Mike Poliwoda Exclusive Interview - If You Have A Passion, Don't Lose It

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Mike Poliwoda was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and here is the Q&A we had with Mike.

Mike Poliwoda As Cover Story Interview – May 2026 Magazine Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

Hello, I am Mike Poliwoda.

Struggle – What hardships have you gone through in life?

I think my struggles are what many have gone through. Parents divorced when I was very young – 6 or 7. Grew up in a working class/working poor family, in a middle-class neighbourhood. Always aware of the differences. My parents got back together after a few years – lived in the Jane/Finch corridor with my mom. They didn’t get back together out of love; it was just easier to pay the bills together. Yelling every day. My father had kidney failure when I was a teenager, and I started drinking. I was kicked out of high school. I joined a band and was high until I hit my early 20s. My girlfriend got pregnant due to my carelessness and by 23 I was a father. I went back to school, on and off, as a mature student and managed to earn enough education to work.

The Performed Man was a lifetime in the making. From a young age measuring my identity by financial status and carrying it with me in all relationships. It was carried in silence until, in my darkest times, when life seemed too overwhelming. I found my voice.

What do people usually not know about you?

Most people have no idea that I write. To most, I’m the hockey dad, the colleague, the friendly parent, the nice neighbour.

What sets you apart from your competitors in the industry and in life?

I don’t know. Maybe my humility. I find my ego will often lead me down a negative path, an unproductive path. Ego has ruined relationships, jobs, opportunities. I’ve learned the hard way. Really, I’m just an observer and a storyteller. Everything I write comes from the heart, whether fiction, non-fiction or poetry. And I hope that my next two books really help people. They helped me.

What are your upcoming major events?

I have three big projects at various stages of planning for release. The Performed Man, to be released May 22, is my fifth book and part of my evolution as a writer and human being. There is a string of podcasts that I’m doing which is super cool. And as far as memorable, in February of 2025 when I was informed that I won an International Impact Book Award for speculative fiction for my third book, Saviour Machine, was a most surreal moment.

What expert advice would you like to give?

If you have a passion, don’t lose it. Not everyone works in the same way. Sometimes stories, ideas, art need to percolate. They’re not always ready to come out. If an idea stalls, it doesn’t mean it’s not worthy. Start something else, have many things on the go. Because I believe the only creative block is the pressure we put on ourselves. The creative work will be done when the work is ready to be done.

Your social media handles and website links?