How did I become a writer?

What is my history with writing?

What is my resume or repertoire?

Here’s my background check. (haha)

When I was a little girl, there was a lot of talk about Somalia. All I knew at that tender age was children were starving. I became so concerned and disheartened, I was moved to write a poem about these sad kids with no food. I was maybe about 7 or 8, you guys. During this time, my bio mom was working for a dentist who was also quite the philanthropist. He had lots of connections and was really active. He caught wind of my compassion and poetry, and asked if he could show it to a friend of his. Later on, I was surprised with an issue (similar to the National Geographic) that had my poem published in it!! He + his friend thought it was worthy of being shared!

In the 5th grade, I had an essay due. We were given a week to write it. I don’t remember what I preoccupied myself with that week, but I never got to it. I suddenly remembered my assignment the night before we had to turn it in. Now I’m not advocating for procrastinating, boys and girls! But I finally got to starting on it… I wrote with all I had in me. I mean, like- I was finishing writing the last words IN THE CAR, ON THE WAY TO school. (big cheese smile emoji) During SSR (sustained silent reading) when my teacher was correcting all the papers, he called me up to his desk. Here we go. I know I was for sure in trouble. . . . He started commending me on how good my essay was!!?! He then proceeds to walk my paper in one hand and stapler in the other, not to the bulletin board inside the class but to the one OUTSIDE the class so that the whole school can read it!! There my rushed (shh, don’t tell) essay was posted right outside our classroom door, all by itself, for all to see! I was getting compliments from other students + other teachers for the following weeks.

As a preteen, the hip hop duo Kris Kross was introduced to the music scene. And I. Became. Their Biggest Fan. Of all. Time. Yes, I had all the posters on my wall. Wore out their cassette tapes (yes, cassette). Did I wear my clothes BACKWARDS like they did? I’ll leave that one to your imagination! (laughing crying emoji) I was an especially big fan of Chris Kelly’s. I had posters of just him, too. Was he my teenage love affair?! Why yes, yes he was! #awkwardsmile I also happened to be a subscriber of the Big Bopper Magazine!! Remember BOP? Well, this was like their little cousin. In one of their 19(covers mouth)– issues, out of dozens of submissions, they chose MY poem to include!! There was my cute little poem about how much I loved Kris Kross’ music and how fine I thought the “Mac Daddy” (LOL) of the group was, with my name and my city + state underneath it. I kept that magazine for a long time!

Now in high school, my writing had matured. I was writing poetry that was a page long, with metaphors and comparisons. I took a creative writing class and was approached by the instructor, requesting that some of my pieces be included in the school’s spring copy of their Literary Magazine. That felt really good.

In my first year of college, English was a prerequisite to most majors. The assignment was to take your reader on a journey. I chose to write about the one week I lived with my boyfriend at the time. My bio mom and I never had a good relationship. We had got into it and I was just done in. I packed some clothes and toiletries in my backpack before I left for work…my parents not knowing I wouldn’t be back that night, and more nights after. (I may have left them a note, I forgot.) After my shift, my boyfriend picked me up. I thought it was gonna be so fun playing ‘House’ with this guy. Here I had this conception that I was doing this Big Girl thing and having some freedom. What I didn’t realize was: I left my mom’s house + ways, only to move into his house + ways. We had to watch ESPN every night and he was always right behind me, breathing down my neck, asking what “WE” were going to do next! Watch out dood! I wrote about this unexpected journey to gain independence and titled it “Welcome Home”. My instructor loved it and that paper got high remarks!

As a newlywed, I was given the opportunity to apply for my dream job (at the time). I was going to be working with special needs students. I loved that I was going to be in a classroom setting, but even more excited to be immersed with such brilliant and creative thinkers! Taking a high school equivalency exam was part of the application process. As with most standard tests, there was an essay portion at the end. I did the most basic formula: introduction paragraph with 3 details, three body paragraphs with each detail, and ended with a solid conclusion paragraph. Turned in my test and awaited the results. On the day I was going to learn my fate, I saw something really SHOCKING on my paper. How did this happen?? Who does this?! Who gets a 100 on the essay part!!?! I DID. Usually there’s a missing comma or a grammar issue, right? Not here, not I. Not one missing comma, not one grammar mistake. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I couldn’t believe my skill. That was such a highlight moment for me. I still have that paper til this day!

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me to write a book… There were so many equally as unique, awful, and beautiful things that have happened in my young life thus far, that those who have come to know me eventually say the words “You should write a book.” I had attempted many times, but something would happen and I would get discouraged. Or I didn’t know what direction to go… Or my target audience would change… Do I write about the jealous girl who turned off my mic when I was asked to sing the National Anthem for my high school graduation? Do I write about all the rare diagnoses I was given? (I would have titled that one “All the Letters After My Name”, nice ring to it huh!?) I couldn’t decide. I let life happen and forgot about the book. But it was always lingering in the back of my mind. At the end of 2018, I entered trauma recovery. I worked furiously on my healing. [P.S. Check out the book that helped me tremendously, I wish I could buy one for everyone I know!! “Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma” by Janina Fisher] I started journaling again and I went back to my writing. I made the goal of publishing by my 40th birthday. I understood the story I had to tell in my Memoir. My voice was choked for so long, I felt I needed to scream my stories from the mountaintops!! I wrote about the repercussions of my rapes + sexual assaults, the 37-years of narcissistic abuse from my biological mother, and what I used to cope and save my life. It was a half Memoir, and the other half was going to be released later. I had a legal and editing team, and we all worked so hard to meet my deadline. As I turned 40, my manuscript was published under a pen name. It sold many copies and I let my closest friends read it. It’s an indescribable feeling to have someone know your darkest hours and have them tell you how much it inspired them or changed their life. I hold those messages and emails so close to my heart. I only left the book on shelves for 3 months. And I never went back to write the second half. Writing that book took so much out of me. I was missing from my family and my life while I was in those words. And I thought I NEEDED to tell those stories. In my healing, I learned how to get my own closure. What I thought mattered, no longer mattered to me anymore. It was thrilling to get the notifications for books sold, but I’m glad my stories are safe with only me now.

So now you know my whole life story! (sweat bead emoji) Just kidding, at least the writing part of it! Okay, the “gist” of the writing part of it!! This doesn’t include the many a resume I was requested to write or eulogy I was asked to write + read. And now you know too, that I am/was somewhat of a Grammar Police! Haha. #nerdalert So even tho I write how I talk on here, you at least know I do know the rules!

These About The Author posts between Tea Spot visits have been interesting to write. It’s a good challenge for me! I do not like to talk about myself, or have any attention on me at all!! But as I mentioned when I started this series (if that’s what you wanna call it), you all are so good to me you do deserve more! (wink wink) As always, thank you for reading, following, subscribing, donating, following on social media…all the things! Yall are the absolute best. Lots of Tea Spots coming up, so stay tuned!!

Follow us @parTEAwithmeBlog on Instagram | Threads | TikTok