JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Stephania Vereen, author of Letters to Words
(Self through Createspace)
My book is a collection of personal poems and essays inspired by my experiences in life, love and faith. I’ve been writing for most of my life and I can say that there have been times that I’ve been so overwhelmed by an experience or emotion that only writing helps me release it. I find that in any form of art, expressing emotions through such a release connects the artist to others on a personal level.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Letters to Words?
Stephania Vereen: Writing has always been a format for me to express myself. My inspiration came from my own life where I needed to pen a reaction to experiences that touched me or overwhelmed me beyond words.
JP: What sets Letters to Words apart from other books in the same genre?
SV: From the reactions I’ve received, my honesty and the ability for others to connect on a personal level to what I wrote about. Some of my pieces are rather candid or vulnerable and I touch on thoughts and emotions others may have experienced.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Letters to Words getting out to the public?
SV: Focus, drive and support, after the fear of course. Fear is a paralyzing emotion and can effectively prevent you from reaching goals and aspirations. The support of loved ones and strangers helped push me to getting my book out to the public.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Letters to Words?
SV: My book took about 1 year to complete after I made the decision to publish it. I have lots of writing pieces and after my mind was set it was just a matter of selecting the pieces, editing and getting it out there. I deliberately chose 26 pieces to include in the book as the title is Letters to Words, and there are 26 letters in the alphabet.
JP: What’s next for Stephania Vereen?
SV: I’m actually working on putting together the ideas for my next books which include: an inspiration piece for young adult readers, a children’s book, and a fiction novel. I also continue to write/edit for others through my writing service and I teach English to adult immigrants at a small college.
http://www.stephaniavereen.com
http://facebook.com/writer.stephania
http://twitter.com/stephaniasworld
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