Where are you from?

I proudly hail from the historical city of Durham, NC.

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve written my whole life, but I didn’t take it seriously until I read The Panther And The Lash, a collection of Langston Hughes’s poetry that was published after his death. I was completely blown away by the power and passion of his writing. The poems were so vivid, so honest, and so moving that I couldn’t help but be inspired. After I finished it, I thought to myself, “Now, THIS is what it’s all about.” Thanks to Langston, I realized just how powerful writing can be, and that’s what fuels me to this day – and what led me to write Songs In Search Of A Voice, my debut collection of poetry. I wanted people to be just as inspired as I was.

Who has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Of course, Langston Hughes is my primary influence. The seamless way he weaves words and concepts into a tapestry of incomparable creativity is pure genius.

There are so many other influences, though, that it’s impossible to name them all: Ai’s raw, piercing humanity; Nikki Giovanni’s blunt, yet subtle honesty; A.R. Ammons’s simple poignancy; Amiri Baraka’s unapologetic fearlessness; Pablo Neruda’s magical lyricism. I’ve been educated by them all – and am more than grateful for the wisdom.

You are so young and have gone through so much already. Tell us about your encounter with homelessness and domestic violence. How did you get the upper hand?

I met a very charming, very beautiful young woman a few years ago, and we instantly hit it off. I fell in love with her, we got along perfectly, and things went so fast that I felt sure we would be together forever. I was counting on it, so I gave up my apartment and moved in with her.

It didn’t take long, though, for her true colors to come out; slowly but surely, signs of abuse started to take center stage in our relationship: she would accuse me of things I hadn’t done (like cheating or lying about where I’d been), she would fly off the handle over the most insignificant things, she would push me physically and emotionally to try to elicit a response from me. She even hated when I spent time with my family and friends, accusing me of treating her like she didn’t matter as much as they did. Because of that, in typical fashion, I eventually cut off my entire family & friends circle, unwittingly giving her even more control over my life. In my mind, though, I was just trying to keep the peace and make her happy.

I had no idea where all this was coming from until I found out that she had been severely abused over the course of her life. That’s when I realized that she was just transferring the pain of her unresolved, open emotional wounds onto me. Her behavior worsened by degrees everyday, and it ultimately got to the point where I felt like I was really losing my mind. I knew I couldn’t take the abuse any longer without something volatile or violent happening. DV advocates always say, though, that when a person’s being abused, no matter how much support you give them, they have to decide on their own that they’ve had enough. Well, that’s what I finally did. I realized that I was either going to leave the relationship or lose my life. That’s when I moved out. Of course, since I had cut off all my family and friends, I had to live in my car for awhile until I could get back on my feet.

I came out of the whole situation much stronger, though, and having learned an important lesson about the perils of low self-esteem. I have no problem sharing my story with others because it’s sure to help somebody.

Tell us about your involvement with The Lady Oya Foundation and Read Seed.

I started The Lady Oya Foundation (LOF) as a direct result of the abusive relationship that I experienced. Despite how things turned out, I genuinely loved my ex-girlfriend, and one reason why I stayed in the relationship for so long was that I was trying to help her heal from all her past abuse. Ultimately, nothing that I tried worked, but I was determined not to let that whole experience be wasted. Realizing just how serious the problem of DV is, I resolved to do something to help curb its swelling tide; even if I couldn’t help her, I could still help many others like her. So, the LOF was borne of that desire to foster positive change.

I didn’t want the LOF to be a carbon copy of other organizations that also support DV survivors, so I made sure that we developed programs and services that attack the problem of DV in unique, unprecedented ways. The Lady Oya Scholars Program, our hallmark service, is a scholarship program that provides financial assistance to DV survivors attending post-secondary programs (college, beauty school, trade school, etc.) Nothing like that was being done at the time. Knowing how severe an impact DV has on its victims’ financial status, I couldn’t think of a better way to tackle the problem and foster the lasting empowerment of survivors. We also have other programs that bring the true nature of the problem to the forefront so that it can be dealt with openly and effectively.

I got involved with Read Seed completely by chance. They had been operating in my hometown of Durham, NC, for years, and I’d never heard of them until I saw a story about them in the paper one morning - I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. I’ve always been a staunch advocate of child literacy, and their prime objective is to get books in the hands of kids living in public housing who don’t otherwise have access to reading materials. I’ve been a Board member ever since then, and it’s been great helping them to become such a powerful force in the community. It’s also great to see the impact that we’re having in kids’ lives. They love it, and that makes it all worthwhile.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

The title is actually an homage to all the influences that helped me find my own voice as a writer. My own talents would long ago have been lost if it weren’t for the guidance of their brilliance and genius. I owe so much to them for all that they taught me, so it was only right for my first book to be a tribute to them.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

I just want people to be inspired by it. Not necessarily inspired to write poetry, but just compelled to be the best at whatever it is they do. Great works are supposed to do that: they’re supposed to bring out the best in us, no matter what our stations in life. They touch us in such ways that we can’t help but excel personally as a result of being so moved. My hope is that Songs serves as such a vehicle for a long time to come.

Are your writings based on someone you know, or events in your life?

Believe it or not, the majority of the poems that I write have nothing to do with me personally. That’s hard for most people to believe, but it’s the truth. I have a very fertile, very active imagination, and my wheels are always turning. I stay inspired, and inspiration is a funny thing anyway. I can get ideas for poems by just driving down the street and watching two people have a conversation on the sidewalk. I always tell people that “Reflex Of You,” a love poem in Songs, was inspired by a routine doctor’s visit. The most important thing for me is just being open. Ideas can come at anytime, and if you let them play themselves out in your mind, the poems pretty much write themselves – you’re just the conduit.

What books have most influenced your life?

I read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse years ago when I was struggling with some serious self-esteem and identity issues, and that book forever changed the course of my life. I highly recommend it to anyone searching for real answers to life’s myriad mysteries.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Captain’s Verses by Pablo Neruda, and Greed by Ai are all permanent members of my library. They’re all structured so differently and written in such varied styles, but the immutable lights of truth and wisdom still shine through.

What new author has grasped your interest?

He’s not really new, but I just got introduced to Marvin Curtis Reid. His second novel, Steven, has gotten rave reviews from readers and critics alike. It touches on the subject of male victims of domestic violence, so I can’t wait to check it out.

How do your family and friends feel about your book in general?

My family and friends are actually relieved that I finally launched my career! They’ve all been so supportive throughout the years and have encouraged me all along to put a book out, but I was busy with other projects before now. I appreciate all the love that they’ve given me for so long. None of what I do would be possible without them.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything?

Absolutely not. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason – even the bad things. It’s all necessary for our continued growth and development, and the sum total of it all is what makes us what we are; in that respect, I have no regrets about who or where I am today.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of promotion for self-published authors?

Mainstream publishing powerhouses like Simon & Schuster, Random House, Penguin, etc., have specific departments of personnel with the exclusive responsibility of getting tour dates, interviews, and other media appearances for their authors. Not only that, but they have funds dedicated solely for advertising, which helps their promotion efforts tremendously. Having that kind of financial backing frees up the authors to focus on their writing and perfect their craft, and that’s an advantage that they have over self-published authors.

On the other hand, having to do the lion’s share of promotion yourself helps self-published authors in other ways: you make more personal connections with your readers, you exercise creativity in finding ways to get new readers, and you become really attached to your work.

Either way, there are flip sides to every coin. You take the good with the bad and find a way to make it all work together.

What do you feel is one major benefit to self-publishing your book?

I don’t handle rejection well, and I’ve heard all the stories about the reams and reams of rejection letters that most debut authors have to keep pushing through until they – if they’re lucky – land a deal with a major publishing house. I’m also a creative control freak, and I like to have final say over the editing & arrangement of my work. So, for me self-publishing was a no–brainer. Starting my own publishing company gave me the opportunity to put my writings out sooner, as well as the freedom to style my work the way I wanted. It’s definitely alot more work involved, but for me that just makes the reward that much greater.

Would you encourage or mentor someone to become self-published?

Most definitely. Like I said, my experience has been very rewarding and educational, and I’d love to share all that I’ve learned for the benefit of as many as possible. Besides, no matter what your chosen craft or genre, we all deserve a fighting chance to share our talents with the world. If I can help make that possible for anyone, I more than welcome the opportunity.

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