Friday Feature: @AnmarieSoucie

Though we've not seen or heard much from her in recent past, her presence is ever here. She is a self-proclaimed 'weirdo' who is always on the move. She writes with conviction and emotion, as evidenced in the following excerpt of her poem entitled "Ink."

I write to find, to know; to

obtain answers to a question I have

yet to articulate

but I know they’re there;

dwelling inside me

like a sulking child.

I feed her with ink...

I starve her too

when my mind’s dried up;

an old woman’s womb...

Who is she? Her name is Anmarie Soucie. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, she soon moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and has lived in the northeast region of the United States for several years. For this reason, she says that she represents an equal-parts mix of the "American Trio."

Until recently, she worked as a bartender. This year she graduated from NYU with a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and literature. Now she's "in full pursuit of a job in the literary world, or at least something that slightly resembles it," she says. She has some paid acting work under her belt as well, "though it's been rather sporadic..."

P: What is your relationship with writing and how has it evolved?

AS: I've had a few things published, and a LOAD of things rejected. I've learned to be open and receptive to writing advice but also flexible and persistent when it comes to the business side of things (you find the same mentality works in acting, or any creative endeavor); it's definitely not something that you pour yourself fully into if you're looking to benefit financially.

That said, I was drawn to the artistic side at a young age, and started writing when I was in first grade; I still have a story I wrote from that time – fleshed out with illustrated chapters and everything. It's pretty embarrassing, actually. It's called: "Vanessa Gets Kidnapped" and in my lame, underdeveloped mind, I'm sure I spent more time listing the things Vanessa wore and ate more than anything else. I continued to write stories and keep journals, and then later, poetry began to emerge. Now that I'm older – I can see just how much it's been a part of my life.

P: Briefly discuss the value that reading adds to both your personal and professional life.

AS: Reading is right up there for me with writing. Again, it's something that I started really young and engaged with pretty strongly. By that I mean that my mom used to always put books in front of my face because they were an easy way to keep me quiet and occupied.

I think that a kid's single digit years are crucial as they're constantly observing and absorbing. I correlate strong values with both reading and writing in my personal life and, as a writer, in my professional life.

P: How would you describe your current literary ventures and what can we look forward to in future posts?

AS: I'm all over the place.

I'm doing something which I don't typically do, something that I used to make fun of my ex for: I'm reading four books at once. I know, it sounds either pretentious or ridiculous, perhaps both, but I'll briefly explain: I was finishing a Dickens novel for a British Literature course (Great Expectations) and wanted to read something non-fiction along with it intermittently, so I chose a book that looked interesting about the influence of Aesop's fables on more contemporary writers and then of flash fiction in today's world. About halfway through, I found two more books (for $1 apiece) that I just couldn't wait to read: a Jungian psychology book on the metamorphosis of the feminine soul and a poetry book entitled "Cornhuskers" by Carl Sandberg. These books alone (which are now finished, complete with tons of annotation) have certainly impacted me and forced me to look at my current circumstances – along with all of the out-of-my-control, intensely rapid life changes – through a bit clearer lens.

I hope that they've impacted my writing, too. It's an interesting way of looking back on your life – all it's emotional swerves and swivels – simply by looking at or charting the writing you've done.

P: What does Prose. mean to you?

AS: Prose, to me, is for the writer in each of us . No matter where you are or what you need to talk about, I think Prose provides a vehicle for something that is important for every human being – communication. I very much agree with George Orwell's protagonist in 1984, who says (paraphrased): "more than to be loved, do we need to feel heard."

The overall simplicity of the app really provokes engagement. I think of that every time I go to post something, of how simple, accessible, and efficient it is, and I feel that perhaps if it were not that way, some people may not feel as inclined to invest their time contributing... Those involved in the literary world will also find it an intriguing and engaging way of putting their work out there.

P: Where else can we find you and your writing?

AS: You can visit my website at www.anmariesoucie.strikingly.com and follow me on Twitter @AnmarieSoucie.