Brittle Paper’s Writer of the Month for September is Shone Mercy!

Shone Mercy Wueseter Chidiebere is from Benue State, Nigeria, but has lived and grown in so many parts of the country. She has inherited a travelling addiction and a need for fresh air. Currently, she studies Midwifery at College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, Anambra State. A lot of people find this strange considering everything she does leans towards the world of arts, both literary and visual. Even though writing is a passion and a calling, she’s always wanted to be a health personnel.

Other than being a student, Shone is also a content writer specializing in SEO, articles, blog posts, and fiction. Although she has been writing professionally for over three years, she’s been writing for pleasure ever since she could hold a pen. She loves writing just as much as she loves reading, and her biggest inspiration and motivation for both is her mother who encouraged and cultivated the habit that is now an essential part of her life. Whenever Mercy needs to get her creative juices flowing, she drenches herself in the voices of Nina Simone, Raye, Willow Smith, and occasionally, The Beatles, and Queen. But mostly, she likes Jazz, Soul, and the Blues.

Join us as we sit down with the lovely Shone Mercy!

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Brittle Paper

Shone, congratulations on being our September Writer of the Month! Your story, “Feathers and Plaids,” was my absolute favourite of the past month. Before we get to the story, tell us about how Shone Mercy became a writer.

Shone Mercy

First of all, thank you so much. I’m not going to say I haven’t dreamt of this day. I’ve thought about it a lot. But somehow, I’m even more excited than I thought I’d be. I am truly honoured to be given this opportunity.

“Feathers and Plaids,” like most of my work, comes from a deep part of me. I’ve always been moved by my emotions and I love to express them in the most beautiful way ever. Writing.
I’ve always been writing, I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t. I think that’s because I’ve also always been reading. Since I knew how to pronounce words, there’s always been a book in my hand thanks to my mother. There was always something new to read, all you had to do was ask.

I loved how magical it seemed for a bunch of words placed strategically together to create a feeling and stimulate even the dullest imagination. I wanted to do that too. And so, I started writing.

Brittle Paper

That’s really beautiful! The second I started reading, my mom always made sure that I always had a book at hand too and I’m so thankful for that.

Keeping with tradition, I have a few questions to help us get to know your artistic side a bit more. First up, what is the earliest book you remember reading and loving? And is there one you read and thought it was overhyped?

Shone Mercy

I’ve read a lot of books in my life, it’s hard to keep track of the time they were read. There is one, however, that I remember reading and loving in primary school called, King Solomon’s Mines. I don’t remember much of the details now but I remember being sucked into the adventure. But my all time favourite from my early reading years is definitely The Secret Garden. I remember how it made me feel and how everything I felt was so real, like it was happening to me. I wanted to be in the book so badly. I can’t recall the earliest book I’ve read as this is how far my memory goes and also the ones I think of very often.

Now, a book I thought was overhyped? Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I wouldn’t say overhyped, but I just didn’t feel it like I thought I would, and maybe that’s because I haven’t quite gotten to understand it. I know what the plot is about, I just found it exhausting, and I’m ashamed because it’s a classic.

Brittle Paper

When I was a kid, one of the first ‘longer’ books I remember reading and loving was The Secret Garden too! I went to a book fair a few years ago and spotted it and I had to buy it just for the nostalgia.

Given the themes you have written about in previous Brittle Paper stories, are there any African literature you read and were genuinely taken aback by the unapologetic nature of writing about a certain topic?

Shone Mercy

VAGABONDS! Eloghosa’s writing is so raw and true. The way she touches certain topics and probes at them in ways that makes you fear she might make them burst! I am completely mesmerized by her writing especially in Vagabonds and I try to mimic it sometimes. She makes the obvious topic seem like something completely different and makes you wonder, are we still talking about the same thing? She opens your eyes to a whole new point of view, whole new angle of something that shouldn’t even be looked at. It’s all things beautiful and I hope I can write as good as that someday.

Brittle Paper

As my later comments on “Feathers and Plaids” will tell you, you are in your own right already brilliant and taking something we’ve heard about before and showing it in a new way. But first, let’s answer the final question of this round.

If you could have a dinner party with your favourite artists, who would they be?

Shone Mercy

You already know Eloghosa is going to be the first on the list. Raye, one of my favourite musicians ever, definitely deserves an invite for her powerful lyrics that help bring out mine. Since we’re in fantasy land, it wouldn’t hurt to have Nina Simone, another powerful voice in the world of music. It’s a dinner party so Chimamanda Adichie, a beautiful writer among many things, would be pleased to spend the evening with me.

There’s definitely going to be another handful of people there, I just can’t seem to put names to them. So, I guess I’ll be spending more time with these amazing women throughout the party [laughs].

Brittle Paper

Now, Mercy, your August story, “Feathers and Plaids,” is the reason we selected you for Writer of the Month. Besides touching on a topic that is important to talk about, you did a brilliant job at portraying the character in such a subtle matter-of-fact way using the name change. How did you come to write this story?

Shone Mercy

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d have the confidence to actually submit this story. I didn’t even give it much thought when I did submit it. I mean, it’s such a sensitive topic. I was trying to write something that resembled a stream of consciousness type of literature. But what thoughts could I explain so accurately as they unfolded? Something complex, something fragile, something that felt a little too real. That’s what I was aiming for. So, when I began to write, my heart just led my pen to write a little too close to home. The feelings that I could relate to. My own stream of consciousness, only, it wouldn’t exactly be me. Like I said earlier, I’m moved by my emotions and the very reason I started writing was to express these emotions. So that’s what I did. I guess that’s how I came up with the story.

Brittle Paper

My favourite part of the story is:

It was safe, yes. But it was nothing close to heaven. It was dark and dusty. Suffocating and frightening. Out here however, outside the closet, it was wild but you could breathe. It was bright and you could see and move.

So many parts of the story stand out for being striking and powerful but this one is my favourite because it shows the bargaining one has to do when making the choice about being out. There’s the safe side that involves hiding oneself to the point of suffocation and then there’s the side that allows you to breathe but it comes with the danger of no longer being behind a shield. These are of course statements and stories that have been told for generations but you do a remarkable job at telling it in a way that feels new.

Shone Mercy

That also happens to be my favourite part in the story. Inside the closet, it’s easier, but it’s all a facade. There’s no true happiness there. Having to live a lie, pretending. It gets exhausting eventually. But out there? It’s free and true and you are authentically yourself. Of course, it’s not safe. It’s scary. But you’re free, freedom isn’t ever safe. But you’ll be happy.

I also like to look at this part beyond being queer. The closet could be a comfort zone. A nice comfy circle that you won’t allow yourself to cross. It’s secure, but it’s so limiting. There’s very little that can be done within that little circle. But when you allow yourself to go beyond that zone, there are so many possibilities. So much to achieve, so much to see. I think it’s worth all the dangers that may come with it.

Brittle Paper

I think you’re completely right in that, any story that talks about freedom in some way will touch on the hearts of anyone having to live a concealed life. That’s why it is important that people are able to share their stories. Besides the monumental impact on them for sharing their voice in a space that is safe, it also inspires hope in others going through a troubling time.

Your August piece, “Feathers and Plaids,” has been published on Brittle Paper but I was also lucky to publish another story of yours in March, “Symmetry (OCD),” which touched on darker themes of mental illness. The ending, although much darker than “Feathers and Plaids,” was also a bit ambiguous in that the character seemed happy but the world around them seemed ominous. Is this a running theme in your writing or am I seeing too much into it? [laughs]

Shone Mercy

I believe that the human mind is limitless especially when it comes to creativity. There’s so much we can imagine if only we were given the right prompts. And that’s what I try to provide. I like a good challenge. I like wondering. I like picking at my brain trying to find that satisfying itch by imagining the best possible way a movie or book could have ended.
I think everyone deserves this and so I try to provide it. We don’t always need closure. It doesn’t always have to be a certain and definite ending. I like the extra room for what-ifs. And I do this mostly when I’m writing a dark theme. I think those fit more. When it’s a rainbow cotton candy story, you know what you’re expecting. But when it’s dark and horrifying, it’s quite difficult to tell what could happen next, especially how it would end.
So yes, it’s a running theme in my writing.

Brittle Paper

When I was studying literature, I leaned heavily towards African literature but one of the few Western writers I loved reading and writing about was Raymond Carver. His short stories never provided closure and, in a room full of literary students, it always led to debates about how the story ended. I would say, for any readers thinking of looking up his work, I would avoid it if you are currently already dealing with anxiety and depression because stories without closure are not for the faint-hearted.

Now, moving on to your other artistic talents, you also spend your time drawing comic characters! Is this something you do for fun or do you also incorporate it into your writing? Because if you tell me, you are launching an illustrated collection of your stories, I will be first in line to get a signed copy!

Shone Mercy

For now, drawing is just a hobby. When I’m messing around, I like to draw cartoon characters. But when I want to feel how I feel when I write, I draw mediocre psychedelic art. I’d like to put in some effort into sharpening my skills there. I don’t know why exactly and I can’t say I’ll never incorporate it into my writing. But if I do decide to merge the two, you’ll be the first to get a copy for sure!

Brittle Paper

This is why I like to keep in touch with my writers [laughs].

On Friday, your new work will be published. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about it?

Shone Mercy

I’m exploring softer themes but I’ll always find my way to sprinkle a little bit of grey on it so it’s not too glittery. Love is something I unconsciously avoid writing and I can’t say why. However, with a little twist here and there, I might be able to fit it into my style this time around.

Brittle Paper

Before we go, apart from your writing, Mercy, what is one thing about yourself that you want to share with our readers?

Shone Mercy

I want to see the world. Not just with words and pictures on paper or a screen. I want to see the world with my eyes. I want to feel, smell, and taste it. All corners of it. I try to travel as much as I can, but someday, I hope I can reach farther than I ever have.

Brittle Paper

Well, here’s to you traveling the world and writing stories wherever you find yourself! Hopefully, one of those places is Cape Town so that we can talk more about your work in person this time.

Until then, thank you for chatting with us and for being such a wonderful writer to publish!

 

For more of Mercy’s work, be sure to check back in on Friday, and for more interviews with our writers, check out June’s with Nande T. S. Kamati here.