Love My Colors looks like
a powerful book. Can you tell us about
your motivation to write it?
Growing up, not loving my skin
color, praying and living in the anticipation, that every morning when I woke
up my skin would be lighter. Bullied at school, for the color of my skin, and
what I wore to school, not having a father figure in my life, my mom working
extremely hard to give me the best education. People complimenting my light
skin cousins, right to my face and looking at me with disgust and saying, “Why
is she so black?” Trying to make friends with light skin people, so that
society would accept me. The first time someone told me that I am beautiful was
in Canada and it was a white person. That had me search deep into my soul and
question my hate for my skin color. I realized it something that stems way back
in slavery and the norms of the society. You see, society has placed me and other
dark skin people in this box, if you are not light skin you aren’t beautiful.
The metamorphosis of getting to
love my skin by uncovering the box and walking out of it, has not been an easy
task, but the incidents that have occurred, have shaped and molded my life and
have given me the courage to step boldly in society, unapologetically and to
work hard at my dreams. Not letting the negativity of naysayers’ sip into my
bones and contaminate how I feel about my complexion. Not afraid to look at
myself in the mirror and admire my dark melanin. I try to encourage young girls and boys and everyone from every
ethnicity, nationality, culture that you should love yourself, because deep
beauty comes from loving self, and your skin color was given for a reason, so you
need to find out your purpose and think positive, because whatever negativity
you perceive about self can be detrimental to your growth.
What will readers get out of
your book?
I would like my readers to know
that the society you were born into, will always change, so don’t get into the
box society has labeled for you. You cannot change the color of your skin, but
you can definitely change your circumstances by changing the label on the box
and making the world a better place.
Did anything stick out as
particularly challenging when writing Love My Colors?
About 40 to 50 percent of the novel
is my life, I can relate to the character pain, suffering, joy and sadness, wanting
to be recognized, not liking her skin color. Living truthfully in the moment,
of being the character. It took the character a long time to realize, someone perception
of you doesn’t have to become your reality.
What do you like to do when not
writing?
As a Dietitian, I enjoy helping
others make better food choices. I like hiking in the summertime, reading
fiction, non-fiction and motivation books to help keep me grounded. I have
recently taken up acting, and find it rewarding to feel someone else emotions. Also,
like helping to uplift others, to love self and don’t wait for the world to
love you.
Where can readers find out more
about your work?
You tube channel Beauty of colors. https://youtu.be/4uXwoyKtfx4