NATASHA: Hi Fenyx! Thank you for the interview. Can you tell our readers about yourself and how long have you been a writer?
FENYX: Greetings Natasha,Writing my first poem at the age of six is as clear to me as the memory of my first Malibu barbie’s blonde hair and tiny blue swimming suit. I remember writing a thank you note for my mother that rhymed. She was so pleased. Mothers are the best cheerleaders. She was my first editor, reviewer and fan. My mother says I was a teacher from a very young age. She says I would line up dolls and teddy bears to teach them. Then, when I got older, I would teach my cousins and siblings. I was an early reader who liked to read to others. I was gifted at math so I was eager to teach family members who did not love the subject. Writing and teaching have been a part of my personal life story since early childhood.
NATASHA: When it comes to writing, do you have a certain routine or writing process that allows the ideas to flow better?
FENYX: The doctor doctor method is what I like to call my writing method. I dream about a story. I designed that story. I read the story. I then refine the story. Dream. Design. Read. Refine. Dr. Dr. It’s how most of my stories go from Draft to Real Book. However, there are times when I need chocolate or music to get inspired, too.
NATASHA: Can you tell our readers about your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
FENYX: Battle of The Bullies started in my teacher world when a group of young ladies at our school decided to take pride in being naughty. They were receiving detentions and suspensions, but they did not seem to care. In their minds, they were perfect tens to be feared or worshipped. They owned the bad girl personas that the school staff and students had bestowed upon them. The characters in Battle of The Bullies find pleasure in causing others pain. Normally, they would be able to get away with torturing others, but they meet the Robertson triplets who are not afraid to stand up for themselves or others. The Dimes can no longer strike fear into the hearts and minds of all the students at Chicago International Academy because the triplets ain’t easily scared. Thus, a battle begins between naughty and nice.
NATASHA: What has influenced you the most as a writer?
FENYX: Imagery is important to me because of the poetry I have read. Langston Hughes’ depiction of dreams as living beings or Dr. Maya Angelou’s description of a caged bird remains in my mind years after reading their work. There is something so beautiful about a writer who can create a world with a pen. Great poetry leaves a lasting legacy in the reader’s or listener’s mind just like I hope my stories will.
NATASHA: How do you come up with names for your characters?
FENYX: Emani, Eris, and Ebony were going to all have different names because I was going to make it easy for my reader to tell them apart by their names. Emani is a dancer so I was going to name her Misty after Misty Copeland. Eris is a baller so she was going to be my Candace after Candace Parker or Nona after Nona Richardson. Ebony was almost Shirley after Shirley Chisolm since her character wants to be the future President of the United States. Yet, most sets of twins that come through my school or the multiples who are in my own family had similar names. Their names either start with the same letter or sound similar. Therefore, I decided to trust that my reader would be able to tell them apart. I am a mom of multiples who have the same initials LAW just like the triplets who have the same initials EER. I admit it is easy to tell my fraternal twins apart because one is female and the other is male...lol.
NATASHA: Besides writing, what do you enjoy doing on your spare time to relax?
FENYX: Relaxing is the key to my creative process, but it is not by accident that I get time to relax. I have to make time to take a bath, read a book, shop, or sip some lemon balm tea. I love playing board games and I am a true sci-fi fan. Since I live in Chicago, I don’t always get to garden or ride my bike, but once the temperature hits 70 degrees, I find myself in the wind or in the sun. Nature sounds inspire me. Watching people inspires me. I can find inspiration almost anywhere.
NATASHA: Can you share with our readers any future projects that you are working on?
FENYX: I am working with another author on a book about financial literacy because I wanted to stretch myself and work on nonfiction. I have a poetry book, two works of YA fiction, and a children’s book, but I do not have a work of nonfiction so I am so excited to see how this book will develop. I feel like that little girl teaching barbie dolls and teddy bears again as I coach this aspiring author through his process. It is so rewarding to have a gift that I can share with someone else so that they can bring their gift into the world.
NATASHA: How can our readers learn more about you and your books?
FENYX: Natasha, thank you for interviewing me. If anyone would like to support me, they will be able to reach me @fenyxblueink on all Social Media platforms. My favorite part about the writing process is knowing the impact a book can have on my readers so I would love to hear from your readers. If they want to check out a teacher, coach and chocolate lover, they can follow me or subscribe to my channel. Again, thank you for this interview. Much success to you and to your audience, too.
About Fenyx Blue:
If author Fenyx Blue actually had a tattoo, it would be a heart. Ms. Blue has written every book with love. Blue is a teacher, coach, mentor, and motivational speaker focused on women and youth empowerment. She has written a young adult novel about bullying entitled Who Failed Johnny?, a poetry book about purpose named The Blue Ink Movement, and a children’s book about the power of a solid father daughter relationship called Worth the Weight.
Fenyx believes in service to the community. After being chosen as teacher of the year for her school district, she continued to mentor teenagers and facilitate discussions about controversial topics like drugs, sex, violence, cyberbullying and mental health. She has been a guest poet for several women’s retreats and workshops and loves the energy she receives from a live audience.
Throughout her years as an educator and youth ministry leader, Blue created Team Bully-Free Forever, a poetry team for her school, and a mentoring group called D.I.V.A.S to address the needs of young people. She is dedicated to teaching the next generation to follow their dreams and feels it is her mission to equip them for the future. Ms. Fenyx Blue is a proud mother of three beautiful children who inspire her to write each day.
You can follow Ms. Fenyx Blue @FenyxBlueInk on Instagram and Youtube.
