David Lewis Pogson in the Spotlight

David Lewis Pogson, whose poem ‘Awaiting the Death of Spin’ is published in issue 6 of Lucent Dreaming, is a retired Chartered Surveyor living in North Lancashire, England. Winner of the Cumbria Local History Federation Prize, The Freerange Theatre Company’s Playframe Short Story Competition (later produced as a touring play) and several Microcosmsfic Flash Fiction competitions. He writes a quarterly fictional series for ACES ‘The Terrier’ Magazine. His work has been published by The Sirens Call, 101 Fiction, Spelk Fiction, The Preservation Foundation, Didcot Writers and in magazines and poetry anthologies. He started writing late in life and likes to experiment with different genres. When not writing he tends to sleep a lot.

So, what inspired your piece ‘Awaiting the Death of Spin’? Can you tell us a little more about what it’s about?

I wrote it in 2003 after reading about Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s Spin doctor, resigning as Labour’s director of communications to restore some semblance of impartiality to the government’s information network. It lay forgotten until your ‘Sedition’ invitation appeared. Unfortunately, it’s even more relevant today with social media. The allegorical ‘rabid wolf’ that is Spin is so blatant that lies are now accepted as truth. Take Trump and the ‘headless chickens’ that swallow his lies or ‘the ostrich that buries its head’ which recognises the lies but no longer wants to correct them. My hope in the poem is that a ‘hero’ politician will emerge who speaks the unvarnished truth and will be popular because of it.

What are some of your favourite books and art (including shows, videos, music) – of all time or more recently. Why are they favourites?

My all-time favourite story is Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  The Disney version was my first film at age 5 and I was hooked.  I missed half the film because my mother had toothache so we left early. I couldn’t wait to buy the book. And Long John Silver has to be one of literature’s stand-out characters.

Recently I’ve been reading a lot of crime (now finished every Rebus) and adventure fiction (some Dan Brown, John Grisham).  I have a wide reading interest so long as the story is good. I’m the same with videos – 4 Weddings etc/Notting Hill/Fever Pitch/Educating Rita – are amongst my favourites. Good stories with believable characters and great writing. If they make me laugh then so much the better.

What, if anything, are you looking forward to right now and what writing/creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m looking forward to seeing my only grandchild now that the Covid 19 restrictions are easing. He lives at the other end of the country so travelling has been impossible until recently.

The Editor of ‘The Terrier’ magazine asked me for another short story series which will be ‘Herdwick Tales’. That’s what I’ve been working on recently.  I’ve submitted those and have started on some ideas for the next series.  I’ve also written a play and some monologues for submission to various theatre competitions and await reactions to those as well as to some odd short story competition entries.   

Can you tell us about how you got into writing and art? Is there anyone whose support or encouragement really inspired or motivated you?

My inspiration probably came from my English teachers at school. I didn’t fully appreciate them at the time but I must have been absorbing all those classics that we studied for A-level. I spent my career as a property negotiator persuading people to make deals and came to appreciate the power of the written word.  I started writing for the Terrier magazine in 2001.  Straightforward articles at first, then adding some humour and controversy and eventually morphing into total fiction. I’m grateful for the encouragement given by Tim Foster and Betty Albon, successive Editors of ‘The Terrier’. When I hit a dry patch they request something to set me writing again.

Where can people see more of you and your work?

Most of the short stories and poems that I’ve had published elsewhere eventually appear for free on my website, once any restrictions have expired, at www.davidlewispogson.wordpress.com

Books which include my work can be found at https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Lewis-Pogson/e/B01LWD9D8Y?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Lucent Dreaming is an independent creative writing magazine publishing beautiful, imaginative and surreal short stories, poetry and artwork from emerging authors and artists worldwide. Our aim is to encourage creativity and to help writers reach publication! Subscribe to Lucent Dreaming now, support us on Patreon and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.