Alan Parr

Tell us a bit about yourself
I see we’re skipping the easy questions… who I am defies a straightforward definition. I am a Briton, from Liverpool, living in Minnesota. I do a lot of different things: writing, drawing, information technology, design, business architecture, classical guitar, soccer coaching… I have a wide field of interests. It is easier to define what I am not: I am not a poet. When I first started writing I did try poetry, and fancied I was quite good. Other poets, and the poetry society, thought otherwise and gave me some sound advice: try elsewhere. Which I did. And yet, here I am!

What’s your passion? What makes you tick?
Learning and exploring new ideas. Ideas are my currency. There are so many undiscovered possibilities and nothing to hold one back from finding them, aside from the limitations we place on ourselves. I say “go for it!”

What’s your wildest dream for Project OpenBook?
To spread an interest in reading and writing across an entire generation, one that may be more comfortable with a computer than a book. In particular, to foster a love of language. The words are important; they’re fun to play with, and you’d be amazed at what you can create when you try putting them together.

Where can people find out more about you?
Visual Work
Writing and Business
Books

Alan’s OpenBook works
Road Kill – It’s What’s For Dinner