Sparking Creativity and Self-Discovery with Robert P. Waters, Author of Men’s Poetry Night (Hello, Self… Episode 57)
In this episode, host Patricia Leonard talked with guest Robert P. Waters, an author who turned his pandemic downtime into a creative venture called Men’s Poetry Night.
Robert shared his background, the journey from job loss to becoming a prolific writer, and the story behind his latest book. Patricia and Robert talked about self-discovery, community, and the therapeutic power of poetry.
The conversation focused on the importance of turning dreams into plans, getting creative, and finding common ground. Robert also shared insights about his book’s potential for a movie adaptation and its message of inclusion and genuine fellowship among men in a small-town setting.
Hello, Self… is presented by Patricia Leonard & Associates and produced by Arlia Hoffman in association with the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.
A video version of this conversation is available on Patricia’s YouTube Channel here.
Robert P. Waters, Author of Men’s Poetry Night
Robert P. Waters began writing during a prolonged job search in the Great Recession of 2008.
Two sparks were lit at the same time: one for fiction and one non-fiction; the later due to his convictions about hiring processes witnessed in his job search. Technology and culture remain key subjects in his books yet another monumental world-order change motivated him to write his first-ever humorous take about small-town life during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With more time to create, Waters began envisioning a blue collar town driven by strong family and culture and hard workers with a love for nature. The idea became poetry, that is, men who began to write poetry and share it. Where? Up at the Assembly Hall of a closed mining operation. Men’s Poetry Night expanded conceptually by entertaining the reader with small stories about the men – young and old – who wrote verse about everything: their wives, their experiences, their memories of youthful sweethearts and hunting.
Readers have described the book as being “almost real” as Waters taps his imagination right into the clear water of small town life, waiting for the end of covid19, always with a laugh.
About Hello, Self…
Hello, Self… is a biweekly podcast focused on inspiring stories of turning dreams into reality. Join coach and author Patricia Leonard and her guests as they share life-changing Hello, Self… moments.
Hello, Self… is brought to you by Patricia Leonard & Associates and is based on the new book by Patricia Leonard, Hello, Self.., available here.
The show is produced by Arlia Hoffman in association with Business RadioX®. You can find this show on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.
Patricia Leonard, Host of Hello, Self…
Patricia Leonard is President of RUNWAY TO SUCCESS, a division of Patricia Leonard & Associates located in Nashville, TN. She is a MESSAGE ARTIST speaker, career & business coach, author and magazine columnist. Patricia consults with clients on leadership, empowerment, career management, entrepreneurship and the power of language. Her work is focused on helping clients find their runway to success!
She has a professional background in management, human resources, corporate training, business consulting and talent development. Patricia has worked with companies in the service, music, banking, manufacturing, publishing, warehousing, healthcare, academic, retail and financial industries, and has taught management classes as an adjunct professor.
Patricia has a degree in Human Resource Management, is certified as a Career Coach and Consulting Hypnotist and is MBTI qualified.
Her volunteer energies are focused on Women in Film and Television-Nashville, where she is a Board Vice President; Dress for Success as the Advisory Board President; and International Coaching Federation-Nashville where she held Board roles for several years.
Patricia is the author of Wearing High Heels in a Flip Flop World, BECOMING WOMAN…a journal of personal discovery, THE NOW, HOW & WOW of Success, Happenings, a full year calendar of inspirational messages and a spoken word album titled, I AM…
She enjoys songwriting, creating poetry and has written a one-woman show and artistic speech she performs titled Hello, Self…, about a woman in midlife reinventing herself, which led to her new book by the same name, available here.
On the personal side, Patricia, describes herself as a woman, lover of life, mother, grandmother, career professional and message artist; AND in that order! Her goal is to continue inspiring others, of any age, to START NOW creating and expanding their Runway to Success.
She believes that life is a gift, the way we wrap it is our choice.
