Interview with QC

Published 2022-12-29.

Tell me about yourself.

My name is Soffy Saint Fort; my pen name is QC. I am a multilingual Haitian-American romance poetry writer and performer. I am born in the Western part of Haiti but live in South Florida. I performed in many open mics at Sunrise Civic Center, Cinema Paradiso, and a few events in her school, and I competed in Word Up Poet 2015, where she came third place, and in Louder Than A Bomb Florida in 2016. I am the author of Passion Fruit, a chapbook of 20 love poems currently available for presale (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1170281). I am 26 years old and have been writing for about 18 years. I am majoring in Creative Writing and English at Southern New Hampshire University. I publish poetry through many other platforms, such as CatchMe. Therefore, you can visit my website https://cwblue102411.wixsite.com/qcpoetry or Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn to get a perspective of my goal and passion for poetry. I have two sons, currently 3 and 6 years old. I am a Virgo and my favorite color is blue.

What does QC stand for?

Queen Crowndy (Krawn-thee).

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I grew up in a rural environment that connects me to nature, like birds, trees, and mountains. If I were to say places, Leogane (located in the western department of Haiti) and Jacmel (located in the Southeastern department of Haiti). Most time I spent in Haiti, I was living with my mom, as a unique child, my house was often quiet, and I had the freedom to dive into my imagination. These factors influence my writing as It's easier for me to write when nobody is around or quiet. The places where I grew up influence my source of imagination and even my favorite destination. I like sounds, colors, and music, and these tastes develop based on my origin. And living in Pompano Beach, Florida, my favorite spot is the beach, especially around sunset, the beauty of the sun going down the horizon, and the harmony of the waves crashing ashore.

When did you first start writing?

I was seven years old and about to turn eight. But I took it seriously when I turned 11 years old.

Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote?

I partially do. I was about to turn eight years old. When I wrote my first poem. While I do not remember the poem, I can still tell what it was about. It was a French poem I wrote about my parents (at least my seven-year-old self thought I did). I remember how I started to empathize with my mom's sadness and plead with my dad to improve his lifestyle for her. Then somehow, I ended up talking about tomatoes and stuff (lol). I attempted to rewrite the poem years later, but somehow I did not want to overshadow that little aspired writer. About two years ago, I lost possession of most of my poems from eight to my early twenties.

What is your writing process?

I write anything that comes to mind and about anything that inspires me. As long I have something to write down, I will definitely write something. There are times when I choose what to write about, while there are other times I just write. After writing a few pieces, I read them, see how I feel about them, and then structure them into the type of poem I think most fits. Some I finish, some unfinished. Before pursuing my major, I used to just let it flow and deliver. Now, knowing the audience I am writing for, my brand, and my purpose, I invest more into the literary and artistic aspects of the poems. I create sounds, project voice, and ensure that the tone aligns with the message I want to convey.

What's the story behind your latest book?

Behind passion fruit is mostly my love story. I say primarily because the actual poem "Passion Fruit" is my mom's story. It is fair to say it is based on a romantic journey where a few characters' paths intertwine.

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

When I am not writing, I am either working, doing my class work, helping my kids with school assignments and lessons, or doing household chores. Most of what I do involves writing because, at work, I document cases. My major is Creative writing, meaning it consists of a lot of writing. In a way, I spend most of my time writing, but in the few minutes I am not writing or doing chores, I enjoy playing cards with my family and Watching Netflix with my kids. I enjoy reading and listening to music as well.

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

The greatest joy of writing for me is that I have a way to express myself, to be heard or at least vent. I have a way of making a positive impact in the world, giving a voice to the voiceless and a chance to reach those who feel abandoned, lost, broken, different, and stranded. To provide them shelter through my poems, a place where there can feel loved, understood, happy, and alive.

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

The desire to grow, improve, succeed, provide for my family, create, and live inspires me to get out of bed daily.

Who are your favorite authors?

The list is long but here are few: QC, Oswald Duran, Emily Dickinson, Edgar A. Poe, Maya Angelou, Rupi Kaur, Carolyn Kiezer, Whitman...

Why Should Someone Read Your Works?

They should read my works because they can relate to them simultaneously and see situations from a new perspective. My poems are fresh, unique, engaging, and quite enjoyable. Through my work, they will know me and discover themselves.

What do you read for pleasure?

I read almost every genre but prefer romance novels, poetry, and dark fantasy.

Describe yourself in three words.

Creative, quiet, loving.

Anything else you would like to say.

Thank you, Smashwords, for contributing to my writing career, and thank you to everyone who read this interview. Thank you for supporting "Passion Fruit," whether by sharing it with a friend, reading the sample, or purchasing it. It is an honor to be on your authors' list, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you all. If you still need to do so, please visit my websites https://cwblue102411.wixsite.com/qcpoetry or https://building-my-queendom.webnode.com. You can also visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086150400335.