Recently, 2 Pens & Lint's own, Henry Duncan, had a chance to ask Shadel Preddy a few questions concerning her

Henry Duncan: What was your process for picking which poems to include in your first book?

Shadel Preddy: The title 'to: My: Future, From: My Past With Love, the Present' was developed years ago. It is already a collection; 1 of 3. A 60 page collection of my poetry, so when it came time to actually put it together for the chapbook. I wanted to pick the ones that will bring out the best of other people, a pick me up. Hoping what I wrote it for serves it's purpose. I wrote to help me; sometimes you have to encourage yourself.

HD: Your bio says you started writing at the age of ten. When did you start performing your poetry and what inspired you to start performing?

SP: I started performing when I was 13 because I had an incredible teacher who made me unafraid of SHARING the way I felt out in open as a performance piece. I had no problem with connecting with my feelings at all, it was just showing other people that connection was frightening. She kind of just reassured me that "It's okay" regardless of the feedback or the outcome because as long as I'm honest, I'll have no regrets.

HD: Reading your poems, it would seem that you are a deeply spiritual person. In your poem Religion you write, "I reserve my eyes from the foolishness of man and keep them in the sky... I heard God is where peace is". Do you believe that religion is "the foolishness of man"?

SP: Religion is nothing more than a tool that we use to govern our lifestyle, and culture our judgement. Everyone has different tools; different religions. The way man chooses to use those tools is what I'd call "the foolishness of mankind". God in God's purest form is where I believe we all connect regardless of denomination. The separation we allow, the ultimate truths that we've created from our own understanding, or our lack there of is what the foolishness is....to me.

HD: Tell us about Fire Bird Management Team.

SP: FIRE BIRD MANAGEMENT TEAM was developed in 2009. I created it for the purpose of helping artist ( all artist, especially POETS) with exposure. Providing management of course as well as promotional tools; photo shoots, flyer's, social networking, studio time, and other tools as well to further expose the art. FBMT is based in New York, and I'm working on making it available to all artists, not only in the tri-state area.

HD: You are releasing your first book , you write for an online magazine and you have a management team. Which one will you choose as your career path?

SP: Poetry.

HD: Where can people see you perform?

SP: Go to www.HRSHREYALITEE.com and you'll know each and eeevvery time :-) Peace. Love.