Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start writing.
Since childhood, I have had a love for books and words and all things creative. I wrote poems and stories mainly for personal entertainment. I dreamt of being an author, artist, and musician. When it was time to choose a career, being a creative was not an option in my day. I too, did not appreciate what it could do for humanity. I embarked on a career as a healthcare professional. My writing became an occasional means of escape from the pressures of the world. However, I never felt complete. Last year, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and my harried world came to a screeching halt. While I was going through surgery and treatment, the urge to write and fulfill my lifelong dream of being an author, was stronger. I embarked on compiling my poems and writing new ones to meet that goal. Here we are with my first publication “Dance In The Rain.”
Describe your writing process? Is there anything unique about it?
I am inspired by the world around me. I write about my perspective on social issues, my own experiences and even events that affected the people around me. I am a keen observer of nature and strong in faith and those two elements permeate my writing.
Have you published any books or do you have a desire to do so?
Dance In The Rain is a book of poetry that encourages reflection, meditation and mindfulness. It gives an interlude to escape for a moment to a different space. It brings awareness to the experiences of others. It can also bring a chuckle or lull you into a daydream through its rhythm and rhyme.
Do you have any favorite poets or authors?
I have many authors that I love. Here are a few that have left a lasting impression on the way I see the world and the way I write. One that had a major influence on me during childhood was L.M. Montgomery.
Michael Anthony, an author from Trinidad, my home country, inspired me through understanding that no matter where you are from, you have a voice. As a child, it was thrilling to read about places that I was familiar with.
Shani Mootoo is another author that I absolutely admire from my home country. She taught me in high school and left to follow her dreams to become a famous author and artist. Her work has received many accolades and the lyrical rhythmic style she uses makes her challenging topics much easier to pursue.
Paulo Coehlo interlaces spirituality into his stories in a mystical way and his works are very thought provoking
Maya Angelou as a poet has always captured me for her strong and consistent beats in her poems.
I can go on but I will stop there.
Do you have a favorite book of poetry or poems?
Of late, I have been reading a lot of biographies. However, I will read just about anything
Some of my favorite books: Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery, Emma – Jane Austen, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou, A Year In San Fernando – Michael Anthony, Cereus Blooms at Night – Shani Mootoo, Water For Elephants – Sara Gruen, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept -Paulo Coehlo. To name a few.
What are you reading now?
I just completed Feeding the Soul by Tabitha Brown.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Full-time job, pets, hobbies?
I am a mother of one teenaged son, physical therapist, recently resumed painting and had some pieces entered in an art exhibition and I recently recorded my first song.
Are you working on a current project?I am working on a children’s book. It is a Christmas story that I wrote for my son when he was 4. I am now doing the artwork for the book and hoping that it will be completed in time for this Christmas.
I also worked on a novel while I was going through chemotherapy. I hope to have it published early in 2023. I also have in mind to write about my journey of miracles that I have encountered as I have been treating with my diagnosis and healing.
Poet Website and Profiles
MICHELLE JOY’s Amazon Profile
MICHELLE JOY’s Social Media Links
Facebook Fan Page
Instagram Page