Ever since the age of twelve, I’ve been a connoisseur of romance, whether it was watching a movie or reading a novel. At the time Harlequin books were the go-to for romance readers and movies like Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink were available for consumption.
As much as I enjoyed reading books with white men with long flowing hair on the cover and watching white teenagers fall in love, I desperately needed characters and stories that I could relate to as a young black teen growing up in America. Â
Once I became a young adult, I was introduced to urban literature. I read every book I found in the library written by a Black author. Some of my favorites were Eric Jerome Dickey, Omar Tyree, Sistah Souljah, Terry McMillan, Mary Monroe, and Zane.
These authors opened my eyes to a different style of storytelling which essentially led me to where I am today. Within the pages of their books, I was met with characters who looked and talked like me. The familiarity drew me into the books and kept my attention, as I envisioned the characters were people I had encountered in real life.
Through their work, I realized I could be an author someday. That I would be able to curate stories that resonated with people of color, and also inspire other aspiring authors along the way. I’m proud to say that at the tender age of forty, I joined the club.Â
Over the past three years, I’ve been writing romance, women’s fiction, and children’s picture books. If you’re looking for stories about Black characters in search of redemption, love, second chances, or self-discovery, stories that make you laugh and cry, and stories that you can learn something from, check out my catalog by clicking the link below.
Until next time.
Lesanda