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Author and critic Michael Antman joins Joe and Mark for Michael’s second appearance on Re-Creative.

After discussing Michael’s novel, Cherry Whip: the Twentieth Anniversary Edition, recently released by Donovan Street Press, which features a Japanese protagonist, Michael explains the origin of his love for Japanese culture. According to Michael, it all happened because he didn’t know what a “porter” was (it’s not what you think…)

Well, that and his discovery of a six volume history of haiku.

To Michael, haiku has always been “a wonderful diversion.” It’s a passion that Mark shares, both Michael and Mark having actually published haiku in The Mainichi Daily News.

“A writer writes,” Michael reminds us, advice he received from fellow writer Scott Turow. “I’m a writer, that’s what I do.”

And to prove it (not that we needed proof), he shares with us all a choice morsel of his own haiku in the episode.

And here are four that he wrote, one for each season:

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Michael Antman is the author of the novels Cherry Whip: Twentieth Anniversary Edition, Everything Solid Has a Shadow, and the recently completed novel A Distant Place of Slaughter. He is a two-time finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Balakian Award for Excellence in Book Reviewing. He is also a theatre critic, urban photographer and poet, and formerly the Global Head of Marketing for a Fortune 100 company.

Everything Solid Has a Shadow is a novel about “one man’s soul-searching journey to unearth the mysteries of his past and his present (that) unfolds like a hauntingly beautiful dream from which you won’t want to wake.” –Randy Richardson, President, Chicago Writers Association.)

This poetic story of dreams, deception, coming to terms with past mysteries and present traumas, and learning what love means is “deeply touching” (Philadelphia Inquirer),”an absorbing tale of mystery and romance, rich with symbolism and elements of magical realism” (Kirkus Reviews), “a page-turner that also engages the reader in deep metaphysical exploration” (Building the Perfect Chicago Book Collection), and “a literary joy” (Readers’ Favorite Five Star review.)