m also working on my first Poetry Vibe book.
Do you have any tips or advice for someone who wants to write and publish a YA novel?
Kids, youth, young adults are vitally important. They are of the most profound and of the deepest wonder. We can't dismiss youthful questions, we must encourage the uncomfortable and outlandish thoughts they have as that beauty in forming who they are. As a YA writer — speak your truth and write. Don't wait for someone to say you are good. Don't veer, just write. YA is like any writing, it comes from a place of creative telling…stay true to you. Find your unique, and others will then know that as your unique. I'm 54 and was turned down by publishers so many times, so I self-published mine with the creative house I formed "THE FACULTY OF WONDERMENT … it's everywhere within you."
What’s the writing community like in Windsor?
Windsor is the Canadian Detroit. We have been kicked. Forgotten. Pushed. Told we are something we are not. But both Windsor and Detroit are survivors. Hard workers. Creative, kind and resilient, we are that unique — that is us, all of us! There is beauty in being underestimated. No one expects it — but bring'm around and they will meet artists, painters, poets, musicians, filmmakers, authors, dancers, activists, comedians, athletes, historic storytellers, leaders and supporters of youth programs. Ultimately in truth our beautiful differences and beautiful unique joins us both. Detroit is the American Windsor. We are joined. The river between us has a bridge but yet without it, we are still together.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Not writing. Forming thoughts both organically and by reading others — reading anything — hearing others’ life thoughts. Then...never stop writing. Best therapy money can't buy. And share within comfort and uncomfortable. I try out snippets to make others think, or laugh…listen to a phrase or inner thought — then I'm off. I never have the radio on in my car unless it's music I put on, or 97.1 The Ticket, or podcasts or interviews of those I'm interested in learning about. Even when the radio is on briefly, I turn off the commercials so I can think, so I can keep Focus. We have an opportunity to tune out and create our own modern-day Walden, if we just listen to ourselves and others.
What does your writing workspace look like?
Space(s)…I need change sprinkled into sameness. I have four beautiful spots in my Walkerville, Ontario flat: 1800's wood writing desk secretary...or a wicker chair by the kitchen window...or on the front porch at 5 a.m. …or by the bay window in the front parlour as light hits at different times. Also coffee shops when no one is there or in my car — pulled over writing down or recording — cuz i gotta!
What is your favorite non-writing hobby?
Composing music scores for my films/projects and others…and songwriting for recording artists. Music is the tape that heals and joins us all, the very soundtrack of our lives — so I figured — “I know my heart (music) is beating, my drummer tells me so” (FREE by PRINCE🙏🏻)
What is your favorite piece of writing advice?
LOVE … just love.
Listen. It is all around us. Words. Stories. Ideas. Humour. (note Canadian spelling eh). I always tell those I advise in writing: “An amazing character or scene/line or idea at the top of a staircase stays there, if you don't jot it down.” “Write when it's sunny, or when it storms but mostly, write when you don't want to.”
We love the poems you’ve shared at the Art of Poetry! Can you share an excerpt from one?
I am so completely honoured to be part of the Art of Poetry open mic with such amazing Souls of poetry, prose and song…a chance to be heard, learn from the passionate!
From Coffee Stained Notes Series:
'UR OWN BRAND OF GLOOM’
if I turned blue in a room of happy
u could not find me
over there by the staircase in chat
you would
my tie speaks of fashion
posture of charm
no cologne today
just my own brand of gloom
top of the morning
top of ur game
smile for the chorus
then
collapse for the hamper
renew with the wash
if I turned bright in a room of no light
u would find me
showing off by same stairs
over there
same me
over there
over there
oh but now,
such lively cologne
same brand of gloom
different moon moving thru
top of the morning
top of ur game
smile for the chorus
then
collapse for the hamper
renew with the wash
if I told you I needed gloom
would you care?
with the bustling buzz
of the vanity fare
less grey on my suit
more grey in the air
does sadness need to be tickled
away?
til there?
to shoo it away,
there…. ‘See.. there!’
can happy have sleepovers
with sad?
or should those two kids
not sit together at school?
top of the morning
top of ur class
smile for the pictures
then
collapse on ur bed
make room for the living
make room for the dread
same world we're all living
just some things are not said.
Follow Peter on Instagram at @peterjamesbilling and check out his work at thefacultyofwonderment.com.
DWR Note: We want to thank Peter and The Faculty of Wonderment for supporting Coaching Detroit Forward’s Student Photography Showcase on June 5! Come join us and reserve your ticket!