FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

When did you first discover your love for writing and poetry?

I have been writing for myself since I was very young. About 10 years ago I started a blog and have been writing there, primarily about personal development and leadership. Poetry is a newer genre for me. I have been exploring it for the last several years, mostly privately, and within small groups. This has helped me gain some confidence in writing and sharing the work, as well as learning to condense my thoughts. As a new genre, it has also been rewarding to learn the mechanics of the art, like writing in form and performing the pieces aloud.

**Your debut poetry collection, I Am The Rage, came out on February 1, 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?**

Enlightening entree into difficult conversations.

Your newest collection, A Sweeter Song: Catharsis, will be released on February 1, 2024. What words would you use to describe it? Is there a significance to the February releases?

I would probably use the same 5 words to describe the second book, although it has a broader range of topics.

The release dates have been determined by my publisher. However, as I understand it, the significance is that it takes advantage of three important months of the year for writers- Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and National Poetry Month. A veritable trifecta!

Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?

What readers can expect, I think, depends on their personal life experiences.

For members of my audience who are African-American, Latinx, or use other hyphenated race descriptions, they can expect to read words about things they’ve thought, experiences lived through, and what they see still happening around us, but not often openly expressed.

I think those people who don’t belong to hyphenated groups will see a glimpse into what it is like to live as an African-American, or with “otherness” in a society in which you can never feel completely relaxed, safe, or free. I think for them it will open their eyes to some extent and give some context to why we think the ways we do about the world. I can hardly speak for every African-American woman, but I think it will help them see us a little bit better, more clearly, or perhaps view us differently.

As I stated above, this collection has a broader range of topics than “i am the rage.” The subjects include race, motherhood, parenting (from parent and child perspectives), love, loss, and a bit of humor.

Can you tell us about where you drew inspiration from?

I have drawn my inspiration from many decades of living and working in America as a woman and person of color.

I am a lifelong learner and have been a heavy reader since childhood. I have always stood out as one of the nerds in my extended family. And, I am fortunate that I learned to embrace that at an early age. Several decades ago, I embarked on a quest to spend time with Black and Latinx literature, because there were so many writers and poets, and a few musicians I had not been properly exposed to during my formal education. I carried my children with me on this journey for which I think they are now grateful. We all grew together.

And then, of course, there is the news which sadly gives us a steady diet of stories of horror and or abuse somewhere in the world daily. That is not to say that there aren’t stories of kindness and love, but these tend to be rarer on balance. They all serve as fodder for writing.

The short answer is that I draw inspiration from everyone and everything.

What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?

I’m new to being published but face the same challenges as any other writer.

One of the main challenges is being confident in what we write and learning to share it with others. Initially, we write for ourselves, but ultimately, we write for, to, and about others.

I have a writing practice that I adhere to, so I don’t suffer often from writer’s block. I am committed to something daily. Is it all good? Of course not, but it flexes the creative muscles and fuels the engine of creativity. If I can get one piece out, several more may flow from that.

I also read daily as well. So, the wheels are always churning.

Out of all the poems in each of the collections, is there one that you feel the most passionate about

If I must choose one from “i am the rage,” it would be “There is Too Little Time.”

My choice from “A Sweeter Song: Catharsis”… I’m still deciding

What’s next for you?

I am uncertain. I have already started putting together some work for a potential third volume, but we shall see. In the interim, I will continue to do poetry readings as well as other speaking engagements and meetings with discussion groups about my own book, as well as the works of others.

I hope to continue my daily writing ritual. It produces a lot of material for the poetry books as well as my weekly blog.

I will continue to fight against all forms of injustice where I find them.

I hope to continue to venture into other creative outlets such as painting, drawing, and sculpting. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to explore others.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

I read several books concurrently. I am currently reading:

The best way to know what I am currently reading is to check out my page on Goodreads, where I participate in the annual book reading challenge.

How can we contact you?

You may contact me at creative@developworth

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