 Vanessa Davis Griggs.
has long offered readers spiritual titles. She shares more about her
life as a writer. Thanks, Ma'am!-SCBC,
Inc.
Tell us your latest news.
I signed a two book deal with BET Books. They will be re-releasing
Promises Beyond Jordan in February 2004, a book I originally published,
under their New Spirit imprint. My print edition is now being classified
as the collector’s edition. It will cease publication August 1, 2003 or
when supply is gone (whichever comes first).
When and why did you begin writing?
My first recollection of writing is when I was in the sixth grade. I
wrote plays. We had just integrated to an all-white school and my
English teacher, Mrs. Campbell, came to me and said, “I want you to put
on one of your plays for the school.” I still can’t recall how she knew
I wrote plays, but I ended up writing, producing and directing a play
for my class at the age of 12. When I look back, I can see how much that
impacted my life. I continued playwriting and began writing short
stories then novels. In 1996 I left a great paying job with great
benefits at BellSouth to pursue my goal of writing full-time.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Even though I’ve been writing various things forever, I don’t think I
saw myself as a real writer until one Thanksgiving weekend in
Jacksonville, Florida. I was visiting my brother and their dentist
friend stopped by. I was editing a book I was working on and she
insisted I read some of it. The more I read, the more she urged me not
to stop there. It hit me then how much my writing could make a
difference.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I love to see and hear my characters. My goal is to allow them to tell
their stories no matter what I believe should happen. Having my own
publishing company allowed me to write more freely. I was able to say,
“What the heck! If no one wants to publish it, I can publish it myself.”
That left me free to be as spiritual as I desired to be. Free at last!
It appears that’s the best thing I could have done. Write while being
free.
Who or what has influenced your writing and in what way?
Being an African American, Christian, woman has a tremendous influence
on my writing. I grew up in church, read my Bible because I thought it
was interesting and inspiring, had loving parents who set an example of
what I came to know a Black family to be. My experience—Black folks
wanting better for their own children than even they had
themselves—influenced me. I grew up being encouraged to give things a
try. To give it my best. To think for myself. To not allow others to
treat me as though they are better than me nor for me to treat others as
though I am better than them. All of this, I believe, shows up in my
writing. |
If you had to choose, whom would you consider a mentor?
I consider several people as mentors. I rolled the best of the people I
chose into one. Each possessing certain qualities I choose to embrace.
My mother, Josephine Davis for her heart and spirit; Toni Morrison for
her dedication to the craft of writing; Maya Angelou for her wisdom and
commanding presence whenever and wherever she speaks; Oprah Winfrey for
demonstrating what is possible with a Spirit of Excellence; and Iyanla
Vanzant for having a true, unapologetic pride in who we are on this
earth.
What new author has grasped your interest?
Andrea Smith (Friday Nights at Honeybee’s). Her novel and writing was a
refreshing blessing for me.
How do you feel overall about self-publishing?
If it were not for self-publishing, many positive views of African
Americans might never had made it to print. Were it not for
self-publishing, we might have missed out on some now best-selling
authors who have disproved the myth that Black folks didn’t read and
sure didn’t care about love and real life situations. They have proven
there is a market and now look at what has and is transpiring. More
opportunities, more voices. A win-win situation for both readers and
writers alike.
Name one entity you feel supported you outside of family members.
Book clubs both on and off-line. When you get the power of some fired up
book club members spreading the word, you WILL see a difference. Period!
Word of mouth will do it every time.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
We tend to judge too much, too often, too severely and many times we
have no idea what’s going on in another’s life. Many people are disliked
because of outward things and we miss out on so much when we don’t get
to know the spirit of the person inside. Be careful how you treat
another. Because you never know…
If you had to spend a year alone on a deserted island and could only
take three things with you, what would you take?
Books, music, pen and paper (I know, that’s four!). If I could only take
three things, period? It would be the Bible (that book has plenty of
interesting stories to keep you occupied), a radio with batteries
guaranteed to last a year so I could listen to music, and paper if I
couldn’t take both pen and paper. Having paper, I’d find something to
write with!
Thanks for this opportunity and all that you do in sharing with readers
and writers. I appreciate so much The Sistah Circle Book Club!
-Vanessa Davis Griggs
Vanessa Davis Griggs’ web site is:
www.FreeToSoar.com
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