Below is My Interview (Q&A) For "Spotlight on Writers" series, presented by Spillwords.com:
http://spillwords.com/spotlight-on-writers-phyllis-p-colucci/
Spotlight On Writers
- Where, do you hail from?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and I sincerely carry
that New York blood in my heart and soul. I will always be a proud New
Yorker and Brooklynite no matter where I live in the future. Growing up
in Brooklyn was all about a connection; a connection to family,
community, friends - and I have and share the utmost respect for my
Italian roots and heritage. I still live in the same Italian
neighborhood in which I grew up, but have now witnessed the many
changes as well. Some for the better, some not. "Gentrification" has
invaded our space. Many of the "old-timers" have either passed on or,
unfortunately, have been chased out by developers who have torn down
quaint row houses, mom and pop shops - and "our" spirit. They have
replaced all of that with large apartment complexes. Yes, the value of
real estate in the area has skyrocketed as a result, but the echo of a
simple and wonderful life with the memory of the people that once
"were", will forever exist in the streets of "my" Brooklyn.
- What is the greatest thing about the place you call home?
The greatest thing about the place I call home is the warm feeling I
get when I think about the "old" days; the special friends and people
I've known, the wise elders I've adored, the lessons I've learned from
those relationships, the values I've honored, and the sense of love and
family that has been, and always will be, instilled in me and those
closest to me. The memory of small family homes, tree-lined streets,
pizza stores on every block, social clubs, Italian coffee shops, pastry
shops and family-owned bread stores, with the hint of tantalizing food
aromas in the air, will be etched in my mind forever. Living here was
like living in a small town within a Big City. We always had the best
of both worlds.
- What turns you on creatively?
What turns me on creatively has more to do with spirit and emotion
than anything else. It's all about feelings that wake up the senses and
keep me in tune to my surroundings and my life. It could be as simple as
the aromas of freshly brewed coffee, or as intense as the sounds of
nature happening outside my backyard window, or as beautiful as the
innocent breath of a sleeping child. As long as there are magical
triggers out there that I can mingle with or react to on a daily basis,
I will always find creativity - with that New York edge.
- What is your favorite word, and can you use it in a poetic sentence?
My favorite word is "angelic".
My poetic sentence is:
"The 'angelic' voices hiding high above the clouds, will sound upon the
earth once Mother Nature has something sweet to say to us."
- What is your pet peeve?
My pet peeve is "Procrastination". Procrastination robs us of our
time - quality time that we should be spending with ourselves, with our
friends, with our families, with our jobs, with the Divine. It stifles
us to the point where we can no longer be productive, where we can no
longer thrive, where we are unable to accomplish all that would make us
successful, all that would allow us to contribute to society; and all
that would make us better friends, partners, parents, brothers, sisters,
cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and so on. Life is too short. Do
not waste it on "Procrastination".
- What defines Phyllis P. Colucci?
What defines me? Well, I would have to say, first and foremost, being
a Mom. It is the most rewarding, yet sometimes toughest job there is.
Any parent will understand that, for sure. Secondly, there is my
writing - one of my special loves and one of my deepest passions. My
writing allows me to learn, to create, and to grow as a person. My
writing also gives me one of the greatest gifts of all - the gift of
sharing...Sharing my words, my characters and my stories with the
world.
I am a freelance / indie writer (fiction, poetry, blog), residing in Brooklyn, New York.
I retired from a Supervisory/Admin position with a Federal Law Enforcement agency in NYC, a few years back. Presently, I am pursuing my passion for writing, and most of my writing has that New York edge.
