Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published May 9, 2019.

Where are you originally from? How did you end up in Rochester at this time in your life?

I’m from a town called Bogalusa, Louisiana. I was raised in Rochester from age 5 onwards. My education was in Rochester because my mom didn’t want me to go to school in Bogalusa. I went to School 17 and West Irondequoit.

Afterwards, I moved to Atlanta and began my undergraduate degree at Morris Brown College. I read Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin and knew immediately that I had to switch my major from marketing to creative writing. I graduated from George State, and afterwards, became a staff writer for the Atlanta Tribune.

While working in communications, I decided to get my MFA. I got a full scholarship for my writing, and enrolled at UNC Greensboro. The idea of writing a novel started to form while getting my MFA. Once I graduated, I started teaching as an assistant professor at Lincoln University in Missouri. The school was more focused on teaching than research, and no one was stressed about publishing. I realized, “If I stay, I’ll become a teacher who writes instead of a writer who teaches.”

I was always reluctant to move home because I lost my brother to gun violence in Rochester in about 2009. I thought I’d never move back; the memory was too painful. But in 2015, I decided to leave teaching and move in with my parents, and I told myself, “I’m not leaving until I publish.” Once I came back to Rochester, I could feel my brother’s spirit telling me it’s now or never. I was home for about a year before I landed my book deal with Disney Hyperion.

What was most surprising to you about Rochester when you moved back?

The welcoming nature of Rochester and the literary community here both surprised me. Rochester has a lot of people who really appreciate books and literature. Coming back, I’ve found there’s both a sense of newness and a sense of familiarity. Once I landed my book deal, I thought about moving to NYC, which I’d always wanted to do, but I realized I didn’t want to anymore. The radio station, WDKX, took a big interest in me as a novelist. I wasn’t going to get that kind of support in Atlanta or NYC.

What are some hidden gems you've discovered around Rochester?

The Avenue Blackbox on Joseph Ave; it’s owned by Reenah Golden. I’ve read there a few times, and the environment is so warm, friendly, and open. The food choices here are endless—I love Peppa Pot. I couldn’t get things like that in Missouri, so it feels like a real treat still.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support?

The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley—they’ve been very supportive of me and my book, and I love their “Purse for a Change” event. The Boys and Girls Club is great too—my family did a GoFundMe in my brother’s honor, and used those funds to send a few kids to summer camp. I also enjoy the Book Fest at the Phyllis Wheatley Library every year.

What's your favorite neighborhood in the city? 

The 19th Ward. I was raised there primarily, and my mom and dad still live there. I’m over there often. They have the Arnett Library, and Genesee Valley Park is nice to walk in during the summer.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

I love the season changes. As long as I don’t have to drive or shovel, I’m fine. I get a lot of work done!

What is your favorite Rochester memory? 

So many memories with my family. One horrible memory makes all the other ones good in retrospect. My mom loves to host. She has a big front porch and a backyard, and she’s an excellent cook. She’ll make gumbo and have a bunch of people over.

I also remember shopping in Midtown Plaza during the holidays. I loved All Day Sunday and buying T-shirts. If we didn't find anything in the plaza, there was McCurdy’s, Sibley's, and B. Forman's. I also vividly remember Highland Bowl concerts, and WDKX used to have a DeeJay some Saturdays at the McDonald’s on Main Street. That's taking it way back!

What makes Rochester unique? 

The beauty of the seasons—you don’t get that in Atlanta. Atlanta traffic is horrendous—here we have access to shopping and restaurants and the traffic is nowhere near as bad. It’s not an issue. We also have so many festivals and things to do that are easily accessible. Plus, I love that we have a black woman mayor.

The African American community here has a lot to offer, too. There are lots of activities, like the Black Authors Book Expo, the Black Women ROC conference, and the “We All Write” group. There’s a sense of support and sisterhood here. It’s not competitive; we can feed and grow off each other.

What do you think could be improved? 

I would love to see downtown be more vibrant, more of a destination. We’re not there yet. We should have other transportation options too—like a cruise or a trolley. I’d like to have a place to spend my money without going out of center city. High end places like a Ruth Chris, in addition to the mom and pop restaurants, keeps people in the city rather than going out to the suburbs or further.

If Rochester was a book, what genre would it be?

It would be adult fiction, probably suspense. The city is changing and growing, and you never know what will happen. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What should readers know about your first book, Love Like Sky?

It’s about 2 young girls, ages 11 and 5, who are navigating life in a blended family. Both parents have remarried, and the girls are living with their mom and stepdad. They have a stepsister who doesn’t want them, and the youngest girl gets sick, and it’s about how the family handles that. I wanted to show how blended families can work together.

What can you share with us about your second book?

It’s due in June 2020. It’s untitled right now, but it’s a sequel to Love Like Sky and follows the same family. It’s set in that same summer, and the characters will mature in the aftermath of the sister’s illness.

I don’t believe in writer’s block or a sophomore slump. I couldn’t put away Love Like Sky and focus on my second novel, so I took a chance to push it back when the publisher offered it. You have to be authentic and organic. I wanted to live with Love Like Sky and sit and enjoy it. I needed that time. When the buzz finally waned, book two started coming.

What advice would you give to new writers in Rochester and beyond?

It takes dedication and endurance. I’ve been rejected hundreds of times. Love Like Sky is the fourth book I’ve finished and the first one I’ve published. Work on your craft, write something, and finish it.