Exclusive: Fast rising International Poet, Mary-Joe gives a little insight into her life and passions as a talented Creative and fantastic Poet

 Tell us about your Background

I was born and raised in South East, Nigeria. I come from a family of six and I grew up under the tutelage of my parents. As avid readers, my parents loved to buy books so we had an entire library at home. They instilled in us kids, the habit of reading at a very early stage. My dad also occasionally gave us reading and writing assignments during the weekends, and I was always overly excited to do them.

 How did poetry all begin for you

I must have been 15 or 16 years old when I stumbled upon a certain compilation of poetry book in the library at home. Reading that book was a whole new and wonderful experience for me. The poems it contained were deeply resonating and made me feel very much fascinated. As I read on, I started to discover that most of the poems were somewhat similar to my scribblings (thoughts and emotions I used to write down) and this further piqued my interest.

 What is your writing process like

I mostly just start writing when the words can't stay inside me any longer. I'm almost always scribbling things down on paper or on my phone. I could be anywhere at all, doing anything at all, it could be at any time of the day when the words would beg to be let out, and I write without holding back. Just about anything could inspire me to write.

 Do you usually have personal connections with your poems

A lot of my earlier poems were actually my personal experiences written as poetry. During this period I was going through quite an ordeal, and poetry was the best way I knew to process my emotions and everything. So yes, I had personal connections with a lot of my older poems. However, it's very different now as most of my newer poems are written purely from a place of imagination and not my personal life.

Tell us about your favorite poets and what you like about their writing style

There are quite a number of poets I really like and admire for their unique and poignant styles of writing. Jean Blewett is easily one of my favourite poets and I especially like her poems for their simplicity, sweetness and wholesome depiction of love. Also, the emotional depth, wit and brilliance of the poems written by Emily Dickinson make me really admire her works. Rupi Kaur with her very simple, relatable and easy to read poetry is one of my favourites as well.

 You have quite the International fanbase online, especially Instagram... How does it feel to know that people all over the world read and resonate with your writing

It's truly priceless and incredibly beautiful. Because it's one thing to write and it's a whole other thing to have an audience or as you've called it, a fanbase, who appreciate and resonate with your writing. I'm grateful every day for these amazing souls, and their overwhelming love for my poetry inspires me to keep on writing.

What would fans be most surprised to learn about you

I have a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, I love rainy days a little too much and I'm fluent in chinese language.

Other hobbies you love outside writing and poetry

I enjoy playing board games particularly scrabble. I also love watching sports especially football; I'm an ardent supporter of Liverpool football club.

Are any of your poems based on real life experiences or do you just tap into your imagination

I really find it more fun to write from my imagination. Most of my favourite pieces I've written were all born from seamless daydreams, and it's always captivating to see the finished product of these fantasies. I've also written a number of poems that were based on real life experiences; some of which were mine, and others were those of close friends, family or people I encounter in my everyday life.

What was growing up like for you and what has the impact of family been like for you and how have they all perceived your talents as a world class poet

Growing up, I had a fine balance between studying and leisure. I read a lot of books and wrote a lot of essays and poems. There were also streams of awe-inspiring conversations I had with my parents and siblings, that down the line have made me more grounded and fit to take on some ventures. I'll always be very thankful that I grew up in a family of intelligent and talented people. They're all so proud of my poetic exploits and are generally very supportive.

 A little bird whispered to us that you are currently working on your debut Poetry collection.. please go into detail about this

Well, it wasn't until late last year that I had the conviction that I was finally ready to put out a book of poetry. Working on my debut book has been the single most interesting and exciting adventure I've taken on. I've had the unalloyed support and love of my family and a few good friends to propel me every step of the way, and in all honesty the process has been more fun than cumbersome. I've put a lot of thought, heart and soul into writing the pieces in this collection, and I want to be positive that a lot of people will find it a truly beautiful and worthwhile read. The poetry collection will be called 'Stars in my scars'

What does literary success mean to you

Literary success, to me simply means leaving a mark, creating pieces that down the line and for the longest possible time remain golden, appreciated and relevant. It means being able to create works that resonate with a great deal of people, inspire and affect their lives positively.

How would you describe your personality

I'm quite a simple and easygoing person. I'm an introvert and I prefer to spend most of my time indoors doing the things I love and talking to the people I love. I'm also an optimist and I'm constantly searching for the beauty in life.

Being from Nigeria where poetry is not so mainstream, how much does it mean to you to make your mark in your country and beyond using poetry and your talents

It means more than I can actually put into words. It will bring a lot of fulfillment to me if I'm able to inspire others especially the younger generation through my art, to make the most of their talents and pursue their dreams and passions no matter how "not in vogue" they may seem to be. I would also be extremely happy if through my writings, I'm able to make more people; Nigerians and non-Nigerians, love and appreciate poetry for the beautiful and worthy form of art it truly is.

Your parting words to your teeming followers and fans worldwide.

You make this journey all the more beautiful and special for me. I'm grateful to you all for sticking with me and I love you for loving my poetry the way you do.

You can also follow me on social media, Instagram @Themaryjoepoet for new poetry pieces.

Thank you so much for your time, Mary-Joe.

You are most welcome.