True Spoken Lies by April Hoskins is the Scotts, MI. raised, Kalamazoo drag hag's debut.
Assosiated with House of Del Ray, Hoskins's famed asexual love affair with drag diva Miss Carmen Sandiego inspired her poem Jeweled Words which was published in her 2 poem cameo in A James Schwartz Reader.
The Hushed Words and Poisoned Pens: A Body of Works by P.W. Cherish author traded clubbing for Jax motherhood and a near seven year partnership with Bryan Stafford, the father of their two children.
In an 05 interview Hoskins stated that "Until all gay citizens can get married, neither will we."

Hoskins' Lies finds joy in motherhood and the everyday i.e. Lucky, I Thank You and gives props to BFF James Schwartz with the long ode Semaj.
Presented as Love Poems, Hate Poems and Other, the poetess examines truths and lies in matters of the heart, taking a quasi-Goth tone and painting stark portaits of broken or lost love.
Hoskins herself describes Lies as "A journey into womanhood", asking questions and discovering truths i.e. Anger, Gasoline and Long Goodbyes, Little Lies, Thinking Confusion.
Hoskins' rant Simply Mother masquerades as a suicide letter, a frantic plea for acceptance.
Another highlight is the beautific ballad Poetic Roses which warns of false love.
Hoskins' long overdue debut is a twisted, challenging look on the darkness of the heart and love itself.

20 QUESTIONS
WITH APRIL HOSKINS:
From queens to Kabbalah to James Schwartz,
Schwartz’s hag and co-author discusses their upcoming poetry collection EVERYTHING REDONE/TRUE SPOKEN LIES, her travels and love life (Yep it’s real!)
____________________________________________________________

CR: You’ve authored an e-book HUSHED WORDS & POISONED PENS, made a 2 poem cameo in A JAMES SCHWARTZ READER and are making your official literary debut with the forthcoming TRUE SPOKEN LIES. How would you describe your poetry to those unfamiliar with your work?

AH: I would say my poetry has an appeal to everyone. I always write what I feel so I cover a wide range of topics. Nearly anyone can find a poem in my collections for how they feel at that very moment. I often say if I can make you cry then I have accomplished my goal, I know I touched a part of you and that poem won’t soon be forgotten.

CR: You spent years on the Kalamazoo club scene and within the gay community. Do you consider your poetry as gay friendly or more from a hag’s perspective?

AH: I consider my poetry everyone friendly. I don’t look at the people who read my poems and say they are gay so they will like them. I look at the people who read my poems and say I’m sorry your ex is an a******, read this poem you might feel better. Everyone can relate to my poems. Of course some of my poetry is about the Kalamazoo scene so on that aspect they are definitely gay friendly.

CR: What’s harder: dressing a queen for a pageant or writing a poem?

AH: Dressing a queen. Those b****** will run you ragged! My poetry just comes naturally. We all know there isn’t anything natural about dressing a queen. But they both have their rewards. When you see your queen win a title you know you did a good job and when someone reads your poems and can actually remember one of them you know you did a good job.

CR: Since 2002 you’ve mainly resided in Jacksonville, Florida. Does the “dirty South” inspire you?

AH: Sometimes it does. I mean, wherever I go inspires me but here it is so beautiful. You can go to the beach and watch the waves and feel the heat of the sun on your skin and it’s all so perfect. How could it not inspire one?

CR: Describe TRUE SPOKEN LIES in one sentence.

AH: TRUE SPOKEN LIES is a journey into womanhood.

CR: How has motherhood affected your life?

AH: Motherhood is one of the most frustrating experiences and also the most rewarding. I know I am grooming two little lives to enter this world and when my children smile or laugh all the sadness of the day is gone. It is my one true love. They are so perfect, it is also terrifying. It means you have to let go of your old life. I just hope I meet the future challenges and do a good job. I hope they will be ready to face this world.

CR: Who are your favorite poets?

AH: Well, James Schwartz of course and Edgar Allen Poe. I love the darkness of him.

CR: James Schwartz has mentioned a sequel to EVERYTHING REDONE/TRUE SPOKEN LIES. Have you titled your collection?

AH: My next poetry collection does have a title: SILK STOCKINGS AND REGRETS.

CR: Would you perform cabaret again?

JS: I will perform again if I get the chance. It’s hard because being a real woman the queens usually disagree with my performing. I suppose I see their point of view but I love to do it. I really want to perform and actually sing not lip sync but it’s a lot harder. I do say if your having fun your audience will too!

CR: You grew up, in part, in Hawaii…any thoughts?

AH: Hawaii is lovely, I grew up on the island of Oahu which is pretty but a bit too commercial now days. If I went back I’d go to a less populated island although everyone should see Pearl Harbor. It’s so sad, so many young lives lost. You see these big rusty graves in the water and you wonder how many stories they hold that are forever silenced?

CR: How did you meet James Schwartz?

AH: I met James when I was working at a gas station in Sturgis, Michigan. He would come in to buy cigs and I’d always card him. I knew he was old enough to buy them but I liked to hassle him. So he came in one day for cigs and I asked for his ID. He said “You always card me and you know I’m old enough. I have to get to a party.”
So I said must be nice, I never get invited to parties anymore. Well he invited me and showed up after my shift. We became best friends that night and the rest darling is history!

CR: Favorite memory of James?

AH: One memory of James that is very vivid is when I came to Florida the first time. He and I got into a wicked fight, I called a friend (now my fiancé) who told me he’d get me a bus ticket to Florida the next day. I told James I was leaving and he said he didn’t want to talk about it. He drove me to the bus station the next day in a damn blizzard. We said goodbye and I love you. I knew he really did: who else would drive in a blizzard for me?

CR: From Kentucky to Hawaii to Michigan and Florida. Favorite places?

AH: Home is where the heart is, Kalamazoo Michigan will always be my favorite place. It holds a lot of memories for me.

CR: What inspires you to write a poem?

AH: Anything I feel. I write from the heart.

CR: What is your favorite poem in A JS READER?

AH: My favorite JS poem is not in A JS READER. He wrote a poem that could be read forwards or backwards. He was so clever. From AJS READER: A HIGH SOCIETY DEATH. I love it.

CR: How do you feel about James converting to Kabbalah and does that interest you?

AH: I believe that people can worship however they please. James has always been at one with how he makes his choices. If this makes him happy I am happy for him. I am reading about Kabbalah but I was never one to get involved in trends and I feel a lot of people are choosing this path for the wrong reasons. I don’t want to be one of them. I don’t know what road I’ll choose but it won’t be a quick decision.

CR: Since your nights out clubbing and on the cabaret scene do you think your more settled down?

AH: I don’t think I’ve settled down, I’ve just realized there is a time and a place for everything. Catch me at Club Metro one day and ask me that question.

CR: One of your themes in TRUE SPOKEN LIES is broken love. Have you found true love?

AH: I have found REAL love. True love is often an illusion. A perfect love that can never be achieved. We imagine the perfect lover but he/she is seldom found so we often find real love which is attainable but can fill your heart in ways you never imagined.

CR: What can we expect from your next book?

AH: You can expect me, everything I write is me at that time. I write from all sides of me. So when you read you will find me.

CR: How would you like to be remembered as a person and a poet?

AH: I want to be remembered as a good mother, a great wife and a true friend. As a poet I want to be remembered as someone who took chances and wrote from deep inside regardless if my opinion was popular or not.

(Interview  May 2005)

SELECTED POEMS BY APRIL HOSKINS UNTITLED The match is lit the sulphur burns white heat so entrancing her face has shadows from lovers lost the deep lines from lovers kept Her bed is cold tonight the sheets remember better times when she was younger when the winters felt warmer All this gathered in an instant before the match, like her is blown out the sulphur and her heart still smoldering. *Originally published in A JS READER HEAVEN'S LITTLE CHILDREN Heavens little angel finally at peace... Heavens little angel flys on golden wings.. Heavens little angel caught every tear we cried... Heavens little angel knows how hard we tried... And he flys up to heaven... And he flys up to heaven... As they open up the gates, there's a smile on his face... Please don't cry I am safe inside your hearts... Heavens little angel sitting on his throne.. Heavens little angel is finally home... Heavens little angel shines a golden light... Heavens little angel, he guides our lives.. And he flys up to heaven... And he flys up to heaven... As they open up the gates,there's a smile on his face... Please don't cry I am safe inside your hearts.. Please don't cry I will always be inside your hearts... *A reprise of HEAVEN'S LITTLE CHILDREN was published in the DIE BLATT zine under the pen name MRS. JAMES SCHWARTZ. USED TO BE I used to be the one to wipe away your tears I used to be the one to share your dreams I used to be your hero, chase away your fears And now it seems you don´t even know who I am And even though your beside me I sleep alone Who gets the part of you that used to be mine? I used to be your every single fantasy I used to be your every waking dream I used to be the luckiest girl alive And now it seems I don´t even know who you are And even though your beside me we´re miles apart Who gets the part of you that used to be mine? I am just a used to be and I´m not sorry I can´t change who I am I am just a used to be I may not be for you but I am for somebody And one day you´ll be a memory that used to be Not Going to Cry Once you were my pride and joy now you are forsaken You are someone else's toy No longer shall I love you No more tears shall I shed Although you may be living To me you are now dead. Poetic Roses Poetic roses that bloom by day, More oft then not are sweet, But I prefer the rose of night, Written in your sleep. O sweet roses tell gentle lies, Promise they will not hurt. But roses in the dead of night, They have nothing to hide. All roses it is true hold thorns, They will bleed you when you touch. But I prefer the rose who warns you Then the one who tempts with love. THINKING CONFUSION I´ve made up my mind like I´ve done so many times but now there´s no going back I wanted you so badly funny how bitter taste surrounds me, and I laughed outside in the rain. You see, it came down on a sunny day and I said... I thought I was the one confused head spinning around in circles I never do what I should do It´s a thinking confusion I swore it was gonna be different I never see the truth before me and now I know just who you are I won´t let you tear me down again you´re not worth my tears I am meant for more than this and you cried: I thought I was the one confused head spinning around in circles I never do what I should do it´s a thinking confusion...