Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Interview with Jazmine Foxx, author of Just A Thought

Just A Thought



Just a ThoughtTitle: Just a Thought
Author: Jazmine Foxx
Release Date: August 19, 2015
Publisher: Amazon Digital
Genre: Poetry
Format: Ebook

The world is a complex place. You can only understand it through the lyrical lines of spoken word poetry written by Jazmine Foxx. Her debut poetry collection is a soulful, socially conscious work that challenges your mind, harmonizes with your heart, and sings with your spirit. Her stanzas enraptures you like a modern day Lauryn Hill with the pen as her microphone spitting knowledge and dropping science on the world, the love of our lives, and the inner landscape of a young woman. Her introductory poem, “Bookshelf” is a melodic prelude that flows smoothly into the book’s first section, “Socially Incorrect.” In “Socially Incorrect” and the second section, “Relationships,” Foxx takes social and relational issues head-on like Common prophesying on the corner.

Just a Thought is raw emotion and profound thought that will motivate you to either pick up a pen and capture your life in stanzas or go out and change your world.  

ORDER INFORMATION
Just a Thought is available for order at  
amazon

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

​This book actually. There were many times I just wanted to throw in the towel and scrap the idea. Every time that happened I would reflect and persevere.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

I think my upbringing has had a major influence on my ability to write. I was in school wishing and dreaming about being somewhere else. I think the lack there of pushed me into using my creativity and imagination as a way of escape. Writing was the outlet I used and continue to use as a form of expression.

When and why did you begin writing?
I started writing in school because of an English class project. After that, I started writing in school out of boredom. My notebooks turned into diaries with occasional class notes in the margin lines. After I graduated college, I didn't write as much until I got my first iPhone.


When did you first know you could be a writer?

I think I was always a poet and didn't know it. As far as a writer and take the craft seriously, I think after I sent my first manuscript to my editor and he hated it. It pushed me to start from scratch and write about things I normally wouldn't have. Also to be selective of the poems I wanted to publish in my book. He asked me would I be proud of my work 5, 10, 15 years from now and I think that was the day I said ok I won't take this half heartily.

What inspires you to write and why?

Places, people, experiences and pretty much anything can inspire me to write.  I consider most of my writing a diary entry. My writing is a direct reflection of how I feel at the moment about a specific topic and after I write about it I don’t think about it anymore.  It is my own personal therapy for my emotions in a sense.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Poetry

What inspired you to write your first book?

A friend actually inspired me to publish a collection. I was initially writing about a bad breakup but it evolved over the course of a few years into something more.


Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
Patience and due diligence, this collection was five years in the making. There were many procrastination and perfectionism handicaps however I learned I can’t force myself to write.
I had to experience certain things in life before it ever became a thought to even write about it.

Do you intend to make writing a career?

At this time I don't know. If I feel like there is something else I want to share I will publish another book. Currently there are no other books in the works.

Have you developed a specific writing style?

My editor categorized my style of writing free form poetry.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

The ability to construct a sentence together and it flows.

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

Tenacity. I have been knocked down, let down and rejected more times than a few. Most of my
close friends admire my ability to brush myself off and start again. It hurts but I will never achieve my goals and dreams if I sit around and don’t go after them nor will I be happy.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

I am an extremist. Either I'm focused and motivated to accomplish something or I'm lazy and procrastinate because my heart isn't in. It drives some of my friends crazy but it is a characteristic I try to shake off when I notice I'm being lackadaisical.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

“A journey of a thousand miles beings with a single step” – Lao-Tzu
Wherever you are in life, you have accomplished something by just starting. An idea, project, goal, dream etc. can not be achieved if you sit around waiting for a handout. Some goals are bigger than others and can't be completed in a day but making the initial first step moves you in the right direction. This quote gives me the motivation to go after what I want regardless of how big or small.

   

No comments:

Post a Comment