Leonard Gontarek in Conversation, New Interview Now Live
We’re delighted to share that Leonard Gontarek, author of Ain’t No Angel Gonna Greet Me (BlazeVOX [books]), has a brand-new interview up at Cleaver Magazine. In this warm, thoughtful exchange with Autumn Konopka, Leonard opens a generous window into the making of his latest collection, how the poems found their shape, where the title came from, and what it means to write in a world that often feels unmoored.
The conversation begins with the origins of the book’s striking title, sparked by a line from Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia. Leonard talks about how that phrase, “ain’t no angel gonna greet me”, seemed to hum in the background of his writing, carrying with it both vulnerability and grit. That mixture of the familiar and the uncanny sets the tone for the collection and reveals how songs, cities, and memory all braid themselves into his work.
Leonard also reflects on his deep connection to Philadelphia. Without leaning into myth or stereotype, he acknowledges how the city has shaped him, its rhythms, its blunt honesty, its sense of place. This grounding becomes a natural part of his poetic voice, even when the poems wander far from home.
The interview also highlights the architecture of the book. Leonard explains how Ain’t No Angel Gonna Greet Me is shaped in three parts: an opening that feels personal and reflective, a central section filled with newer poems that explore shifts in form and tone, and a final segment that includes interview material, bringing a layered sense of perspective to the collection. It’s a structure that welcomes multiple ways of reading, offering a chorus rather than a single stance.
Throughout the conversation, Leonard shares insights into how he balances the narrative with the lyric, how he invites the reader into the poem without ever over-explaining, and how humor and gravity can exist in the same breath. He reminds us that even though poetry can feel peripheral in tumultuous times, the act of writing, of doing it with care and curiosity, remains vital.
For readers and writers alike, this interview provides a rich, behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of Philadelphia’s most enduring poetic voices. We’re thrilled to see Leonard’s work receiving this attention and grateful to Cleaver Magazine and Autumn Konopka for shining such a thoughtful light on his process.
You can read the full interview at Cleaver Magazine, and of course, explore Ain’t No Angel Gonna Greet Me through BlazeVOX [books]. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into Leonard’s creative world as much as we did.
