JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Mashawn Mickels, author of A Piece of Me: Mashawn in the Making
(Asta Publications)
Step into the world of Mashawn. Feel the love, the hate, the anger, the passion and the lust as you read the various poems that describe different parts of her life. You’ll see poetry that speaks to you directly from the heart on issues that we deal with each and everyday.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write A Piece Of Me?
Mashawn Mickels: It actually came from a few friends. I couldn’t decide on what to put in my first book. Brainstorming, we throught it would be good to put a mixture of topics into the book which is simply only a piece of me.
JP: Why did you choose poetry as a means to communicate your life’s journey?
MM: It’s easy to get most points accross. Many people seem to connect with a number of the poems I write either because they’ve been there before or going through it now. It’s just real pure feelings.
JP: Who are the poets that shaped your style? What were you able to take from them that made your poetry stronger?
MM: Maya Angelou has to be the number one influnce. I was able to see her live at the local college my senior year in high school. That got me thinking: “Can I write poetry too?” As I entered college a friend of mine who is my writing partner, Robert E. Jackson, Jr., actually pushed me to try and try again.
One of the main things I got from both of them is to always be true to self. Don’t let others dictate what you write and how you feel. Express yourself fully, so your readers can feel that same feeling as they read it.
JP: What advice would you give to poet who want to publish their works?
MM: The same advice they gave me. Be true to self and keep pushing yourself to do better than you did before. I think the biggest thing that holds many back is others telling them they can’t do it or there’s no market for it.
Don’t EVER let someone tell you can’t do it or shouldn’t do it. If your heart says do it, then by all means do. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from other authors such as Kerry E. Wagner and Shani Greene-Dowdell is to always surround yourself with like minded postive people.
JP: What’s next for Mashawn Mickels?
MM: Well, I’m working on my second book of poetry which I’m hoping to have ready around April or May of 2010. I will be announced the title of it at Wagfest Atlanta on Oct. 2, 2009. I will also be doing a book with my ‘Literary Husband’, Robert E. Jackson, Jr in the near future.
http://www.myspace.com/mashawnthepoet
http://www.facebook.com/mashawnthepoet
twitter: “Mayoungsta”
http://www.astapublications.com/
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Looking forward to reading them both.