When the pages of an urban fiction novel turn to reveal the heart of a sci-fi odyssey, you know you've entered the world of Allaina Washington. On the latest installment of our podcast, this exceptional 360 author and multifaceted creative joins us to discuss the tapestry of her life, interwoven with the threads of music, writing, entrepreneurship, and the rich fabric of motherhood. Allaina’s commitment to research and learning from seasoned professionals underlines the conversation, offering a window into the diligent process behind her storytelling prowess across diverse genres.
Life's symphony often plays a bittersweet melody, and in this episode, we reflect on the grace notes and the dissonance with candid vulnerability. Listen as we share tales of giving grace, embracing kindness, and the implications of challenging stereotypes through compassion. The narrative crescendos to personal triumphs and moments of recognition that resonate with the humility and gratitude for those who've supported us on this journey. It's a testament to the courage it takes to follow one's passion and the grace we extend to ourselves and others as we navigate life's complex score.
We close our time with Allaina by traversing the poignant landscape of grief, legacy, and the unwavering human spirit. The conversation turns to the importance of human connections, as family and relationships become the anchors in the storm of life's challenges. During these times, music emerges not only as a theme but as a healing force, a reminder of the timeless significance of being present for each other. Allainas tales of resilience and joy in the midst of adversity leave us with a melody of hope and the reminder to hold fast to those we love.
When the pages of an urban fiction novel turn to reveal the heart of a sci-fi odyssey, you know you've entered the world of Allaina Washington. On the latest installment of our podcast, this exceptional 360 author and multifaceted creative joins us to discuss the tapestry of her life, interwoven with the threads of music, writing, entrepreneurship, and the rich fabric of motherhood. Allaina’s commitment to research and learning from seasoned professionals underlines the conversation, offering a window into the diligent process behind her storytelling prowess across diverse genres.
Life's symphony often plays a bittersweet melody, and in this episode, we reflect on the grace notes and the dissonance with candid vulnerability. Listen as we share tales of giving grace, embracing kindness, and the implications of challenging stereotypes through compassion. The narrative crescendos to personal triumphs and moments of recognition that resonate with the humility and gratitude for those who've supported us on this journey. It's a testament to the courage it takes to follow one's passion and the grace we extend to ourselves and others as we navigate life's complex score.
We close our time with Allaina by traversing the poignant landscape of grief, legacy, and the unwavering human spirit. The conversation turns to the importance of human connections, as family and relationships become the anchors in the storm of life's challenges. During these times, music emerges not only as a theme but as a healing force, a reminder of the timeless significance of being present for each other. Allainas tales of resilience and joy in the midst of adversity leave us with a melody of hope and the reminder to hold fast to those we love.
Thank you, elena, for coming onto Gentry's journey so that you can tell your story. I'm going to start with the scripture. Okay, oh, pretty awesome. Okay, the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus Christ, and that is from Philippians 4 and 7. Again, hello everyone. I'm Caroline Coleman, and our honored guest tonight is Elena Maria Washington. And so, elena, do you want to go ahead and start by introducing yourself? Awesome, yes, thank you so much. What birds all like to say thank you for the opportunity to be on your platform.
Speaker 2:I'm always ever gracious for, you know, being invited, so thank you. Just to introduce myself again, my name is Elena Maria Washington, but I go by Elena Maria as an artist, I am a singer, you know, that's one of the things I do. I'm an author. I write across multiple genres. I've done myself a 360 author because I write fiction, urban fiction, poetry, self-help, sci-fi books. I'm also a budding entrepreneur. I'm starting a t-shirt line as well as a candle line and eventually into skincare. So I'm just really excited about my journey. I'm a mother of two beautiful little girls and I'm just a woman who's becoming, which is my platform, for my public speaking platform is becoming. You have what it takes to become from right now. So that's just Elena Maria in a nutshell. That's just the surface of me, but there's so much you know so much more, so many more layers. All of us wear onions. We have many layers of our lives, but just as the overview, those are. That's Elena at the moment, at the current.
Speaker 1:And Elena, you are so correct. We do have multiple layers and we are like that onion, that and you're just peeling back. When I was reading up on you, the 360 artist no, the 360 stood out to me. I'm like wow, you know writing across all genres or multiple genres. How do you stay focused to do that?
Speaker 2:Well, the first thing I have to do is do my research, because there's one thing to say you want to do something, but it's another thing to be no good at it, and one of my things is, honestly hey, honestly, it's the best policy within yourself. So, with anything, take the time to learn Actually. Read the genre you're interested in writing. If you want to do poetry, read some different poetry. Read up on the different poets. If you're into, you know African-American poetry or you know whatever genre.
Speaker 2:There's so many different things. You have Haikus and all different type of poems. Find your niche and study. Read different poems. Connect to different poets, get in their inbox, ask questions, find out what their inspiration is and, like, say, you're into suspense. Find a suspense author, ask some questions, pick their brain, figure out what is their writing process. Go to different classes, whether it be online or in person, but take the time to learn a little bit about the genre you want to write and that way you can make sure you deliver a quality product, because it's easy to say I'm going to do this and it's not lining up, but you got to. You want to make sure you put in the work, to make sure you represent the best part of yourself.
Speaker 1:You know and that's really a great statement Put in the work. A lot of people don't want to put in the work. How do you expect to accomplish anything if you don't put in the work? The journey may not be easy, but at least you know, you have conditioned and educated yourself. Talk to some people about something you have to put in the work. You have to. You really do.
Speaker 1:Someone told me and they are an author I wanted to do an anthology and I was like, oh, that's great, you know that's great and that I'm not putting you down. Hey, I don't know your vision. I don't know your vision. But I was like when you probably need to get with someone who has done one or done a couple to get some more information on what it takes to compile anthology, and I never heard anything else about it again and that's okay, that is truly okay. But I wanted to give food for thought. Without being critical, it appears to me to be a lot of work in an anthology. Okay, I've been a part of three and I just am a co-author, so it's more than just compiling. You have got to formulate, get your theme. Everybody needs to basically be on the same page. You have to do some coaching sessions. It's a lot that goes into that. So it's one thing, like you said, I want to do it, but you have to put in the work to get it done. Now I see where you are family oriented.
Speaker 2:Tell me about that Well when it comes to being family oriented, that I love my family beyond words. My mother has three kids. I'm the baby, three girls and we are a close knit family. We spend a lot of time together, we travel together, we eat crabs together, we have family of seafood and then it goes to our extended family. My grandmother had eight children. So if you think about that, how many uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews all of us piled up together at grandma's house eating food, laughing, joking, bonding throughout the years Coming up? Next week we're having a ladies day. We're about 20 ladies from our family. We're getting together and having a sleepover at my sister's house and just enjoying one another, enjoying the journey of life, because we know we all one day will transition and all you have left of certain people is memories. So my biggest thing is spending as much time and bonding as much as possible and loving on each other while we're here, not just seeing people at a funeral.
Speaker 1:That is great and that is so beautiful that you can do that. I'm a part of a committee on our family reunion and someone called me and you can tell me. When people call you, they already have attitudes all over themselves. What's this? I'm reading I was like excuse me, because I'm really thought like, is this? You know you may have the wrong number. Oh no, I want to speak with Carolyn. I was okay, that's a better start. After she talked for a little while, she said are you even in the family? I said well, I am, but I'm thinking about getting out you know, and after this conversation I'm going to have to really, really revisit this, this part of being in the family and.
Speaker 1:I might just have to, you know, come out of the family for a little while and she was like, oh, okay, okay. So you know she's trying all the way up because the approach to me was a little bit too harsh and it was a little bit too aggressive and I'm trying to really get her to calm down and kind of make light of some situations and things of that nature. But the family reunion is about bonding. You know it's about. Bonding is no way you can know all of your family, because your family multiplies, it multiplies and you can't know Johnny's children's, children's children, you know. But you can try to get to know them, you know, especially if they participate. So I look forward to being really a huge hit. We're putting a lot of work into it and this is not my first rodeo. We're the family reunion.
Speaker 1:But uh, I just thought that was. I would like I've never gotten that question before. But uh, on your part, I mean, who goes around putting and, uh, they're not a part of the family reunion, they're not a part of the family? I mean, is that a thing you know? So family can be, uh, a bit different from time to time. Now you're a motivational speaker, yes, yes. So do you have any topics that are off limits or any topics that you prefer? Um honestly?
Speaker 2:uh, off limits for me. Politics. I don't get into it as your choice. You go in and bubble in your box. That's up to you and you alone, because, um, we're approaching political season, we know we're about to elect, you know, the next free leader of the world, and it gets really ugly, um. So you know, I love everybody for who you are, um, but I don't love you for your party. Your party is your personal choice, so I stay away from politics. That's something that I don't touch. Um, all I will say is make sure you vote if you're eligible. That's the. That's about the best I have when it comes.
Speaker 1:I agree with you 100%. I definitely agree with you. Politics is one of those things I don't care to get into a conversation with people I have a couple more as well because it ends up just blowing out of control. So everybody's opinion is their opinion and it should be respected. The delivery still needs to be respected as well, and just because a person does not agree with you doesn't mean that you guys have fallen out for the rest of your life.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely. Go ahead, sweetie, I'm sorry. Yes, having a yes man that's not really a good thing, because if I'm in an act of human people or have a relationship with people, I want to do what people in spirit and in truth. I don't want people to just be around me just to appease me. You know, sometimes you learn things through I won't say complete, but through having a different opinion. We can think one way about something all our life and then we hear another perspective and it open your eyes. You're like, oh my goodness, so it's okay to have a difference of opinion.
Speaker 2:The key for me is being able to have open dialogue and respectful dialogue and healthy dialogue, and I think through that you can grow as an individual. It helps you to see the world a whole lot bigger. But if everyone's always yes, yes, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right it narrows your view and make you think you're correct or you're perfect and there is none perfect but the creator. So healthy dialogue is always a good thing and being able to have a difference of opinions. I respect others' opinions and I love a good conversation on this, so that's always healthy.
Speaker 1:That is healthy and you are correct. We all have a right to our opinion. I agree with you totally regarding it needs to be respectful. You may, we can disagree in love, and that is for sure. We do not have to bitterly disagree, you know that's your take on it, Right, it's just like having a favorite team. You know, I'm not really a sports fan. I know a little bit. I still. I do enough to stay involved. But if I can find something else on television, I'm watching something else on television. But you know, but I'm not going to sit here and argue about these things. I'm just not going to do. It be a college teams or pro teams, I love a good fan who is passionate about the game, where they can teach you the game and they teach you. You know why they prefer this team over this or this player over that player. You know those people you can learn from. But someone who is just an obnoxious fan, you can't learn anything from them. You can't put it like that.
Speaker 2:I saw a clip on social media where this gentleman it was his first game and he happened to be sitting in a section with, like, this couple who were mega fans and the team was losing and she was clapping in his face and the husband was trying to hold him back or hold the lady back and he kept his composure and the video went viral and, as a result, the owner of the team that he was supporting you know the team that was losing invited him up into the. You know the box gave him great seats, you know. So him keeping his composure in the midst of all that chaos of that superfan he was able to really be celebrated.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and those, those situations what's the thing is called him parents.
Speaker 2:Those superfans. That's not this sport. That's what in anything you see with kids, you know they can. Parents who are super fans for their kids and in the little league they'll be in the stands fighting if their kids don't get the opportunity to go in first. Or even you know people we can apply that to anything driving down the street. We're all have a destination right, but someone feel that where they're going is more important. So we go to bobbing and we even got a traffic to say that what I'm doing is more important. What I'm doing is more important and I noticed that happens a lot in society. They feel what they have is more important and everyone else and they'll just barrel their way in.
Speaker 2:But I guess my point in all of this, what I kind of want to point back to who is? We started off with the motor vaginal speaking piece. I want to point back to love, going back to love and compassion and being considerate of our neighbors, our friends. We don't know what people have been going through in their lives. We have no clue what type of day someone has had. Someone could have just lost the parent or someone could have, you know, just failed the test or something you know for a test they needed for their degree. We just never, ever, ever, ever, ever know what people are going through.
Speaker 2:So when we walk through this journey of life anyone listening let's try to leave with compassion, because what happens if it's us? We're having a bad day, we're in the line in the grocery store and somebody you know bumps our card and we just fly off the handle and they did it by mistake. We all have life happening. What's that phrase everybody's saying? Life is life and life is always life. So I just wanted to, you know, just kind of stir the conversation that way to leave with compassion. Leave with compassion when we're interacting with our neighbors, with our friends, with people we don't know. A smile may go a long way for somebody we don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I always say just give them grace, just give them some grace, absolutely. You know, because I am a nurse by profession and have been for over 38 years. So you know I have run into a lot of different personalities and you know people can be vicious and they can be catty and I'm like, just give them a little bit of grace. Why do you always want somebody to have some grace? Well, I would want it. I would want it. You know, and I echo what you say you never know what a person is going through. You just never know and then later on you find out that person really was going through something, just give them some grace and some space.
Speaker 1:You know you don't have to be the person that rescues them, but just don't be the one who pushes them over the other.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I follow a I love this author. Her name is Dr Tema Bryant and she is. She is awesome, I absolutely love her.
Speaker 2:And she did a podcast with Mel Robbins and she was saying how she's really big on black and brown people and you know sometimes how we already have a stereotype against us just for being and she was pinpointing, say, a woman, a black woman. You see her her face balled up. We automatically, oh, she got a nasty attitude. Oh my, oh, my God, look, she just has a nasty attitude. But she was like if we would not think about her as having a nasty attitude but say, hmm, maybe there's something going on in her life.
Speaker 2:And so when we look at people, we don't just automatically put us, you know, a stereotype on that person. We lead with compassion, whatever it is. For those of us who believe in the prayers, god, whatever's going on in her life, I ask you to touch it right now, instead of rolling your eyes at her or gossiping, and look at her. Look at her with that attitude, just taking a different approach, and that makes the world of a difference, because we may not have the ability to impact the whole world, but we can impact the world around us. We can impact our neighbors and our friends. How we live, the vibes that we put out, how we communicate all of that we can impact the world around us absolutely.
Speaker 1:And you know, getting back to your point of people bribing and weaving, I'm more important, my journey is more important. And then you get to the light and you both are headed into publics. Stop that, I'm going to stop.
Speaker 2:That I'm going to stop that we're stopped at the same light.
Speaker 1:You're getting the publics to go buy a bag of chill. It is not that deep and you know, because I'm a people watcher, that's why I get some of that information when I write, because I write fiction. So you know, you can have your liberties with that. And you know, I'm like I can't believe. I can't believe he did that, I can't believe she did that.
Speaker 1:I was headed into a store and this lady was in front of me but she stopped to do something. But when she saw I was headed in the same direction I guess she's not getting in front of me and I was like this is hilarious, and we were walking, we were walking into the door I was like I'm going to let her have this right here. You know, because, like I said, you have to give people grace. Some people sometimes be first, they always have to be the biggest, or they want you to think they're the biggest, the best, and all of that. But that's not living. That's not living, you know. That's why I say you know, let's, let's leave with some grace. They may have more on their mind than we recognize, but you know, I'm just going to give them some grace and some space for real. That's what I'm going to do Welcome.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. We're going to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Speaker 1:Amen and guess what? I have seen a smile, turn people around. I have seen you being generous. Well, you know how people have their shoulders up and their tents and you're like good morning, how are you in the morning? But they slowly relax you know, their body language.
Speaker 1:You know. So, yeah, you know, as the Bible tells us, the kind of word turns away Well, you know we have to be that way. Just because you're having a bad day, don't make someone else have one. Absolutely you know. Don't make someone else have a day that day. Now, I was reading your article yesterday in bold journey, a beautiful article. You look gorgeous, you look gorgeous. So tell us about that experience.
Speaker 2:With bold journey. Well, that's my first magazine article, so I was just absolutely ecstatic and over the moon and just so happy. I'm again leading back to my public speaking journey. My main speaking point is becoming you have what it takes to become. I am 43 years old and I literally started this journey of being an author last year in January. It's been a year when I picked up and started writing and in a year, look how much has happened and that magazine is just was. So I don't know if you want to call it prophetic or it's called a bold journey. That's exactly what I did. I took a bold step to begin my journey to become.
Speaker 2:At this stage in life and a lot of times we think it's oh, I should have done this years ago. No, it wasn't this I have. A years ago, mentally, I wasn't ready. You know that wasn't part of my journey then, but it is now. And at this stage in my life, when I had these opportunities like this wonderful opportunity to be here on your platform today, I've never before I started this journey was offered to come on a platform or be in a magazine. So that bold journey, it just was prophetic. That magazine, or the wording I would say, for where I am in life. And it was when people.
Speaker 2:It's so easy to talk about other people, but when it comes time to say something about yourself, like you can tell me, tell me about your mom. Oh, my mom's the best mom. She raised us, she was good to us. I love my mom. Anything I say I'm gonna do, she supports me. She gives me money, time, her heart. Same with my siblings. I mean, they're on my side. There's nothing I can do without those three. But when you go to talk about yourself, it's like you draw blank.
Speaker 2:Because we're, we're we're talking about humility and we're taught you know you're gonna be proud of those sheds and you know, we're taught you know a lady is to be seen and not heard. You know all of those things along the way. But what I'm learning in this journey and through writing the article, it's okay to celebrate me, make sure I stay humble, you know, make sure I, you know, don't get beside myself, make sure I keep my movements pure and, you know, make sure I represent myself. But it's okay to say this is how I started this journey and this is what I'm doing and I celebrate that. I took the first steps and I celebrate the opportunity to be in this magazine.
Speaker 2:And you know telling my story of, you know, my, my I lost my. My six month old son passed away in 2008. And you know the grief and the heartache and the all the. I mean I went through it for a year. But look good on the outside, on the inside, I was tattered, rags, was just living. Now, I wasn't existing, not living, just existing. And then found you, started finding my momentum in life and getting my footing.
Speaker 2:And you know I had just purchased my home from me and my children in 2022, got my first house and celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. And you know, my, my uncles came and my, my mom is only two girls, six boys, and they came. Not all the uncles didn't come, but majority did. They came to my house, family, we had Thanksgiving and just a couple of weeks later I called him my jam. My uncle Darryl he's one of my favorite uncles. I called him my jam. He just passed away. I don't just. I got a call, my sister's trying to call and I never use this term. I was like, excuse me, I've never seen excuse me, I was so devastated.
Speaker 2:The most random confusion rolled from my tongue because the grief hit me and it stung like a thousand bees. Because you were just at my house eating and fellow shipping and laughing, and he was preparing to go to a Florida State game and he was a big fan and all of his preparation, you know it, his, his time was up and it rocked our family to its very core and every book I write his name is in the back of that book. But that death, what it did, it may have broken my heart but it fixed my vision. It helped me to recenter and I, because with my son, I said I could never go down that rabbit hole again. I was down bad and I said I got too little girl at this point in life and I had to show up for them.
Speaker 2:And that grief was eating at me terribly and I sat one day and started writing. And here I am today and I honor his legacy. You know I miss him greatly. That is my, oh my God, that was my jam. But in his absence, his absence has caused me to push and now, as I'm becoming my platform, like I said, it's becoming and I have been all breaks, all gas and no breaks since he left because I wanna honor his legacy. Even my mom and my sister, they're all pushing for it with their individual things, so I call his death. Was the hurt that helped?
Speaker 1:You know I lost a brother tragically and you know, tragically they're unexpected and grief is inevitable. You know, oh yeah, but I tell you as I matriculated through the grief process and some days I'm still there. But you realize, you already know, life is precious.
Speaker 2:But when you?
Speaker 1:have an experience like that. It magnifies that life is precious, you know. So anything that you're going to do, that is good, that is good and of quality, and you know this one too you gotta preserve your integrity with it. You need to do it now. You know you need to do it and you know you grab for that zest and you know that memory and what they would have wanted you to do Absolutely, absolutely. That would be grieving and crying, and he would. I know he would not want that, because even when we were kids, he couldn't stand to see me cry and I was like oh, I've got to, but it's all right, grief is a process.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, it's a process.
Speaker 1:But you know you don't. After having that and going through your grief and getting back you're getting your footing back you want to, like you say, do something to honor that legacy, absolutely, yeah, yeah, yeah. So you know you want to do that. So I definitely understand that aspect of it.
Speaker 1:And you know, yeah, it's hard, you know it's hard. I tell people it's hard but it's fair. And one young lady, when she lost her mom and I was telling her you know what a beautiful you know person she was, and she was like I just don't know what I'm gonna do. I said, well, it's hard but it's fair. She said you're right, because we're all going to have to go through it. That's absolutely, and one time, at some point in time, you're going to lose someone. You know. So, yeah, it's hard, but it's fair.
Speaker 2:you know Well this is a 350 moment in this conversation. You start asking me about family. You know how I felt about family. You see how the conversation circled right back to family. You know back to. It's so important to fellowship and love those who love you. Back. Spend time with those who love you, because one day all you have left is memories.
Speaker 1:That's it Memories, memories.
Speaker 2:That is true.
Speaker 1:And you want to make the best memories that you can. You know, and I guess I have been, we've all been a little naive. I can say, my family, my core family, and you know we were just taught to be nice, you know be mannerable, you know Be honest. And then you know, you get to different schools and different communities and they don't act like you. So you know you're like okay, we still have to be nice, we have to be honest, we have to be fair. Everybody's not taught that is what I'm saying Everybody's not taught that you know. So you get your little wake up call, but the core of the person is who you are.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, we're all parts of the pyramid and that's it, the core of the person. So you're still polite. You know you're still polite. You know you're still cordial to everyone. You know you're mannerable because that's what you were taught to be. But you still carry those traits with you. You know, no matter who turns on you or who doesn't receive you, you know you're still there and that is a part of being who you are and becoming, even at I'm gonna bar your becoming, and when I read about becoming, I remember reading Michelle Obama's becoming, and it hit me at the very end of the book why the title was the title? Because she told us about how she became Michelle Obama.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:In all aspects, the high siloes, you know from just being a child and just matriculating through life. You know so. We all have to grow, we all have to experience, we all have to do. But when you have that family unit that is supported, you know you can lean back. You can lean back and rest on family from time to time, you know when you need to.
Speaker 1:And you know we gather to celebrate each other, you know, with accomplishments, and we gather to celebrate, you know, occasions and have family dinners, and that means a lot. It means a lot to the children, you know. It means a lot to the adults, it means a lot to the singers, you know so that we can gather and renew each other, you know, strengthen each other, you know so. You know family can be a beautiful thing, even though I told that later I was thinking about not being a part of the family anymore. That's a beautiful thing, you know. But she calmed down and she was like are you still going to be a part of family? So I'm still waiting my eyes, I'm still waiting, my eyes, yeah.
Speaker 2:A script in saying how behold how good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Yeah, so we can apply that across, you know, across the board. Human interaction is important, it's important, absolutely, absolutely. We need each other.
Speaker 1:We do and it's part of you would say that, because today, when I was getting my massage, naturally the masseuse that I went, we've known each other for a while and we were talking about COVID and how the separation and isolation and how some people were affected by the isolation more so than the virus. I was like you know, god did not design us to be isolated. He didn't know. He designed us to be communal, you know, enjoy one another. So that is it.
Speaker 1:When we get the verse that you just recited, you know, dwell together in unity, because the gentleman we was speaking of, he was kind of like the life of the gym, so to speak, very independent, you know, just cordial, and the isolation we feel helped him to succumb early, you know, and we were like man, I said, but it's strong, you think about it. You're scared because no one knew anything about this. You were sheltered in place. That's not what we're accustomed to being and you're not communicating with people the way that you have in the past. So we need you know, I could take it a different route with communication.
Speaker 2:Just to push the conversation a little bit further, with young kids communicating and fellowshiping. When I was growing up we stayed outside playing with our neighbors, our friends, with someone's house. Nowadays, these kids, they're so withdrawn and on their phones and separated, and now they don't even know how to really communicate. Now they barely have any friends. You know, dialogue for them is like a lost art because they're so within themselves because we lost that element of fellowshiping. You know, kids need to play, we need to interact and with kids not being able to do that, this generation is so totally different than you know generations before from losing that element of fellowshiping.
Speaker 1:I agree with you.
Speaker 2:I mean it affects if you talk to some of these kids, and this is not the down, the generation, I'm just talking, you know, in general yeah, you know absolutely. Absolutely so. You know COVID, you know that is a very bad point. Also to go back to the COVID. If you're used to going somewhere every week with your bingo friends, say a little later this all Sure sure, all right, now you're back.
Speaker 1:Yes, can you hear me you there? Yes, I'm back. Like I said, technology and it's glitches and you were at the little lady and the bingo. Yes, I guess I can wrap that up. I don't have to. You know, do it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, but please, because it's an important topic, to enforce that we need each other.
Speaker 2:That's at the core of, you know, this thing human connection is so, so, so, so powerful. I have a friend who's, you know, going through some things right now, and sometimes we sit on the phone, we're not even really talking about nothing, but she just need a friend, or vice versa. I just need to hear her little voice. My friend Michelle, we talk all the time. I just need to hear her little whiny voice, I just need to know she's there, you know, and then when I see her, I give her the biggest hug in the world. You know, that human touch, that interaction, you know so relationships matter, they do, they do.
Speaker 1:Yes, relationships matter yes, they do. Now tell me you're multi-talented and you've seen as well. Yes, I do. Okay, so tell me about your singing history.
Speaker 2:Well, here lately it's been on the back burner. But I started singing as a little girl at my St James Missionary Baptist Church in Bonnell, florida, where you know my family is originally from, and Reverend Willie Hyman. They requested can she? Can she say A Washington? He couldn't say Elena, he called me A Washington, saying can she say I don't mind? The song was actually I won't complain, but they called it I don't mind.
Speaker 2:And you know, from a little girl doing solos to growing up in the Tonalip Deliverance Church of God singing on the praise team and the choir. And then when I went off to college Florida A&M University I sang in the gospel choir at FAMU, was one of the lead singers there, and then to my church at Levenfaith Community Church, was a praise and worship leader there, choir director. We recorded the praise and worship songs of the Lord. I led a couple songs on that CD.
Speaker 2:I've copywritten some songs and also here I'm picking up my pen to start. I'm shy away from the singing part but using my pen to start writing for others to sing. You know my words but you know I enjoy singing but I really shy away from it. I sing and praise him at my church now but I most also sing background. I sing soprano, alto or tenor. You put me where you need me and I'll hold the part down. But as far as leading up, really stepped away from the fat mic we call it, I kind of backed away from the leading element, but I'm so supportive of those.
Speaker 1:And that in itself is great as well. You know, how do you balance all of this talent? I mean, you just haven't bottled, you don't have it bottled up, because it truly is spilling out. How do you balance that?
Speaker 2:Well, this has been a whirlwind year for me 2023, because, I tell you, my uncle died. That's what blew the lid off of everything. Because, like I said, you know, with my son's death, I was a shadow of myself. I just, I promise it, all I had was a beating heart, but I promise you that I couldn't imagine that there was a pulse. That's how broken I was at the loss of my son. But once my uncle left here and I got two sets of eyes looking at me, my little girls, I had to. You know, it just spills out, it's just pouring out and I lean on my mom, my mom and now Anderson. She's a minister, author and a public speaker herself. So, you know, the apple does not go far from the tree. I lean on her and she's like Elena. Well, you know, you got your journals. I have my 10 healing journals.
Speaker 1:Okay, so for the month of January, you're just going to focus on your journals and then we'll guess, you know, and to have a talented family, you know that seed, planting that seed and watering it, you know, and allowing it to grow. So it just spills over and that's a beautiful thing. Let me ask you about Mariah. Can you talk to us a little bit about Mariah?
Speaker 2:Oh, the Wild Ride, mariah. That is the first, my debut urban fiction book and it is a doozy, mariah. It's urban fiction, so it has some crazy twist, turns up down left right, some oh my goodness moments and Elena did you.
Speaker 2:It's a book about a young lady named Mariah who, by the world standard, she would be, you know, the girl you want to see on Instagram, facebook. She's the one you want to follow, got a million followers. Beautiful, talented, smart, educated, two family household. Everyone looks up to her, marries the most handsome and sky in the world and they look like the perfect couple. You know, I did a speaking on Facebook called Beautiful Lies, when the outside you look so good with an inside broken beautiful eyes. She was that and early on in the book.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, early in the book, oh, Hello.
Speaker 2:Okay, sorry about that Cut off the man she loved, keith. He really didn't love her back and at the death of her father he celebrated that he, that the dad, was gone. So now he was the only thing in her life. And Mariah quickly realized is according to the book that Keith was nothing but an onion dipped in chocolate. He was nothing more than a bitter surprise. And the rest of the story shows how Mariah's life unfolds as she continues to look beautiful on the outside, but her home life was in shambles and so this follows her story of does she overcome? What does she do? How does her life unfold? And it says pretty Riah had to make some ugly choices. When life went low, she went even lower. So that the first part of the book, that that's just the first part of the book where it gets to the father's death and her husband acting up. But the rest of the journey that unfolds is almost mind blowing and a lot of the things that happen.
Speaker 1:No, I get that. That diversity and writing, I think, help feel and put on paper. Someone is going to be able to do that, and so you don't look like what you've been through in that this story it's a, it's a.
Speaker 2:it takes some ugly turns, but it's a great read. Again, it's urban fiction, so it's not a cool by all moment. Again, I write across lots of the terms, but this book is not a cool by all. This book is a. Okay, let me sit this down and go sip some more and come back, because what that's true.
Speaker 1:That's true. Yes, yes, it's a good book. Yes, oh, please stop yes.
Speaker 2:So, when it comes to marketing, how will people know unless you say so? You are your big, you are your biggest advocate. You know what you need. You can share with people your vision, but you're a party of one. At the end of the day, when you go to bed, you go to bed with your dreams and when you wake up, you wake up with your mind. Nobody can share that with you. So you know what you're trying to accomplish. Say so, let the world know you're here. Don't be afraid to promote yourself.
Speaker 1:So what is the one side of seeing your?
Speaker 2:post. You're supposed to reach your reach, but if you don't start now, will they?
Speaker 1:know Absolutely. How will people know? They will know. And then, integrity, if you want to be someone who lives with you, it's supposed to go somewhere.
Speaker 2:Don't take it to the positive not show up, you'll mar your name before you even get out there. So if you want to be something, show up and not only show up. Show up on time, show up dressed properly, show up with a spirit of humility, show up if it's a theme, show up within theme. Be gracious to the host, show up with a attitude and, you know, bond it on. Like represent yourself, represent yourself, market yourself that's another form of marketing. And then also like your entourage. Who's traveling with you? Who's with you? I know we want to take our friends, family, homegirl, homeboy, but be honest with yourself and what you want to represent, and little Kiki may not be able to go with you. Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely. So take care of you.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, sure, absolutely. It's funny when you say when people get tired of looking at your pose, well, I won't know if you're tired, so that comes from them having some self-control. That comes from them having some self-control. What marketing is about? It is about getting out there. Elena, we are about to close. Thank you so much for being a guest on Gentry's Journey. I do appreciate you being that 360 degree author, your personal testimonies telling us about your accomplishments, how humble you seem to be. We're going to go ahead and say good night, but I'm going to close with the scripture the Lord is good, his loving kindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generation, and that comes from Psalms 105. Thank you so much. Have a good rest of the evening. We do appreciate you all listening. Have a great day.