Interview: Kerenza Peugniez
Kerenza Peugniez is a primary school music teacher in East London. She loves reading, writing, crisps, walks, quirky clothing and of course, music, singing and playing flute, gamelan and many other instruments. She first had a piece of music published at age 12 but is delighted, some 30 years later, to have poems published in Tyger, Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Little Thoughts Press, as well as having poems featured on radio via BBC Upload.
Little Thoughts Press: Your poem “Dhol Drums” blends music and poetry through a structure that is meant to mimic the specific rhythm of Bhangra music. Speaking more generally, though, how do you think your musical background influences your approach to poetry?
Kerenza Peugniez: When I write a poem, the rhythm and stress of the poem is really important to me. Saying it out loud and hearing that rhythm is really important and actually reading aloud to someone, treating it like a performance, is important. It's then that I notice things that don't work. When I perform poetry, the inflection and pitch and even changes of dynamics, louder and quieter moments are all part of it. Thinking too about a poem being like a written piece of music, I think this is why I struggle to write free verse more—I really like the confines of a rhythm and structure which often music conforms to and I think that's why I am a fan of a rhyme! I love the musicality of certain words. Beyond that, I'm not sure I've ever consciously considered how my musicality affects my poetry writing process! Apart from the fact I actually have an entire poetry collection about music, aimed at children, ready to go!
Little Thoughts Press: In your author’s note for this piece you write, “As a musician, I believe that music is a huge part of celebrations!” What role does music play in your own celebrations and traditions?
Kerenza Peugniez: For me, music is always a part of celebrations. As a child growing up, I was involved in music in all aspects of my life—I sang in the church choir from the age of 4, having sat under the table in the vestry listening to my Mum's choir practice. Christmas is synonymous with music for me and I count myself so lucky as a primary music teacher to organise the Christmas carol services at school, to choose and write songs for school (I've had a tradition as a teacher that I write a new Christmas song every year for my pupils to sing as part of our performance and this is one of my favourite traditions for the Christmas season. I have 20 songs and I am just about to begin number 21!). Carol services are a huge part of my Christmas celebrations, be they at school, church or elsewhere! If anyone asks me to sing or play in one, I absolutely will! And I always have to listen to Victor Hely-Hutchinson's "Carol Symphony" which was used as the music from the children's TV series I mention below.
Little Thoughts Press: This issue is about big traditions, but also the little rituals that give our lives magic, joy and peace. What is your favorite small ritual that brings you joy?
Kerenza Peugniez: On a Saturday morning, when I've got nowhere to be, I like to make myself a full pot of tea (with loose tea leaves from the Zero Waste shop and milk just delivered from the milkman in reusable glass bottles) and sit in bed and drink cup after cup whilst reading a book. Or on the sofa. There's something soothing and magical about that early morning hush, reading and tea combined.
Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids?
Kerenza Peugniez: I've always written in my spare time, be it stories, poems or blog posts. However, the first time I wrote for children was at the end of my first year of being a qualified teacher. I loved my first class and wanted to write them a story all about them. I wrote and included each and every one of them in a story which showed their idiosyncrasies and printed everyone a copy. A younger colleague recently married a pupil from that first class (he was a child when I started teaching!) and he told me she still has that book! I did this for my next two classes, before my role changed. I used to love teaching writing and reading and even though I had moved onto being a music specialist, a part of me still wanted to be in on the literacy part of the curriculum. Quite often, I would write model texts for teachers who wanted to give an example of a piece of writing they wanted from the children.
I started writing poetry aimed at children a few years ago when my school started trying to make more of a focus on poetry and I wanted to DO the thing we were asking the children to do—write poetry! However, it was only after attending one of the Emma Press' online workshops with Kate Wakeling about writing poetry for children that I really started writing in earnest AND after discovering the Toy Press' word of the week, it became a regular exercise.
I think I am still very much a child at heart and this is why I find it more fun writing for children than attempting anything for adults! I still think I'm about 12 in my head. I find it challenging finding the balance between wanting to introduce new and challenging vocabulary but at the same time making it approachable, I think I also sometimes waffle on a bit too much—more succinctness needed!
I find writing poetry for children huge fun! You don't have to take yourself too seriously but I also love experimenting with vocabulary. I also love it when someone really likes a poem—you see that glee! It was a thrill when 180 children this summer performed my Dhol Drums poem as part of my school's South Asian performance alongside a series of folksongs and dances.
Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up?
Kerenza Peugniez: I devoured Enid Blyton with alacrity as a child and wanted to write wonderful poetry like Fatty/Frederick in the Mystery series. I think I read most of her books. This led me, on a rainy holiday in France, after I'd read my books in two days, to start on my sister's Agatha Christie books. That love of a mystery has never left me. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew further fulfilled the love of a mystery and I loved the Tim and the Hidden People series by Sheila K. McCullagh which was part of our school reading scheme—such brilliant, exciting stories with wonderful evocative illustrations!
Noel Streatfield and Malcolm Saville were authors I adored when I was bought their books as presents. The Hobbit was a big memorable book for me too and who doesn't love a bit of Roald Dahl? I really enjoyed Beverley Cleary's Ramona books and Elizabeth Goudge's A Little White Horse and Moondial by Helen Cresswell and finally the wonderful Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. The garden in that story is my grandparents' wonderful garden. Also, I read and reread Brian Patten's Gargling with Jelly poetry book until it was tattered. Finally, I fell in love with John Masefield's The Box of Delights after watching the BBC children's TV adaptation of it and reread it again and again. It was a thrill as a grown-up to discover the prequel, The Midnight Folk!
Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out?
Kerenza Peugniez: I have discovered SUCH a wealth of contemporary children's authors over the past 10 years or so, having read about 100 books a year. My favourite character is Chrestomanci from the Worlds of Chrestomanci books by Diane Wynne Jones. I'm still waiting to find a silk dressing gown and top hat in a charity shop so I can dress as him for World Book Day.
I adore Katherine Woodfine and her wonderful Sinclair's Mysteries and Taylor and Rose series—the third book, The Painted Dragon, sets up such an exciting sequence of events that thrill me as I read! Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series too. Jasbinder Bilan's stories have gained a place in my heart such as Naeli and the Secret Song (spoiler: it's got music as part of the plot!). I have really enjoyed her characters and evocative setting descriptions particularly those in India. I think Onjali Q. Rauf is a superb writer and her stories are full of heart and really make you think and empathise with those in difficult situations, such as The Letter with the Golden Stamp. Kiran Millward Hargrave, Ross Montgomery, Emma Carroll, Kereen Getten, and M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgeman all write brilliant midgrade books with a mystery. I love a series with an overarching mystery and Thomas Taylor's Eerie on Sea series starting with Malamander, is a wonderful blend of mystery, legend, monsters and suspense. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun and the subsequent books by Tolá Okogwu are a superb series too. I've enjoyed quite a few books by Nigerian heritage authors like Jummy and the River School by Sabine Adeyinka and Jude Idada's Boom Boom which taught me about Sickle Cell Anaemia.
In terms of poets, Si Mole and Neal Zetter, Attie Lime, Sarah Ziman and Kate Wakeling all hugely inspire me as well as the hilarious Michael Rosen!
Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers?
Kerenza Peugniez: Carry around a notebook and pen with you at all times. Have one by your bed, in your bag, when you are watching TV, playing flute in a rehearsal... Inspiration can strike at any time and if you don't write it down in the moment, you will forget it. One of my favourite poems written in recent times was inspired by a typo from the text from an Instagram story from someone. Similarly, my first published poem with Tyger Tyger was written during an orchestra rehearsal when I was bored counting a lot of bars rests. If I hadn't written the ideas both down, the moment would have passed.
Also, even if you feel like you haven't got inspiration for a particular task, just give it a go anyway. Start it, write something. Come back to it in a couple of days. I tried to join in with word of the week for a whole year with The Toy and there were certain poems I wrote that I posted that I wasn't sure about, took a whole week to work on, still not convinced about them, but I still think it was worth having battled with them. Even if those poems didn't turn out the best, the process makes me a better writer!
Another point is to write poems about something you love or you think you know best! Your memories are a great source of inspiration, write about them especially if they are important to you. Share your writing with others. It should go without saying that you should keep reading new authors! I thought I was a voracious reader as a child but I wish I had read more widely, not just reread old favourites! If you want to write effective poetry or prose, read lots of authors!
Finally, be kind to others who are writing and ask to read their work too—I think as writers, we should be big supporters of others, don't treat everything like a competition! Congratulate your friends on their successes and help out where you can.
Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share?
Kerenza Peugniez: I wish I had some poetry or writing projects or news to share! Sadly, nothing I can think of at the moment. I think I might have asked if there is anything I really care about beyond the arts. I wish there was a way we could do something about the constant battle against the pollution and overconsumption in our world. Sometimes, I think my friends and colleagues get tired of me being a bit dogged over my determination to save, reuse, buy second hand and talk about eco issues but I do think every action and conversation is important, no matter how small and we shouldn't just take the easy option of blaming those in power without doing the little things ourselves too! Are there ways I can incorporate this into my poetry or writing without being too preachy?!
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