Where did you get the idea for the title?

The Literary Artist: The idea for the title of my book came to me during a conversation with one of my best friends. We were discussing my break up with my boyfriend, and I made a comment stating that my soul is pierced. She laughed and said, “Dag! You really are sitting over there with a pierced soul. That’s deep.” As soon as she said the words “pierced soul” a light bulb clicked on in my head. I thought to myself that would make a good title.

AR: How long did it take you to compose all the poems of the collection?

TLA: It took quite some time to compose all of the poems in my book. I guess about a year. I write my poetry as I feel those emotions. Most of the poetry I write I either feel that way or someone I know feels that way. I find it a lot easier to write what’s on my heart at that moment.

AR: Many of the poems in the book are intensely personal in nature. Was it difficult for you to express your innermost feelings for the world to see?

TLA: It wasn’t difficult to express my innermost emotions for the world to see because I believe there are people out here who feel similar. Everyone has had their heart broken at least once. Everybody has been in love at least once in their lives. Everyone has experienced a loss of a loved one. Everybody has dealt with a little insecurity. I believe that everyone can “feel” what I am expressing.

AR: "The Mirror" is an especially poignant piece. What inspired it?

TLA: A close friend of mine inspired me to write “The Mirror”. She is a very beautiful person, but hid her true-self behind a mask she showed the world. Instead of being herself, around certain people she would conform into who she thought they wanted her to be. The person she showed those people was not her. Living two lives was too much for her and she wound up losing sight of who she really is. As I reflected on her, I realized that there are probably a lot of people out here who are in her shoes; trying so hard to fit in and to be liked and appreciated. I really wanted her to see that she doesn’t have to put on a mask. She is fine the way she is.

AR: Also, where did you get the inspiration for "Okay To Cry?"

TLA: The inspiration for my poem “Okay To Cry” came from me. When I was a small child I was very sensitive and cried very easily. Because of my sensitivity, many people teased me. I was considered the cry baby. When I became a teenager, I got tired of being picked on for being so sensitive. Instead of crying, I held everything inside. If someone hurt my feelings, I never showed it or expressed it. I began to believe that crying was a sign of weakness. In holding my emotions inside, I almost drove myself crazy. As I entered into my middle twenties, I realized that it is okay to cry. Being sensitive doesn’t make me a weak person. I recognized that sensitivity is a regular human emotion, and it’s okay to be sensitive.

AR: Please explain for our readers the significance of your pen name, "The Literary Artist."

TLA: The significance of my pen name “The Literary Artist” is because I am both a fine artist and a writer. I draw, I paint, I sculpt, and I write. My cousin is actually the one who started the name. He always called me “The Artist in the family”. When he read my first manuscript (I still haven’t published it yet. LOL!), he said, “Forget being the artist of the family. You’re The Literary Artist now.”

AR: We noticed that you first began writing at age 8. What was it that first drew you to the craft?

TLA: Yes, I began writing at the age of eight. I am the only girl out of four kids, and I always wanted my mother to play with me. My family is extremely male dominant, and I didn’t have any little girls to play with. So when my mother was too busy to play with me, she would make me read a book. Before she knew it, I had read every book in the house three times over. When I alerted her that I had read every book in the house, she told me to write one. After writing my first collection of poetry, I loved it. I began to write journals, keep diaries, etc. However, I didn’t get serious about writing until I was 23 years old.

AR: Who have been some of your chief writing influences?

TLA: My chief writing influences are the greats; Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison, Ilyanla Vanzant, Phyllis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, etc. My favorite poem by Langston Hughes is called “I, Too”.

AR: Please share more with our readers about your other writings.

TLA: I have two novels that I self-published called “Until Death Before The Sun Sets” and “Through The Eyes of My Hazel Eyes.” “Until Death Before The Sun Sets” is a novel centered around the main character Nyina. Nyina wakes up into a world of mistrust, betrayal, and crime. She finds out that her best friend has a secret life she doesn't know about. She finds out her boyfriend isn't who he says he is. She learns that her father is not an ex-hustler; he's still in the game. Everything in her life begins to crumble. The dirty deeds done in the dark shed their light as familiar faces become strangers; the truth becomes a lie. She has to make a decision that is a catch-22. Who will it be? Her boyfriend? Her best friend? or Her father?

“Through The Eyes of My Hazel Eyes” is a novel centered around the main character Jayde. Jayde is a misunderstood bad ass who allows her emotions to control her actions. When her boyfriend Nicholas, a petty hustler gets robbed for the kingpin’s drugs and money, Jayde makes an unusual deal with a local female gang (141) to save his life. When the other party doesn’t make good on the deal, Jayde takes matters into her own hands. Jayde fails her mission, which starts a war between her and 141. The clock is ticking and people are coming up missing. Did Jayde write a check her ass can’t cash?

AR: What are your future writing/publishing plans?

TLA: My future plans are to write more books and publish them under my publishing company Literary Masterpiece Publishing. I recently started my own publishing company, and I have national book distribution. My first book under Literary Masterpiece Publishing is due to be released this April. It is called “Forgiving Is God”. I also plan to publish other authors as soon as I finish my book projects. I would like to offer self-publishing services and to publish spoken word albums.

AR: How can people learn more about you and your writing efforts?

TLA: To learn more about me and my writing efforts, anyone can go to my website at www.literarymasterpiecepublishing.com.

AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?

TLA: I would like to say thank you for taking the time out to read this interview. I look forward to your support and readership of my works.

AR: Thanks again, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!