The funny thing about interviewing three writers on Saturday was that I didn’t know anything about them or what they would look like.

It felt a little bit as if I was going on three consecutive blind dates.

I had been given three names and automatically I started building an image of each of  them in my head.

So when I met with Sarah Maria Griffin, I imagined her in her mid-thirties with a Spanish look. (I don’t know why. I guess it is the middle name that threw me off. ) Instead I met with an effervescent young poet from Dublin, now living in Galway, who is working on five projects at the same time, one of which is called Follies and soon to be published by Lapwing. You’d think that it is a lot to take on for one so young (she’s 23) but behind the bright green eyes, there was  maturity and determination. She’s been writing since she was seven years old and she is as fiery and passionate about poetry as her flaming red hair.

The writer I met next was Anne Tannam. And for some reason, I imagined she’d be very poised. After all, the name Anne comes from Hannah which means grace in Hebrew.

And I think I was spot on. She came in and there was an aura of wisdom and composure about her which reflects exactly how she has decided to view the world. After struggling with her demons, Anne decided at 42 that it was time to join poetry’s dance. And what a dance! She has been working on a very fine collection of poems for the last three years called Take This Life, published earlier this year by 6thHouse. She gave me a copy as a gift — what a privilege! — every one of her poems felt like a waltz. Touching, beautiful and ethereal.

And then finally I met with Cliff Horseman, also a poet, and known on stage as Cah-44.  This thirty-something American performs poetry live. He has knocked about 49 US states and 13 countries. Listening to the tracks on his MySpace page, I found myself entering yet another different world of poetry. Poetry with an edge, a sense of protest. It is rock and art. Experimental rock with a profound evocative quality.

So if I could summarize how these three interviews went: I twirled in a fast jig, slowed down in a waltz and jumped into rock and roll.

All three interviews will be posted soon.