Hi there, I’m SK and this is my first blog!
I’ve been sitting here wondering what I should write about in my first ever ‘to be published’ blog(!) and I’ve decided that it would probably be best to use this space as an introduction. I mean, you’re on my web page after all, I’m guessing you’d want to know a bit about me!
My actual name is Sonay (pronounced ‘sonn-eye’) but I go by SK (I’ll explain why a little further down). Born and raised in London, UK, I’m second generation Turkish Cypriot and the youngest child to my wonderful parents, who moved to England from Northern Cyprus in the sixties.
Without delving into my childhood and somewhat chaotic young adulthood (perhaps I’ll write about that in a future entry!), let’s move on to my journey as a poet/writer.
To explain how and why I started writing, I will take you back to August 2007, when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter and only child, Kader. Unfortunately, due to some problems during birth, Kader was born with an injured brain and a number of disabilities and complex needs. Initially on life support, Kader started to breathe unaided on the eleventh day after she was born. This was unexpected by the medical team and it was the first time she showed me what a fighter she was! I called her my ‘little soldier’ and she spent the next 6 years and 5 months proving to be exactly that. But every fighter needs to retire eventually…
On 28th January 2014, as I held her lovingly in my arms, Kader said goodbye to this world. We had been at Great Ormond Street Hospital for three and half weeks, but Kader’s destiny was not up for change – she was meant to grow her angel wings that night.
A few days later, during a prayers gathering for Kader at my parent’s house, the Hodja leading the prayers read a poem that he had written about me and Kader. It was not only beautiful and emotional, but also a pivotal point for me as this was the moment I decided I would start writing poetry to help me cope with my grief. I am forever grateful to that man!
That was eight years ago. Some years later, my dear friend, Ozlem, convinced me to start a poetry page on Instagram. I had absolutely no idea how that would pan out but I decided to give it a go. I chose to use a penname ‘SK Mustafa’, which you will have probably realised by now are the initials for Sonay and Kader. I’ve always loved that I chose to that. That was in May 2018.
Who knew that I would find such a huge society of poets in one place? I certainly didn’t! Finding the poets community on Instagram has truly been one of the best things that’s happened to me. Not only have I been able to grow as a poet and, in more recent times, a fictional mini-story writer, I have also made some amazing friends that have become like family to me. My gratitude is endless!
Fast forward to April 2021 – when I set an intention to finally compile and publish my first book. My exact words were ‘I AM going to publish a poetry book within the next 12 months! -SK Mustafa’ – and so I did! My book ‘Losing My Sunshine’ will be live for purchase on 28th January 2022 and I couldn’t be prouder of myself!
So there you have it! You know who I am now and why I started writing. What more can I tell you? Well, I’m sure I’ll think of things as I go on adding posts to my blog!
Thank you for taking the time to read my very first blog entry!
Signing off for now,
SK
Congratulations on your book release, Sonay! 🙂
Thank you, so much!
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Hi SK, I just read your first blog post and felt really touched by your story. It’s incredible how life can take such unexpected turns, and your strength is truly inspiring. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to lose Kader, but it’s amazing how you’ve found a way to channel your grief into writing poetry. I’d love to hear more about how your writing journey has evolved since then. Do you feel like writing has helped you heal, or do you still find it challenging to put those emotions into words? Also, why did you decide to go by SK instead of Sonay? It’s such a unique name! Honestly, I’d love to read some of your poems—are they shared anywhere? Your story really makes me reflect on how much resilience we all have inside us, even when it feels impossible. How do you find the courage to keep moving forward after such a loss?
It’s amazing how life’s most painful moments can spark something so beautiful, like your journey into poetry. Your story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and I can’t imagine the strength it took to share it so openly. Kader sounds like she was an incredible little fighter, and your love for her shines through every word. I’m curious, though—how do you feel your writing has evolved since that first poem? Do you think Kader’s memory continues to shape your work in new ways? Also, would you ever consider sharing some of your poetry here? I think many of us would love to read it and connect with your story on a deeper level.
Wow, your story is incredibly moving and heartfelt. It’s amazing how you’ve turned such a profound loss into a source of creativity and strength. Your daughter, Kader, sounds like she was truly a fighter, and your love for her shines through every word. Writing poetry as a way to cope with grief is such a beautiful and powerful choice—it’s like keeping her memory alive in a unique way. I’m curious, though, how has writing helped you process everything over the years? Do you feel like it’s brought you closer to healing, or is it more about honoring her legacy? Either way, I think it’s inspiring how you’ve found a way to channel your emotions into something so meaningful. Keep writing, SK—your voice matters.
Hi SK, I just read your first blog post and it’s incredibly moving. Your story about Kader touched me deeply—it’s amazing how you’ve turned such a profound loss into a source of creativity and strength. I’m curious, though, how do you find the courage to share such personal experiences so openly? Do you ever feel vulnerable putting it all out there? Your writing feels so raw and honest, and I admire that. I also wonder, what kind of poetry do you usually write—is it mostly about your experiences with Kader, or do you explore other themes too? I’d love to hear more about your creative process and how it helps you heal. By the way, why did you choose to go by SK instead of Sonay? I’m really looking forward to reading more of your work—will you be sharing your poetry on this blog as well?
Hey SK, I just read your first blog post and it really struck a chord with me. Your story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and I admire your courage in sharing it. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to lose Kader, but it’s incredible how you’ve turned your pain into something so beautiful through poetry. I’m curious, though—what was it about the Hodja’s poem that made you decide to start writing? Was it the way it captured your emotions, or something else entirely? Also, do you think writing has helped you heal in ways you didn’t expect? I’d love to hear more about your journey as a poet and how it’s shaped your perspective on life. Keep writing—your voice is powerful and needed.
Hi SK! It’s so brave of you to share your story and start this blog. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose your daughter, but it’s inspiring how you turned to writing as a way to heal. Your story about Kader touched me deeply—she truly sounds like a little soldier. Have you thought about sharing your poetry on this blog too? Your journey as a poet-writer seems like such an important part of who you are. I’d love to hear more about how writing has helped you navigate grief and whether it’s brought you closer to others who’ve gone through similar experiences. Do you think your background and heritage have influenced your writing style or the themes you explore?
Hi SK, what a powerful introduction to your blog and your life. I admire your courage to share such a personal story with the world. Your daughter Kader sounds like an incredible fighter, and your love for her shines through every word. Writing poetry as a way to cope with grief is such a beautiful and healing journey—how has it impacted you so far? I’m curious, do you think your Turkish Cypriot roots have influenced your writing style or themes in any way? Also, will you be sharing some of your poetry on this blog? I’d love to read more about your journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Keep writing—it’s clear your voice has so much to offer!
Hi SK, I just read your first blog post and it’s incredibly moving. Your story about Kader touched me deeply—it’s amazing how you’ve turned such a profound loss into a source of creativity and strength. I’m curious, though, how do you decide what to write about in your poetry? Does it always come from personal experiences, or do you draw inspiration from other sources too? I also wonder if you’ve ever considered sharing your poetry in a more public way, like a collection or a performance? Your journey as a writer is inspiring, and I’d love to hear more about how it’s evolved since you started. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about yourself through writing? Keep sharing your story—it’s powerful and needed.
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