Where have you spent most of your childhood?
I grew up in Chicago. I spent my childhood in the suburbs of the Windy City.
What did being an author mean to you as a child? What does it mean to you now?
I did not believe I would be an author as a child. I loved to write poems and stories, but I didn't think it was a "real job." I planned to. be a doctor or a lawyer because I was told that was what smart people became in life. Noone ever mentioned teaching or writing as possible career choices to me until high school.
What is the wisest/most insightful proverb that your parents or teacher taught you?
My parents believed that it takes a village to raise a child so my neighbors participated in raising me. It is because of them that I have the confidence and courage that I have today. I try to be a village for my students and for my readers.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I created a team called Team Bully-Free Forever. One of my students was considering suicide because of bullying. This let me know just how impactful bullying can be on young people. I wanted to make a difference and to change my school environment for the better.
What sparked the idea for your book, "Who Failed Johnny?"?
Johnny looks great from the outside. People would think that he has it all, but he has many issues that I witnessed my students dealing with in middle school. Oftentimes our boys are told that it is not masculine to cry or to reach out for help. I wanted kids to know that you can not allow pain to bottle up inside of you because it could explode.
Who is your favorite character among Ebony, Eris, and Emani Robertson from "Battle of the Bullies"?
Today, my favorite is Emani, but my answer changes often depending on what stage I am in life. Emani is often overlooked because she is the baby triplet. She is gifted and kind, but she does not shine as bright as her older sisters. I hope that the girls out there like Emani learn to let their lights shine no matter how bright everyone else in the room seems to be. You are Worthy! Glow!
In what ways do you think your poetry book, The Blue Ink Movement, will have a lasting impact in one's life?
I wrote the poetry book to inspire other poets to tell their story or to speak up about topics that they are passionate about in life. I believe people will read the book and find one poem that resonates with them. Then, I hope they will share that poem or their story with someone else. Blue means Bold, Loving, Unapologetic and Evolving. I hope the book leaves more Blue people in this world.
What do you like the most, poetry or novels?
I love poetry because it challenges me to think in a new and creative way. There are not many new stories in this world. Ultimately, stories tend to come down to an ancient battle between naughty and nice. Yet, poetry makes someone look at the world in an entirely new way. As a poet, I am a kaleidoscope for my readers.
What are the best tricks to keep yourself motivated?
I reward myself with chocolate. I know it sounds simple, but I love Hershey's with almonds bars so if I write something special, I will give myself a treat.
How do you get started with empowering people?
I ask them to help others. When students complain or come to me anxious, we focus on what they can give back to the world. Sometimes we forget what we have and what we can offer to the world by sharing our gifts. It is hard to complain about life, when your life matters to someone else. Your life matters to someone else when you give back to your community and to our world.
As a teacher, what is the harshest truth a student has ever taught you?
A student showed me that being young does not mean being free of problems. We have a society that worships youth and remembers all the good aspects of being young, but youth comes with doubts, questions, concerns and a journey to discover who you really are in this world. My student came to me having lost their entire family in a car accident. At that time, I had never lossed multiple people that I loved at once. How can someone concentrate on learning in school, when their heart is breaking? This was only one story. There have been so many over the years.
Is having a mentor in life important?
Absolutely. Every seed needs a great oak to share the tale of how it grew to be so strong. When we share our stories with others, they can surpass us and become even mightier. When an aspiring writer or speaker comes to me and says they want to be like me when they grow up, I always challenge them to be better than I am. Mentorship allows that to happen.
What are the differences between a coach and a mentor?
Great question. I have been both. As a mentor, I was about showing and telling. As a coach, I am about showing, telling, and teaching someone to do it without me. I coach authors to write books. I mentor young girls and boys to follow their dreams and to have more fear than faith.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
I am working on the last book in the Triplet Trilogy series. It will introduce a new character named Tre' who will certainly bring the drama into Emani, Eris, and Ebony's lives.
Lastly, what are your thoughts and opinions on AllAuthor and its services?
I enjoy the banners. I like the updates about tweets and follows. I appreciate that the platform is growing because exposure is so key in our industry. AllAuthor communicates without constantly flooding my emails. You provide services that are needed to encourage publicity for our books. Finally, I like that you connect directly to Amazon because that is where we want our customers to go to purchase our books. If authors are magicians, AllAuthor is our secret assistant making sure that the tricks are magical and that the audience is filled with spectators to say ooooh and aaaah. I hope you have more rabbits that you will pull out of your hat in the future. Thanks.
