Unwavering Beliefs… Who are you rooting for?

What do we believe? Today I read from my journal… “when we are filled with self-doubt. They are better than us! They deserve better than me! We don’t believe we are worthy. We don’t believe we are good enough. And the thing is… our kids feel the same. They do not believe they are worthy.… Continue reading Unwavering Beliefs… Who are you rooting for?

What makes life worthwhile?

"I'm always trying to write about the most important things that people do. The places in their lives where they feel the greatest stress, the places where they feel the greatest passion and how they deal with those things and how they survive them and make their lives go on. Being in love with somebody… Continue reading What makes life worthwhile?

The Value of a Great Story!

"I value story above all else. I'm talking about my written work-in the movies I value the images-but in the books I value the story. The story has its own meaning. A story has its own significance. And sometimes the characters in that story can almost become transparent. This is true in fairytales, for instance.… Continue reading The Value of a Great Story!

Balancing Vulnerability with Transformation

"African narratives in the West, they proliferate. I really don't care anymore. I'm more interested in the stories we tell about ourselves -- how as a writer, I find that African writers have always been the curators of our humanity on this continent. The question is, how do I balance narratives that are wonderful with… Continue reading Balancing Vulnerability with Transformation

Literature is a Gift from the Writer

"I don't like thinking that what I write comes from or is synonymous to a dream. I've heard writers speaking about novels as being extended dreams. I don't like that because dreams, to me, mean selfish gestures. I like the other notion that literature is a GIFT from the WRITER to the reader." ~ Richard… Continue reading Literature is a Gift from the Writer

You have to give everything away every single time!

Writers, we fear so many things. That we won't have what it takes. That we will run out of words. Perhaps that great idea should go in another book. "Often the writing process is filled with a sense of jeopardy because, in essence, with every book I turn myself inside out. One of the things… Continue reading You have to give everything away every single time!

There’s not a single second of my life when I’m not thinking story…

"So I don't keep a notebook of good lines, good thoughts or dreams. I have too many stories in my head rather than too few. Until very recently I had to grab whatever time I could because I worked at one full-time job, three part-time jobs and so on. When I was ready to sit… Continue reading There’s not a single second of my life when I’m not thinking story…