"Spotlight" Poet Interview:
Maria Tosti
Maria Tosti
Maria. Thank you for being the Creative Inspirations “Spotlight” Poet for this month!
How has this year been going for you thus far?
Hi Maurice, thank you so much for the invitation; it’s an honor and a pleasure for me to be a
guest in this section of your literary journal. I’d also like to extend a warm greeting to the readers who will be joining us here for a moment. I’d say this year is going pretty well in terms of creativity. But we’re still roughly halfway through the year, so we’ll see how things go in the coming months. Especially since I’m starting to feel a bit worn out, torn between my stressful job and my favorite pastimes, which are nothing more than a window of escape for me.
Does the month of May have any significant meaning for you? It does for me, as it is my
birthday month!
For me, May is first and foremost the month of roses, one of the most beautiful months of the year because we’re in the midst of spring, and I really love this season of rebirth, even if it’s sometimes a bit capricious and takes its time. Then there’s June, which is a special month where spring and summer coexist, and for me it’s also a month of transition since it’s so close to my birthday, which I celebrate in early July. In a way, every month is connected to the next for different reasons—not just these two months, but the whole year. Every month offers us something to help us grow; it’s up to us to pick up on certain signs and embrace these gifts.
3. You reside in the beautiful country of Italy, right? Please tell us something you love
about your country, including its beauty.
I might end up keeping you glued to this for a long time... Are you sure you want to do this?
LOL. Joking aside... Yes, I'm Italian and I love my country very much. Italy is known as the “Bel Paese” (the Beautiful Country) because of a combination of natural, historical, and cultural factors that make it truly unique in the world. It boasts extraordinary landscapes of infinite beauty within a relatively small territory shaped like a boot. It has a rich cultural and artistic heritage; in fact, it’s the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, featuring cities of art, archaeological sites, and artistic masterpieces in every corner. All this is due to its millennia-old history, which has profoundly influenced art and culture.
Furthermore, its mild climate and Mediterranean lifestyle are considered among the best
in the world. Not to mention its food and wine: Italian cuisine, wine, and local products are
recognized and appreciated worldwide for their quality and tradition. To be precise, Italian
cuisine was officially proclaimed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on
December 10, 2025, during the 20th session in New Delhi. Recognized as “Italian cuisine,
between sustainability and biocultural diversity,” it celebrates not only traditional dishes but also the rituals, conviviality, and agricultural supply chains that define the national identity. It isn’t just food, but a social glue that strengthens bonds, tradition, and intergenerational knowledge. This is a historic recognition, as Italy is the first country in the world to have its entire national cuisine designated as intangible cultural heritage.
Is the pasta in Italy as good as advertised?
Pasta is delicious no matter how you cook it! If I told you how many types of pasta there are, you’d be amazed—not to mention the countless types of sauces! According to statistics, there are over 300–500 officially recognized types of pasta in Italy, a number that varies depending on whether you consider only industrial varieties or also the countless regional and artisanal variations. This enormous variety is distinguished by dough type
(fresh, dry, egg), shape (long, short, small), and surface (smooth or ridged). I don’t know if I’m getting the point across… LOL. Among the long pastas, for example, there are spaghetti (the most popular), linguine, bucatini, tagliatelle, and fettuccine. Short pasta mainly includes penne rigate (very popular), fusilli, rigatoni, farfalle, maccheroni, and tortiglioni.
The choice of shape isn’t just aesthetic: each shape is designed to pair perfectly with specific
sauces (rich sauces for short and ridged pasta, lighter sauces for long or smooth pasta).
Then there’s stuffed pasta, such as tortellini, ravioli, agnolotti, and cappelletti.
Plus, every region has its own traditional, homemade dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. In short, Italian pasta is a whole world waiting to be discovered!! You should give it a try, if you haven’t already! All over the United States, there are Italian restaurants that use traditional ingredients imported directly from Italy. It might seem like we’ve arranged to meet to talk about culinary art rather than literature, but you know, they say the two arts go hand in hand and that eating well helps us focus better on the activities we’re about to undertake, so the two things can very well coexist.
Dear Maurice, when you talk to an Italian, you should know that there’s a strong chance the
conversation will often end up being about food. It’s part of our culture more than ever.
Tell us a little bit about Maria.
I’m a curious person; I’m always asking myself a thousand questions, and I love exploring new things—partly because, after a while, staying confined within certain boundaries for too long bores me, and I simply have to make a change. I consider myself a chronic dreamer, someone who never gives up on pursuing her imagination and her dreams; always searching for new paths, discovering the world and its beauty in the most varied forms; always seeking new interests, new passions, with a strong thirst for the infinite, without ever quite managing to quench it completely. I love going against the grain and never stop at first impressions; instead, I try to get to the bottom of things. I particularly enjoy analyzing and understanding the human soul.
I have many interests and far too little time to devote to them. I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching movies, and taking long walks whenever possible, and I also have a passion for photography, drawing, and, to a lesser extent, painting. Besides, someone like me, always with my head in the clouds, can’t help but be interested in astronomy
too! I never dwell on just one thing, just one passion; I like to change things up.
Every now and then I come back down to earth—it happens when I’m working—though for
someone like me who works in the tourism industry, even working can be another way to travel in my imagination!
What does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day is very simple—and I’d say a bit too monotonous. I work all day; I only have a
few hours in the evening to devote to writing, drawing, or painting, and I can assure you that those hours fly by. On Sundays, of course, I manage to get more done; that’s why it’s a sacred day for me—not only for what it represents in a religious sense, but also because I can breathe a little more deeply into my freedom.
How long have you been writing poetry?
My passion for writing began back in school. I wrote my first poem while I was in high school. I found myself writing in free verse, even though I had never consciously chosen to do so; it just happened. At first, they were just thoughts that gradually took shape, settling and imprinting themselves on pristine sheets of paper. I’ve always loved writing; it’s a way for me to explore the various facets of myself and understand my limits, as well as to give voice to my emotions. And in any case, writing has always been an outlet for me, a way to disconnect from stress and recharge.
What is your favorite form of poetry?
After starting out with free verse, acrostics, and calligrams, for the past few years I have
preferred short Japanese-style poetry, primarily haiku, senryu, tanka, sedoka, baishu, gogyohka, gogyoshi, etc., as well as the artistic forms of haiga and shahai. I would also like to explore the study of keiryu, a new Japanese poetic form that originated in Italy and whose rules were codified by Luca Cenisi, until recently president of the Italian Haiku
Association. This type of poem, composed of five lines of 7-9-8 / 9-9 syllables, fascinates me
greatly. Similar to haiku and tanka, its content refers to nature, but the second part has an
intimate quality that reveals the poet’s soul. Of all these forms, perhaps haiku is the one I prefer most, at least so far. Perhaps because that is where this wonderful journey of study began for me and… a whole new world opened up to me.
I had already studied it in high school, but only very superficially, since the program was too
broad to delve into it in depth, even though it was very interesting. So I took it up again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything was more difficult and we found ourselves having to figure out how to pass the time at home. It didn’t weigh heavily on me because I still had my artistic hobbies. What I really appreciate about haiku is the use of the kigo, which highlights the moment in which a particular scene takes place; without the kigo, it would be just any moment lost in time. I also like the brevity of the composition, within which the “spoken and unspoken” and the “here and now” are expressed, allowing for a subjective interpretation of the haijin’s message while simultaneously opening up new perspectives for personal interpretation and reflection.
Are there other forms of writing you do?
Yes, I’ve recently started writing short stories as well, both in Italian and English, largely
encouraged by a writer friend of mine who has already published a novel and other
commendable works. Thanks to her advice, I’ve found writing short stories to be very rewarding, much to my surprise. I’ve also discovered that I really love writing Haibun, which is the best for me and represents me so well, since it’s prose interspersed with haiku. This way, I can combine two passions of mine. In the past, I even devoted myself to writing song lyrics in Italian, two of which have already been set to music, one by Maestro Pasqualino Moscatelli and the other by Maestro Daniel Cianelli. The latter, in addition to writing the score, also performed the poem I conceived, wrote, and dedicated to an Italian actor friend of mine, specifically Filippo Timi from Umbria. Sometimes songs are poems, or they can begin as such.
Any published materials? If so, please also share where those interested can find your
published works.
Yes, several years ago, in 2014, I published my first multilingual poetry collection in both print and digital formats, featuring poems in Italian, English, French, and Spanish, titled “Voci aiconfini dell'anima,” which can be translated into English as “Voices to the Boundaries of the Soul.” The Italian publisher is Thoth Edizioni/Mario Vallone.
This book is a collection of poems that speak of nature, feelings, desires, and dreams, but also of choices that are sometimes difficult to make yet necessary to progress on the path of inner growth.
https://www.mariovallone.it/prodotto/voci-ai-confini-dellanima-di-maria-tosti/
Are you on any social media platforms, websites, etc., that you would like to share with
us?
I'm on Facebook, I have a YouTube channel, and a website. I try to update them as much as
possible, but I don't always succeed.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DmTJFhU9B/
https://youtube.com/@hollygolightly65?si=fE3hrWAGJkF1vtp5
https://mariatosti.wixsite.com/mariatosti
Anything that you are proud you accomplished last year that is still transpiring into this
year?
I am proud of the artistic and literary journey that has brought me this far, in my own small way, and at the same time I am amazed by this completely unexpected gift. I want to continue on this path—or at least I’d like to try—because I still have so much to learn and so many new things to explore.
What is a minor and major goal you would like to accomplish this year?
It might sound strange, but I don’t set goals for myself. I leave everything to chance. I try to do what feels right. As long as I can still feel moved, it means I’m on the right path. I have a few small projects I’d like to carry out, but I don’t want to force anything. If it’s meant to be, it will be. If it isn’t, it means the time hasn’t come yet. I just want to keep doing the things I love. That alone would be a great gift from above. Let’s leave the goals to the professionals; I’m just an apprentice on this journey called life. I don’t know where it will take me, but I’m so curious to find out.
Can you share some advice for aspiring poets and writers?
Before writing, we must first read a lot. This is the first essential step to becoming a writer and an author: be an avid reader! Another thing I consider very important is: never pay to publish your own book! Sometimes it’s better not to rush. The right moment will come sooner or later. Absolutely! My Italian publisher, Thoth Editions—now Mario Vallone Editore—published my book for free, with no costs and without asking for any financial contribution. Before that, many publishers had offered to publish my poetry for a fee, but I always categorically refused their offers. Also, if I have to pay to see my work valued, how can I be sure that it’s truly worth or if it’s just an illusion? And then I’d like to tell emerging writers like me that sometimes it’s also nice to experiment with new things, to rework what’s already known, drawing inspiration from the past to reimagine
the present.
Thank you for taking time to do this interview, Maria. I appreciate your continued
support of Creative Inspirations and its ministries! Please have closing remarks.
Thank you, Maurice, for this long and pleasant chat. I hope that what we’ve discussed will serve as food for thought, a source of reflection, and above all, an inspiration for those who stop by here. I’d like to conclude by saying that each of us has a light within, a flame that needs to be nurtured in the right way. This light should be shared with others, each in their own way, each as they know how.
I really like this perspective on seeing things; I think it’s essential and, at the same time,
formative and useful. This light must shine through in everything we do. So… May the light shine on us all!
How has this year been going for you thus far?
Hi Maurice, thank you so much for the invitation; it’s an honor and a pleasure for me to be a
guest in this section of your literary journal. I’d also like to extend a warm greeting to the readers who will be joining us here for a moment. I’d say this year is going pretty well in terms of creativity. But we’re still roughly halfway through the year, so we’ll see how things go in the coming months. Especially since I’m starting to feel a bit worn out, torn between my stressful job and my favorite pastimes, which are nothing more than a window of escape for me.
Does the month of May have any significant meaning for you? It does for me, as it is my
birthday month!
For me, May is first and foremost the month of roses, one of the most beautiful months of the year because we’re in the midst of spring, and I really love this season of rebirth, even if it’s sometimes a bit capricious and takes its time. Then there’s June, which is a special month where spring and summer coexist, and for me it’s also a month of transition since it’s so close to my birthday, which I celebrate in early July. In a way, every month is connected to the next for different reasons—not just these two months, but the whole year. Every month offers us something to help us grow; it’s up to us to pick up on certain signs and embrace these gifts.
3. You reside in the beautiful country of Italy, right? Please tell us something you love
about your country, including its beauty.
I might end up keeping you glued to this for a long time... Are you sure you want to do this?
LOL. Joking aside... Yes, I'm Italian and I love my country very much. Italy is known as the “Bel Paese” (the Beautiful Country) because of a combination of natural, historical, and cultural factors that make it truly unique in the world. It boasts extraordinary landscapes of infinite beauty within a relatively small territory shaped like a boot. It has a rich cultural and artistic heritage; in fact, it’s the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, featuring cities of art, archaeological sites, and artistic masterpieces in every corner. All this is due to its millennia-old history, which has profoundly influenced art and culture.
Furthermore, its mild climate and Mediterranean lifestyle are considered among the best
in the world. Not to mention its food and wine: Italian cuisine, wine, and local products are
recognized and appreciated worldwide for their quality and tradition. To be precise, Italian
cuisine was officially proclaimed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on
December 10, 2025, during the 20th session in New Delhi. Recognized as “Italian cuisine,
between sustainability and biocultural diversity,” it celebrates not only traditional dishes but also the rituals, conviviality, and agricultural supply chains that define the national identity. It isn’t just food, but a social glue that strengthens bonds, tradition, and intergenerational knowledge. This is a historic recognition, as Italy is the first country in the world to have its entire national cuisine designated as intangible cultural heritage.
Is the pasta in Italy as good as advertised?
Pasta is delicious no matter how you cook it! If I told you how many types of pasta there are, you’d be amazed—not to mention the countless types of sauces! According to statistics, there are over 300–500 officially recognized types of pasta in Italy, a number that varies depending on whether you consider only industrial varieties or also the countless regional and artisanal variations. This enormous variety is distinguished by dough type
(fresh, dry, egg), shape (long, short, small), and surface (smooth or ridged). I don’t know if I’m getting the point across… LOL. Among the long pastas, for example, there are spaghetti (the most popular), linguine, bucatini, tagliatelle, and fettuccine. Short pasta mainly includes penne rigate (very popular), fusilli, rigatoni, farfalle, maccheroni, and tortiglioni.
The choice of shape isn’t just aesthetic: each shape is designed to pair perfectly with specific
sauces (rich sauces for short and ridged pasta, lighter sauces for long or smooth pasta).
Then there’s stuffed pasta, such as tortellini, ravioli, agnolotti, and cappelletti.
Plus, every region has its own traditional, homemade dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. In short, Italian pasta is a whole world waiting to be discovered!! You should give it a try, if you haven’t already! All over the United States, there are Italian restaurants that use traditional ingredients imported directly from Italy. It might seem like we’ve arranged to meet to talk about culinary art rather than literature, but you know, they say the two arts go hand in hand and that eating well helps us focus better on the activities we’re about to undertake, so the two things can very well coexist.
Dear Maurice, when you talk to an Italian, you should know that there’s a strong chance the
conversation will often end up being about food. It’s part of our culture more than ever.
Tell us a little bit about Maria.
I’m a curious person; I’m always asking myself a thousand questions, and I love exploring new things—partly because, after a while, staying confined within certain boundaries for too long bores me, and I simply have to make a change. I consider myself a chronic dreamer, someone who never gives up on pursuing her imagination and her dreams; always searching for new paths, discovering the world and its beauty in the most varied forms; always seeking new interests, new passions, with a strong thirst for the infinite, without ever quite managing to quench it completely. I love going against the grain and never stop at first impressions; instead, I try to get to the bottom of things. I particularly enjoy analyzing and understanding the human soul.
I have many interests and far too little time to devote to them. I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching movies, and taking long walks whenever possible, and I also have a passion for photography, drawing, and, to a lesser extent, painting. Besides, someone like me, always with my head in the clouds, can’t help but be interested in astronomy
too! I never dwell on just one thing, just one passion; I like to change things up.
Every now and then I come back down to earth—it happens when I’m working—though for
someone like me who works in the tourism industry, even working can be another way to travel in my imagination!
What does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day is very simple—and I’d say a bit too monotonous. I work all day; I only have a
few hours in the evening to devote to writing, drawing, or painting, and I can assure you that those hours fly by. On Sundays, of course, I manage to get more done; that’s why it’s a sacred day for me—not only for what it represents in a religious sense, but also because I can breathe a little more deeply into my freedom.
How long have you been writing poetry?
My passion for writing began back in school. I wrote my first poem while I was in high school. I found myself writing in free verse, even though I had never consciously chosen to do so; it just happened. At first, they were just thoughts that gradually took shape, settling and imprinting themselves on pristine sheets of paper. I’ve always loved writing; it’s a way for me to explore the various facets of myself and understand my limits, as well as to give voice to my emotions. And in any case, writing has always been an outlet for me, a way to disconnect from stress and recharge.
What is your favorite form of poetry?
After starting out with free verse, acrostics, and calligrams, for the past few years I have
preferred short Japanese-style poetry, primarily haiku, senryu, tanka, sedoka, baishu, gogyohka, gogyoshi, etc., as well as the artistic forms of haiga and shahai. I would also like to explore the study of keiryu, a new Japanese poetic form that originated in Italy and whose rules were codified by Luca Cenisi, until recently president of the Italian Haiku
Association. This type of poem, composed of five lines of 7-9-8 / 9-9 syllables, fascinates me
greatly. Similar to haiku and tanka, its content refers to nature, but the second part has an
intimate quality that reveals the poet’s soul. Of all these forms, perhaps haiku is the one I prefer most, at least so far. Perhaps because that is where this wonderful journey of study began for me and… a whole new world opened up to me.
I had already studied it in high school, but only very superficially, since the program was too
broad to delve into it in depth, even though it was very interesting. So I took it up again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything was more difficult and we found ourselves having to figure out how to pass the time at home. It didn’t weigh heavily on me because I still had my artistic hobbies. What I really appreciate about haiku is the use of the kigo, which highlights the moment in which a particular scene takes place; without the kigo, it would be just any moment lost in time. I also like the brevity of the composition, within which the “spoken and unspoken” and the “here and now” are expressed, allowing for a subjective interpretation of the haijin’s message while simultaneously opening up new perspectives for personal interpretation and reflection.
Are there other forms of writing you do?
Yes, I’ve recently started writing short stories as well, both in Italian and English, largely
encouraged by a writer friend of mine who has already published a novel and other
commendable works. Thanks to her advice, I’ve found writing short stories to be very rewarding, much to my surprise. I’ve also discovered that I really love writing Haibun, which is the best for me and represents me so well, since it’s prose interspersed with haiku. This way, I can combine two passions of mine. In the past, I even devoted myself to writing song lyrics in Italian, two of which have already been set to music, one by Maestro Pasqualino Moscatelli and the other by Maestro Daniel Cianelli. The latter, in addition to writing the score, also performed the poem I conceived, wrote, and dedicated to an Italian actor friend of mine, specifically Filippo Timi from Umbria. Sometimes songs are poems, or they can begin as such.
Any published materials? If so, please also share where those interested can find your
published works.
Yes, several years ago, in 2014, I published my first multilingual poetry collection in both print and digital formats, featuring poems in Italian, English, French, and Spanish, titled “Voci aiconfini dell'anima,” which can be translated into English as “Voices to the Boundaries of the Soul.” The Italian publisher is Thoth Edizioni/Mario Vallone.
This book is a collection of poems that speak of nature, feelings, desires, and dreams, but also of choices that are sometimes difficult to make yet necessary to progress on the path of inner growth.
https://www.mariovallone.it/prodotto/voci-ai-confini-dellanima-di-maria-tosti/
Are you on any social media platforms, websites, etc., that you would like to share with
us?
I'm on Facebook, I have a YouTube channel, and a website. I try to update them as much as
possible, but I don't always succeed.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DmTJFhU9B/
https://youtube.com/@hollygolightly65?si=fE3hrWAGJkF1vtp5
https://mariatosti.wixsite.com/mariatosti
Anything that you are proud you accomplished last year that is still transpiring into this
year?
I am proud of the artistic and literary journey that has brought me this far, in my own small way, and at the same time I am amazed by this completely unexpected gift. I want to continue on this path—or at least I’d like to try—because I still have so much to learn and so many new things to explore.
What is a minor and major goal you would like to accomplish this year?
It might sound strange, but I don’t set goals for myself. I leave everything to chance. I try to do what feels right. As long as I can still feel moved, it means I’m on the right path. I have a few small projects I’d like to carry out, but I don’t want to force anything. If it’s meant to be, it will be. If it isn’t, it means the time hasn’t come yet. I just want to keep doing the things I love. That alone would be a great gift from above. Let’s leave the goals to the professionals; I’m just an apprentice on this journey called life. I don’t know where it will take me, but I’m so curious to find out.
Can you share some advice for aspiring poets and writers?
Before writing, we must first read a lot. This is the first essential step to becoming a writer and an author: be an avid reader! Another thing I consider very important is: never pay to publish your own book! Sometimes it’s better not to rush. The right moment will come sooner or later. Absolutely! My Italian publisher, Thoth Editions—now Mario Vallone Editore—published my book for free, with no costs and without asking for any financial contribution. Before that, many publishers had offered to publish my poetry for a fee, but I always categorically refused their offers. Also, if I have to pay to see my work valued, how can I be sure that it’s truly worth or if it’s just an illusion? And then I’d like to tell emerging writers like me that sometimes it’s also nice to experiment with new things, to rework what’s already known, drawing inspiration from the past to reimagine
the present.
Thank you for taking time to do this interview, Maria. I appreciate your continued
support of Creative Inspirations and its ministries! Please have closing remarks.
Thank you, Maurice, for this long and pleasant chat. I hope that what we’ve discussed will serve as food for thought, a source of reflection, and above all, an inspiration for those who stop by here. I’d like to conclude by saying that each of us has a light within, a flame that needs to be nurtured in the right way. This light should be shared with others, each in their own way, each as they know how.
I really like this perspective on seeing things; I think it’s essential and, at the same time,
formative and useful. This light must shine through in everything we do. So… May the light shine on us all!
For past "Spotlight" interviews, please contact MJ at the email below.
January - Uchechukwu Onyedikam
February - Melissa Dennison
March - Marjorie Pezzoli
April - David Fox
May - E.G. Ted Davis
June - N/A
July - Maria Tosti
January - Uchechukwu Onyedikam
February - Melissa Dennison
March - Marjorie Pezzoli
April - David Fox
May - E.G. Ted Davis
June - N/A
July - Maria Tosti
Creative Inspirations - P.O. Box 19051 Kalamazoo, MI 49019
[email protected] - www.cipoetrypublication.com
[email protected] - www.cipoetrypublication.com