By Lee Kieseling
Special Contributor
On a Monday I went to a Charleston coffee house that promised coffee,
or a cocktail and free entertainment with an open mic where those who are
serious about writing and music have an opportunity to reach the public
with their work. My attention was drawn when I saw among the list of
readers, an unusual name that is familiar to me. Odin Ruddweck, the name of
the author of Distances, a modern day Robin Hood tale, was scrawled on the
list for that evening. When I asked the attendant about this reader, I was
informed that Ruddweck would share works from his recently published book
of poetry entitled Autumn in America.
When I asked where I could find him, I was directed to the table next
to mine where a man was dressed in the Generation-X uniform: jeans, T-shirt
and a Yankee's baseball cap. As he poured over his book of poetry, I looked
around to see if anyone else realized we had kind of a celebrity in our
midst. When he approached the mic, I watched and listened as he read some
beautifully emotive poetry. The words flowed in a stream over the audience,
teasing nods, waking memories and emotions with them. I was reminded how
this writer has a knack for succinctly setting a mood, drawing a picture or
making a statement in the direct and creative way he turns a phrase. "I can
still feel the comfort of summer-salted jeans in midnight's air." He read,
and conjured nostalgic pictures of my own youth on different beaches than
the New Jersey ones featured in his writing, but stirring the emotions and
dusting off my own memories just the same. The words that drifted over the
audience can only be described as soulful.
I grabbed my camera and took a few shots hoping I'd have the chance to
speak with him. When Ruddweck finished his reading, he sat back at his
table alone and sipped something that was not coffee. I decided to ask if
he was the same Odin Ruddweck who wrote Distances. Surprised and a little
embarrassed at the recognition, he smiled through his goatee and black
rimmed glasses and confessed, "Yeah, I'm that Odin." The author was
gracious as we passed some time talking about his poetry and books and he
allowed me to find out a little bit about him.
It seems Odin is an avid fan of music, which is no surprise
considering the ample references to songs and music he uses in his book.
His creativity extends to cooking in the kitchen as well. Interestingly,
the name Odin is a pseudonym used as a sort of homage to his Swedish
grandmother, a woman who Ruddweck describes as his "moral compass" of
sorts. "Odin was the supreme god," (in Norse mythology) "but he was never
totally in control." Ruddweck said. "There's something appealing in that
idea...when I'm the writer version of myself, I am not in control, so it's
easy to let Odin be."
I learned this creative New Jersey native is now a contented
Summerville resident, who, by day, is husband, father, and schoolteacher of
what else? Honors English. By night and by the pen, Odin empowers this
artful writer to delve into areas that will cause one to do a little soul-
searching or to just enjoy the poignant compilation of idealism, cynicism,
emotions and word-smithery.
With the great influx of people from around the country to Summerville
lately, it seems I never know whom I'm going to find at the next table or
right next door!
(Lee Kieseling can be reached for questions or comments at
lkieseling@aol.com)
