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“Solace for me is a mixture of a jackhammer and a James Joyce book.”

In the first in a series of posts from The Solace Initiative, The Big Idea's Digital Artist in Residence Clare O'Leary talks to her brother about the role books and literature have had on his life and work.

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Michael O’Leary (aka The Earl of Seacliff) is a poet, publisher and bookseller based in Paekakariki, Wellington. Clare, his sister, invited him to attend the first Solace Initiative workshop.

The workshop at Breaker Bay hall in April, brought together seven creative practitioners - artists, musicians, filmmakers and theatre practitioners - and seven health/hospice workers to discuss what solace means to them and how they find it in their lives.

Michael has published several of his own works through his press, The Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop, and for more than 25 years has published work by many other writers, such as Meg Campbell, Elizabeth Smither, Greg O’Brien and David Eggleton.

Michael’s initial response to the question: “What brings you solace?” was: “I don’t think I’ve ever felt solace” but he then reflects on the role that books and literature have had on his life and work.

Michael is currently a co-proprietor of Kakariki Books located at the Paekakariki railway station. He is working on the production of a CD with musicians from Paekakariki, who have written songs based on a collection of his Auckland-themed poems. There will be a launch in Auckland of this work in August.

The Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop’s most recent publication is a transcript of an interview with John Lennon recorded by Dr Tony Taylor when the Beatles played in Wellington in 1964.

Follow The Solace Initiative website and #bringsmesolace or on Facebook to share and collaborate on what brings you solace.  A curated snapshot of works and interviews with participants from The Solace Initiative workshop will be profiled on The Big Idea and an exhibition will be held in Wellington at the end of the project.