Alison wrote the poems
GNOME SWEET HOME, and
A GNOME SIGHTING
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Alison:
Alison McCabe is a lawyer by trade and a poet by living. She derives inspiration from her family, friends and colleagues, her childhood, and the natural world.
A native of New England, she cherishes memories of visiting her grandparents in rural New Hampshire, where she spent many hours immersed in her imagination. It’s also where she first learned about gnomes, so they hold an extra-special place in her heart!
Alison’s poem A GNOME SIGHTING inspired us to ask the artists to each create a gnome that will be hidden throughout the book.
When she’s not busy with her work and family, she tries to make time for creative pursuits, which, in addition to writing, include photography (mostly of flowers and birds), playing the piano, violin, and guitar (to the best of her ability), and making things (baked goods, scrapbooks, Halloween costumes, jewelry – most any craft will do).
She currently lives on Long Island with her husband, son, and two Boston Terriers.
Absol’s Q&A with Alison:
Well, your poems are about my favorite things–me! What brought on this stroke of genius?
When I first learned that the theme of the anthology was mythological creatures, gnomes immediately popped into my head. I have a gnome figurine on my desk at work, we have gnome statues in our garden at home, and we hang gnome ornaments on our Christmas tree – they’ve just been a part of my life since I was a little girl.
Interesting, how did you come to love me…errr…I mean, gnomes?
I first learned about gnomes at my grandparents’ house in New Hampshire. They had a welcome sign with a gnome painted on it, and my grandmother kept children’s books about gnomes in the upstairs bedroom where I slept. Their house was in the middle of nowhere and set into a hillside, with a large garden out front, and they took much delight in the wildlife around them – from the chipmunks to the chickadees. It was a hospitable environment for gnomes, as well, so you could easily imagine them hiding there among the wildflowers. It was a magical setting where I spent a lot of time daydreaming (because there wasn’t a whole lot else to do there!)
What are you excited about right now?
Getting to be a part of this anthology! Until now, I’ve only shared my poems and other creative writing with my family, friends, and co-workers. So this is the first time, the first opportunity I’ve had to share something with a wider audience, and I’m so grateful for it.
I understand that if you could choose to be ANY mythological creature you’d choose to be a mermaid. It seems like you’ve made pretty good life choices up until this one. Can you tell us a little about your reasoning?
Well, I chose mermaid, because I love the ocean — it’s teeming with all kinds of amazing and beautiful creatures, and it still holds so many secrets that humans have yet to discover. I would be “in” on all of those secrets! I would sing (to the Little Mermaid tune), “Look at these fish, aren’t they neat? I’ll take some fins in exchange for my feet…”
Well, if you change your mind, you could sing the gnome version, “Look at this gnome, guarding your plants, unlike a mermaid, a gnome can wear pants…” there are many more verses.
What is your favorite book from your childhood?
My favorite book from childhood? Gosh, I have a few. Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, was always within reach (and still is). I’ve been hugely inspired by all of his work, its rhythm and rhyme, and the fun he has with words. His simple line illustrations perfectly complement his poems, too. I also fell in love with the series about Frances the badger by Russell Hoban (illustrated by Lillian Hoban) – Bedtime for Francis and A Birthday for Frances, to name a couple. I used to listen to Glynis Johns’ narration of the Frances stories over and over again on my record player. And now I get to see how my son enjoys these books and appreciate what a lasting impact they can have – how important poetry and stories are to children as they learn about the world around them and develop their sense of self.
I’ve read those same stories to my great, great, great, great, great, great, grandkids.
Lovely to get to know you, Alison, thanks for your time.
writersloftpress.com 