Interview with Cyril Scovens II – Ramona Portelli Blog

Interview with Cyril Scovens II

Cyril Scovens II is a poet, writer, and author of the new poetry anthology “The Memento of a Lotus.” With a decade of advanced placement literary classes, Cyril has a uniquely philosophical voice that compliments his visceral wordplay in his newest poetry anthology on mental illness created by trauma.

 Cyril Scovens II is a Baltimore native; he currently attends the Community College of Baltimore County, pursuing an AA in Art Design & Interactive media. Cyril plans on transferring to Drexel University in Pennsylvania for a bachelor’s in Fashion Design. Cyril is a freelance poet; his work speaks on his fight with mental illness, childhood trauma, & the environment he resides.

Ramona: Tell me more about your latest book

Cyril: This poetry anthology is a product of reflection on childhood trauma and the mental illness I suffered from as a result. The final destination in this collection is self-love and self-actualization. Each poem has its own emotions due to the various mental states during each point in my life. Reflecting on the past was very difficult; some things weren’t so easy to formulate into words. This collection of poems is a tool for readers to resonate with and sort through their unique trauma. The collection of pieces is a personal journey, and you must silence your mind and feel what I am saying.

Ramona: What was the most challenging aspect of writing?

Cyril: The most challenging aspect of writing was reflecting on past events that were traumatic for me. Once I was able to think about those events, I had to revisit my mental state at that time. Picking the placement of each poem was challenging as well, I wanted the anthology to have a cohesive path and way of resonating with each passage.

Ramona: What motivated you to become an author and how do you usually find your ideas?

Cyril: My motivation for becoming an author was my mother’s battle with stage 3 ovarian cancer.  I speak about the situation in the acknowledgments section of my book. I have been taking care of my mother for the past couple of years.  My way of coping with the pain of watching her lose her life was writing. The experience has allowed me to connect deeply and add a personal touch to my pieces.

My ideas come from my experiences and observations of the community I reside in. Growing up in Baltimore City curses you with a survival instinct due to the crime that inhabits the city. I travel around the city from the worst areas to the best to write about what I see.

Ramona: Have you ever had any book rejections prior publication?

Cyril: I have not had any book rejections; this is primarily due to me going the self-publishing route. After doing research, I found that most book publishing houses charge a significant amount. The price depends on the size and the material in the book. Due to this being my first release, it was more accessible to self-publish.

Ramona: How many books have you written so far? List and name them all here

Cyril: “The Memento of a Lotus” is my first and only book available as of this moment. I have started writing my next anthology, which should be available on Amazon in 6 months.

Ramona: What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

Cyril: The poem that influenced me is “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri. Dante was an Italian poet, literary theorist, and moral philosopher. I have only read the first part, which is titled “Inferno.” The poem follows Dante as he ventures throughout the nine circles of hell. Dante is very descriptive with the way he words things, allowing the reader to get engulfed in his storytelling. Having read this before sparked the idea of making my anthology feel like a journey. Dante’s destination in inferno was hell as a way to repent; at the end of “The Divine Comedy,” Dante’s goal was paradise. In my collection, I view self-love as a self-actualizing paradise.

Ramona: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Cyril: If you have a passion or even a niche for writing whichever form of writing that may be, write a book. The book that you write doesn’t have to be written to be sold, write it to get your emotions on the pages. When writing a book, you shouldn’t write for anyone other than yourself; the best type of storytelling stems from personal experiences. The truth is no one stops us more than ourselves. Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss grab onto a star.

Visit Cyril Scovens II book link:-

2 comments

  1. Michelle Scovens says:

    I purchased the book of poems. I enjoyed the style that Cyril Scovens II created. Being a relative and knowing some of his trauma, it was a humbling experience to see how he turned his woes into something that could inspire others to put feelings into writings. It seems once it has been released, life continues without burdens of a past that should be in the past. Not forgotten, but not burdened. I Loved His Poems. I hope others will follow in that direction of releasing burdens to live the life God has provided.

  2. Cyril Scovens says:

    I am his father that took care of him, but never knew the depths of his pain. As a drug counselor I thought that I would be able see anything that was going on in his life. I am so glad that he is working on his mental health and trauma with a therapist.

Scroll to top