M.J. Fievre - Author, Writer, Editor, Educator & Community Builder

M.J. Fievre

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, M.J. Fievre moved to the United States in 2002.  She currently writes from Miami, and her most recent book, “Badass Black Girl” debuted in January 2020.

M.J.’s publishing career began as a teenager in Haiti. At nineteen years-old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps, in Haiti, for the publication of a Young Adult book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has authored nine books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles. In 2013, One Moore Book released M.J.’s first children’s book, I Am Riding, written in three languages: English, French, and Haitian Creole. In 2015, Beating Windward Press published M.J.’s memoir, A Sky the Color of Chaos, about her childhood in Haiti during the brutal regime of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

M.J. Fievre is the author of Happy, Okay? Poems about Anxiety, Depression, Hope, and Survival (Books & Books Press, 2019) and Badass Black Girl: Questions, Quotes, and Affirmations for Teens (Mango Publishing, 2020). She helps others write their way through trauma, build community and create social change. She works with veterans, disenfranchised youth, cancer patients and survivors, victims of domestic and sexual violence, minorities, the elderly, those with chronic illness or going through transition and any underserved population in need of writing as a form of therapy—even if they don’t realize that they need writing or therapy.

A long-time educator and frequent keynote speaker (Tufts University, Massachusetts; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; the University of Miami, Florida; and Michael College, Vermont; and a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, AWP), M.J. is available for book club meetings, podcast presentations, interviews and other author events.

I’m so excited for you to connect with M.J., check out her work and writing, and follow along as she continues to share her writing and her work to empower others in their journey, too.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Michèle Jessica, but most people call me MJ. I’m a Haitian-American writer who grew up in Port-au-Prince and currently lives in South Florida. I write in all genres, from poetry, to nonfiction, to fiction, including plays and web series. I work as a college (writing) professor, an editor (acquisitions and developmental), and also as a writing coach. 

How did you get started?

I’ve always been an avid reader. Stories played an important role in my childhood—at home, because my parents were themselves wonderful storytellers, but also everywhere else in Port-au-Prince, the city of my youth. Haiti has a strong narrative impulse, channeled in the telling of elaborately embroidered personal experiences as well as traditional tales. Storytelling took—and still takes—place wherever small groups gather to work and socialize. I was thirsty for these well-told stories, and I later became interested in writing my own stories. I wrote my first YA book (an adventure story) when I was 13, and self-published it when I was 16, before self-publishing was even a “thing.” By that time, I knew that my entire life was meant to be rich in creativity. Although when I started college, I didn’t choose a literary field—I studied health sciences, and later majored in education—I never stopped writing. As a teacher, I used my creativity to inspire the teenagers I worked with. Ultimately, I obtained a master’s degree in creative writing and became part of a community that supported my creative endeavors. 

What inspired the work that you're doing?

Whether I write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, my work is ultimately about empowerment. This is certainly true for Badass Black Girl. As a teenager growing up in the Caribbean, where most books in the 80s and 90s were imported from French-speaking Europe and Canada, I didn’t have access to many books addressed specifically to Black girls my age, and my place in society wasn’t necessarily valued the way it should have been. In my earlier writings, I expressed that frustration, and, throughout the years, I became interested in using my experience as both a writer and an educator to bring clear messages of empowerment and actualization to young girls of color. I learned a lot from my goal-focused mother, but also from the other mother figures in my life—three older, super smart sisters, a badass aunt, and a series of patient mentors at school. It takes a village, they say. Today, although I don’t have children of my own, I recognize that I’m a member of the village and I want to contribute to the education of our girls.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

My biggest passion is creation. And by creation, I don't just mean writing. Being a writing coach and editor requires a creative mind, and when I’m helping others create, nothing makes me happier. Ten years ago, after the violent earthquake in Haiti, the focus of my writing shifted—I stopped writing for pure pleasure. My writing became a tool from life improvement, not just my life, but the lives of others. That’s my passion and purpose, and I’m living it. As a survivor of home violence, political chaos, and mental illness, I want to become more of a speaker now, too. I want to be able to work directly with parents and children in need of empowerment, and those who suffer from depression and anxiety. 

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

Feeling relevant is very important to me. Every day, I wonder, “Am I making this world a better place for at least one person?” I get a lot of joy working as a writing coach, helping  people who have gone through traumatic experiences. I'm thankful for the opportunity to help them. We live in a world that can be so dark, I think that being joyful is about identifying those moments when we can allow ourselves to see the beauty in the world. I want those moments to multiply. And if I can help someone accomplish that, then I'm really, really happy. Family makes me happy, friendship makes me happy. What makes me the most alive? Again, creation—and seeing the delight of a writer that I've helped improve their craft. Or the satisfaction of someone who’s read one of my pieces, or seen one of my plays, and felt that it made a difference in their lives. That means a lot to me. That makes me happy. 

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

I use three tools that are particularly useful in reminding me that my life—every life—can be meaningful. I keep a gratitude journal in which I write first thing in the morning (goals), and also every evening (“best part of my day”). The second tool is a to-do list. I can't imagine living a fulfilling life without it. That list is closely connected to the goals that I have for the week. The third tool is also important: It’s a list titled Everything You Can Control. It has about 100 items. Sometimes life can get so overwhelming that we forgot all the things we can actually control—our attitude, for example; how we take care and treat our bodies; how we set boundaries. I keep that list to keep me mindful and grounded.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. I was told about “genetic predispositions” and “faulty wiring in the brain” at an early age—not that anyone actually looked at images of my brain. Now in my late 30s, I still have to put a lot of efforts every day into focusing on being joyful, into actively/consciously working on being happy. I think that maybe my younger self would be a little scared by that, by the fact that the depression wasn’t just a teenage phase, that it’s been a lifelong struggle. At the same time, I think she’d be proud of the person I've become since she’s always wanted to live a life that was centered around writing. And that’s my life now. My lifelong dream has come true.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

Yes. I seriously look at myself in the mirror every morning and say, forcefully: “You’re the boss!” Then I raise my arms and go, “Woot, woot!”  I laugh at my silliness, and the laughing automatically gets me going. I do this every morning, even when the day doesn’t promise to be productive. After all, I AM THE BOSS. Some things will always be out of my control, but I can definitely make certain choices, including how I interpret situations, how kind I am to others and to myself, how I express my feelings, how often I practice gratitude, how many times I’ll smile, and the amount of efforts I’ll put forth in everything. And if there’s something I can’t avoid (such as attending a stressful meeting), I say, “We’re gonna rock this meeting LIKE A BOSS.” 

What is your biggest dream?

I work a lot—and I need a break. I dream of taking a year off, and travel around the world. 

To learn more about M.J. and her work check out her website www.badassblackgirl.com/ and on Facebook @happyokay.club Instagram @happyokay.club and on Twitter @MJ_Fievre.

Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here