Hi Reader, Summer is slipping away... Here in Florida, it is still hot and schools resume over the next couple weeks. Summer has slowly come to a close. This summer I had the pleasure of discussing some of the main themes in my book, Beauty in His Time with readers who are friends. It was a privilege to hear their stories, and to talk about thoughts on home, race, beauty, belonging and more. It was humbling to know that these conversations grew out of me sharing my own story. We may not be...

Hi Reader, This week I went to the post office to mail some copies of my book to my amazingly supportive endorsers. As we finalized the transaction, the young lady behind the counter asked, “Did you write this book? What is it about?”I gave her a high-level overview, and her eyes widened with intrigue.“My mom is Jamaican and my dad is African American. I can’t imagine the culture clash you went through. I feel it, especially about school, between me and my cousins.” My mind raced as to how to...

Hi Reader, When I was ten years old, I made my first solo trip to the United States. I flew to Florida from Jamaica to visit friends and eventually, my grandmother who lived in Jacksonville. That’s me in a handmade skirt and shirt made by my mom. Complete with a straw hat in hand and a box of gifts at my feet, I was the image of a Caribbean girl in a new world. That trip opened my appetite for travel; it was the first of many solo trips. It’s taken me almost a decade to compile, write and...