Author Stuff · Lifestyle · Writing Tips

What A Panel of Black Authors Meant for Me

On Tuesday this week, I was able to hear authors Tomi Adeyemi (pictured with me above), Yomi Adegoke, and Elizabeth Uviebinene talk at a bookstore. These authors all had one thing in common - they were black, and they were Nigerian. It was a euphoric experience! I'm not the kind of woman (and never was… Continue reading What A Panel of Black Authors Meant for Me

Essays · Lifestyle

Identity Labels That We Need to Remove

*This is a controversial blog post, I know. I am saying, or at least trying to, that labels can be damaging and that we need to be careful when using them...* Here are the biggest labels that we use on one another to try to categorise and "understand" one another better: White Black Asian Mixed… Continue reading Identity Labels That We Need to Remove

Lifestyle · Mental Health

Ways to Meditate (That Aren’t Hard)

Definition of meditation: "focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation." (or) "think deeply about (something)." The first thing you need to do in order to meditate is to stop thinking of it as boring, hard, or… Continue reading Ways to Meditate (That Aren’t Hard)

Author Stuff · Writing Tips

How I Know I was Meant to be a Middle-Grade Author

Hopefully you know by now that I've made the switch from writing YA fantasy to now writing MG fantasy. I've been thinking lately that it's always been obvious that I am better suited to children's fantasy than young adult or teen fantasy, and here's why... I can be poetic and whimsical and silly with my… Continue reading How I Know I was Meant to be a Middle-Grade Author

Writing Tips

Knowing What Kind of Writer You Are

I was speaking to my friend (and critique partner) about our books the other day. I'm in the editing process but she's still in the writing the draft process. And we were envious of each other! You see, I think there's different kinds of writers who thrive in different ways. I thrive in the writing… Continue reading Knowing What Kind of Writer You Are