What is something that you really miss from your childhood?
I miss the sense of community, living in a small neighborhood where everyone knew everyone, shared resources and helped each other.
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) and how it has influenced your career as an author?
I embarked on this effort due to a job change and my recognition of the need to validate or attest to my knowledge/skills versus merely relying on my work history or job experience. The effort influenced my career as an author because it made me take more time to focus on balancing my work to consist equally of a strong technical structure and a creative/inspirational message.
Your academic background includes concentrations in psychology, English, and communication arts. How have these areas of study shaped your writing and storytelling?
Psychology has helped me gain insight into personalities and character traits. English (literature) contributed to the structural “know-how” of crafting stories. Communication arts influenced my recognition of how others interpret or receive information and feedback. The three together have been critical in weaving storylines that meet current interests, using characters that others can relate to, using language, or delivering a message that is easily understood.
As a self-published author, what inspired you to start writing, and what topics do you typically explore in your books?
I was initially inspired to write to share my culture, heritage, and legacy to encourage future generations of my family and others to persevere despite trials and build bridges across our cultures and backgrounds. Also, I like seeing others overcome and succeed — being resilient. My books always have an air of resilience and include a touch of my cultural influences.
Could you share some insights into the role of storytelling in your life, and how you believe it can entertain, encourage, and educate?
I am from a very close-knit Jamaican family, and at many of our family gatherings throughout my life, we heard stories of family experiences, failures, accomplishments, challenges, and history from the preceding generations. These stories gave me insight into their journey — good and bad. They also helped to prepare me to handle trials, accept responsibility, work hard, and build relationships. Through this experience, I was entertained, encouraged and educated, and now endeavor to do the same for the coming generations.
Your professional certificates include Workplace Communications, Data Analytics, Business Strategy, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. How do these certifications enhance your work as an author?
Every professional certification has enhanced my writing my giving me a foundation to use in crafting either the career of my character or identifying how best to depict or demonstrate events or activities for readers through my words. These certificates have also been useful in my effort o handle the “business” of authorship in promoting my work, planning for launch, and analyzing cost of my work or sales.
Many authors have specific writing routines or habits. Can you describe your writing process and any rituals that help you get into the creative zone?
I don’t have a particular routine or habit. I do jot down notes most everywhere I can as ideas come to me or I see/hear something interesting that I want to explore in my writing. Daydreaming is the best thing to get me into the creative zone. Fleeing reality (for a moment) and letting my mind wander helps me to explore ideas, and identify topics for my work.
You mention your belief in using writing to build bridges across cultures and generations. How did you incorporate this philosophy into your work, "A Season of Disruption"?
A Season of Disruption is a memoir. I changed character names and names of the cities and towns, but the events are written exactly as they occurred. This work was envisioned as a gift to honor my mother and to pass down her legacy for generations to come so they better understood their heritage and the foundation she built for this family. But the work also gives others great insight into the Jamaican culture and allows others to relate similarities from their own cultures as well as better understand the differences.
Can you share some of the challenges you've faced as a self-published author and how you've overcome them?
My biggest challenge as a self-published author is in marketing. It has been difficult getting my work widely circulated or recognized. I do find that partnering with other authors who write in a similar genre or use a similar voice is helpful as it allows us to “cross-market” and expose our following to each other’s work to build our base of readers.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are considering self-publishing their work?
Ensure you are meticulous about getting professional editing. Also, using beta readers to get reaction before you publish can help with knowing if the story is marketable. I would also advise upcoming self published authors to focus on upfront launch planning. Having a plan in place and executing it can make all the difference in getting sales, interest, and readers.
Your membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, suggests a commitment to community involvement. How does this influence your writing and the messages you convey in your work?
As a child, my father had us memorize song lyrics that included the following: “ No Man Is An Island, No Man Stands Alone; Each Man’s Joy Is Joy To Me, Each Man’s Grief Is My Own.” I am not sure who wrote the lyrics, but I know they stuck with me for life. I developed a true caring and concern for the community and others that was fostered by my membership with Alpha Kappa Alpha and other organizations. The thought of the needs of others is a thread that also permeates my work as you will find characters who struggle, some who reveal selfish traits (making us all reconsider our own decisions and choices), and some who set the standard of kindness that many of us wish to attain.
Do you have any favorite authors or books that have had a significant impact on your writing style or creative outlook?
I don’t have an author or book that impacted my writing style. But, the author who spurred my writing interest years ago is the great Langston Hughes. I admire him for writing and expressing himself in the manner that he was comfortable with and not simply writing to please the critics or those with power in the industry. I would also mention that Terry McMillan’s ability to depict “real-life” as I knew, understood, and could relate influenced me to tell my stories from my perspective, wrapping my culture and experience together to weave tales that entertain, encourage, and educate.
In what ways do your diverse academic and professional backgrounds contribute to the depth and breadth of your writing projects?
My diverse academic background allows me to use strong technical, analytical, and creative mechanisms to craft work that:
Captures the public interest because it hits the pulse of what is happening or things we are concerned about.
Consists of a storyline that is organized, well-structured, written, and edited.
What are your future writing and blogging projects or goals, and what can your readers look forward to in the coming years?
In the coming year, I plan to continue developing inspirational posts or blogs that fuel resilience. I am also working on a children’s book to encourage the “storytelling” habit in youth. Additionally, I am also working on a novel that draws from my professional trials and successes, the complexities I’ve experienced or witnessed in family and personal relationships and reflects the lasting outcomes (good and bad) of our choices.
How has your experience of working with AllAuthor been?
All Author has been extremely supportive and active in promoting my work. The platform has introduced me to many new writers and allowed me to showcase my efforts to build my following and grow my readership.
