Jeff Pew has been a driving force on the local poetry/creative writing scene for a long time, inspiring many of his students. His latest poetry collection, ‘One Foot In’, was published last fall.
“Jeff Pew’s poems are full of play, curiosity, wisdom, and pain. He’s a generous poet whose work ranges from the beautifully banal to the bizarrely surreal. You should read him, and read him to your friends on the phone.” - A review from Stuart Ross author of A Sparrow Came Down Resplendent.
One Foot In is selling well, and Pew has just been informed that one of his poems has been chosen by MP Wayne Stetski to be included in National Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke’s project. That project is a registry of poems from across the country that represent different areas. Twenty poems have been chosen from British Columbia, and Pew’s is one of three chosen from Kootenay Columbia. The poem chosen is River Lore, Pew’s thoughts on fly fishing in East Kootenay rivers, which he says has proven to be one of the more popular poems in One Foot In.
“I’m pretty honoured, as one of the other Kootenay-Columbia poets is Fred Wah, who was past National Poet Laureate,” Pew said.
One Foot In has been available since last November but its official launch comes next month in Kimberley at Centre 64 on April 21. Pew is delighted that one of his favourite poets, Bill Bissett, will be attending the launch.
Pew finds a lot of his inspiration in the students in his creative writing class at Selkirk Secondary.
“I get these amazing kids. They are so creative, always looking at life through an artist’s eye.
“It inspires them to see me published. It encourages them. It demonstrates to them how much I love writing.”