On December 16, 1976, Pascalle Onika Lewis was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Now, she resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Medgar Evans College in June.
Her first self-published book of poetry entitled, “Collections of a See Through Soul-Portraits,” written under the pen name Onika Pascal, debuted in 2008. Since then, she has been working on many projects, including a new poetry collection and a memoir titled, “Becoming More Than Just An Orange.” When she’s not writing, Lewis serves as a group leader with the Misunderstood Youth Development Center, a non-profit organization that provides a place for youth to express themselves. It is here that Lewis shares the wonders of poetry with the teens in her group.
Question: Who are some of your greatest inspirations?
Question: When did you know that writing was the career path you wanted to follow?
Onika: To be honest! Last month. . I have always had a passion for writing and simply wrote for myself, but I never thought I was going to do it professionally. Though I’m not currently an expert with degrees and concentrations in writing, I do take it seriously and aim to perfect my knowledge as I’m respectful to the art and aim to bring forth works that are worth reading.
Question: Over the years, what have you learned by way of your writing?
Onika: I have learned that it is not just an outlet, but it’s a comfort zone. I’ve learned that it is a way to express my thoughts and can have it draw a reader. I have also learned that it is a way of entertaining others. People love a good story.
Question: Who is your target reading audience?
Onika: I want to be writing for a long time to come. So I want to target an audience who loves to read good work. Great work! However, with my first poetry collection, I am targeting young men and women who have been in love, currently in love and who just have a desire to be entertained by someone else’s work.
Question: By publishing your work, what do you hope to accomplish?
Onika: I want my writing to be a tool where people can read it and feel comfortable going through whatever. I would like to know that I’ve accomplished comforting someone, that through my work they’re not the only woman or man with a heart breaking, that the world has someone else out there who they can relate to.
Question: Describe what writing is for you?
Onika: Writing for me is an outlet. It is a learning experience; the more I write, the more I learn and know. It is a growing process that allows me to bring others into my life and share with them the things I’ve learned. Writing gives me the ability to make sense to other people and to have them understand me as an individual.
Interview by Ciara Lilly. Photography by Janine Addison of Draco Photography (www.dracophotography.com)
