Have you ever met someone who breathes life into every syllable, whose journey epitomizes the pursuit of dreams with a spiritual fervor? That's Melanie for you, the vibrant soul behind "The Voice," who joined us to share her trajectory from educator to author to poet. She speaks to the courage it takes to chase your dreams, the spiritual guidance that fuels our passions, and the transformative power of scripture in her life. Melanie's recent venture into poetry underscores a powerful reminder: it's never too late to follow what sets your heart on fire. Together, we mull over the serendipitous paths that led us into teaching and nursing, revealing how stepping into roles brimming with public speaking and leadership spurred our personal growth.
Our conversation takes an introspective turn as Melanie opens up about the emotional odyssey of writing and publishing her works. She details the creation of "A Womanly Wisdom: What They Couldn't Tell Me" and her award-winning poetry collection "Slavery of Melanin: Poetic Professions of Eston," explaining how each piece is thematically organized to reflect the rich tapestry of her identity. Melanie's narrative is a testament to the cathartic power of storytelling, as she describes the deep impact personal battles like her fight with COVID had on her writing. Her insights are a clarion call to embrace the vulnerabilities of self-expression, something many authors grapple with as they lay bare their stories on paper.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, Melanie and I relish in lighter moments too, trading personal anecdotes and chuckling over our shared love for literature that solidified our friendship. This episode isn't just a nod to achievements but a recognition of the potency of storytelling and the arts in sculpting our existence. So, if you're looking to ignite a spark within, let this rich tapestry of discussions with Melanie inspire you to claim your gifts and create your own odyssey.
Have you ever met someone who breathes life into every syllable, whose journey epitomizes the pursuit of dreams with a spiritual fervor? That's Melanie for you, the vibrant soul behind "The Voice," who joined us to share her trajectory from educator to author to poet. She speaks to the courage it takes to chase your dreams, the spiritual guidance that fuels our passions, and the transformative power of scripture in her life. Melanie's recent venture into poetry underscores a powerful reminder: it's never too late to follow what sets your heart on fire. Together, we mull over the serendipitous paths that led us into teaching and nursing, revealing how stepping into roles brimming with public speaking and leadership spurred our personal growth.
Our conversation takes an introspective turn as Melanie opens up about the emotional odyssey of writing and publishing her works. She details the creation of "A Womanly Wisdom: What They Couldn't Tell Me" and her award-winning poetry collection "Slavery of Melanin: Poetic Professions of Eston," explaining how each piece is thematically organized to reflect the rich tapestry of her identity. Melanie's narrative is a testament to the cathartic power of storytelling, as she describes the deep impact personal battles like her fight with COVID had on her writing. Her insights are a clarion call to embrace the vulnerabilities of self-expression, something many authors grapple with as they lay bare their stories on paper.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, Melanie and I relish in lighter moments too, trading personal anecdotes and chuckling over our shared love for literature that solidified our friendship. This episode isn't just a nod to achievements but a recognition of the potency of storytelling and the arts in sculpting our existence. So, if you're looking to ignite a spark within, let this rich tapestry of discussions with Melanie inspire you to claim your gifts and create your own odyssey.
We are welcoming Melanie, the voice to Jentris Journey, and we do appreciate her time and her talent for coming on. We're going to go ahead and start with an inspirational scripture and begin with the voice. The Lord is good, His loving kindness is everlasting and his faithfulness to all generations, Psalms 105. Now, Melanie, you have an array of things that you do. You are, I guess, first an educator, an author, a poet, and I haven't been in your classroom, but I've been. When you have, you know, bust a word on your poetry, you know, and hey, you're fantastic, You're absolutely fantastic. I wish I could be a poet. I tried in high school, it just never worked. But anyway, everyone has gifts and you know. So I bow down to the ones that have the gifts.
Speaker 2:Okay, yes, well, you have gifts. I cannot, I cannot for the life of me write a fiction novel like, like Jentris, journey, journey's that you Take Us.
Speaker 1:On so Well, I appreciate that, I appreciate that. Thank you. You know it's we, we. You know we might as well just stay on this topic. You know, just when I hear people read their poetry, I'll be like, wow, there. You know, I wish you know, just like singing, I wish I could sing. They'd never be able to shut me up.
Speaker 2:I would say my fist, Carolyn. God just told me a scripture a long time ago and it has, like just driven me to new heights because I didn't start writing poetry until 20, 2019, 2018. Really yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, you seem so seasoned. Oh, you seem so seasoned.
Speaker 2:Well, this, when I started so well, writing and sharing with people I don't want to tell me that, um, yeah, I think you got some poetry I was like I don't think that. But they pushed me and I did, and God just showed me the scripture. He said you have not cause. You asked not.
Speaker 1:Now, that is, that's a word. Now, that is a word.
Speaker 2:That is a word Everything, Everything, that that I do. Now I do it purposefully, because I feel like if I ask God for something and he grants it to me, then it was important enough that he saw he thought that I was going to do something with it. He doesn't give us gifts just to hide and put on a shelf. He wants us to do something with it. So if I ask him for something and he gives it to me, I try to make the best of it.
Speaker 1:Well, I agree with you 100%. I know if he brings you to it he'll definitely bring you through it. If he gives you a vision, then the vision is yours. Um, I've had people say I just don't believe that asset. It was not a conference call. Okay, you were not invited to the call. I mean it's not. It was not a conference call. How dare you tell me what God didn't say to me?
Speaker 2:You know it wasn't a conference call. I told somebody something similar to that just the other day. Really, we were talking about you know how others don't see your vision and they try to discourage you from doing whatever it is that you set forth to do. And I was like you know what God didn't call y'all on three-way.
Speaker 1:No, and he did. It wasn't a conference call. It wasn't a conference call, you know.
Speaker 2:When you get ready to do what God asked you to do, you go ahead and do it, you know, and don't look for others to clap for you and push you on because they don't see it.
Speaker 1:They don't see it. They don't want to see it and they definitely don't want you to have it. And that's, I think that has been, um, a point of contention with me. And, as I look back, you know, over my life, so to speak, um, when you attempt to do something that don't even make no sense, especially, you know, as kids, you know, and um, so you have to, as I say, put the blinders on and tune people out, um, and walk forward in your purpose or your dream or whatever you feel like you need to walk forward in, because you know there will be no clapping for you until you, you know, you rise to the occasion. Oh, I ain't, no, she had daddy on, you know. Oh Lord, you know, win, win and well, because you were constantly tearing it down. So you, you didn't want to see, and that's fine. But I tell anyone, if it's something you really want to do and it's legal, go for it. You know, because I have to put that little disclaimer in there.
Speaker 2:Right this day and age, you really do this day and age, you know.
Speaker 1:But I, um, you know, I mentor um students. I mentor, uh, people who want to be in the nursing profession and I just keep people encouraged. If it's something you want to do, go for it, you know, but it's not easy. So you have to work and be prepared to work hard.
Speaker 1:Um one of my students, um, she was on her second career and, um, she asked me do you think I could be an instructor? Do you think it's too late for me to get my master? And I looked at her honey, it's never too late, it's never too late for you to get your masters and absolutely you will be able to teach. Ran into her several years later and she said I don't know if you remember me, because you know we were all in masks and I was like okay, so we pulled the mask down, but she saw my name is how she knew I could find me. And she said I asked you if I could get, if I was too old to get my masters, and do you think I could teach? And she said I am teaching in education at this hospital and I have my masters. And I was like see, that I'm never going to tell you not to.
Speaker 1:I'm never going to tell you what you can't do, because you know, like you say, you know what God, um, you know, gives you what you asked for. He will give it to you, and um, and so I just say, go for what you know, go for what you know.
Speaker 2:You planted, because you planted the seed in her, and look at all of the leaves that are affected by just that one seed.
Speaker 1:And that's. And see, I never thought about it like that. Thank you, I received that because she was so elated to see me, to tell me, because usually once you finish nursing school, it's like everything else. Even though there are several hospitals around um, this one just happened to come together. I just happened to be in orientation, Really wasn't feeling it, but you know, I had to, you know, go through the process and, um, she came up, introduced herself and then went to the microphone when she had to do her little spill and told everybody about how she got to be and that I encouraged her to be, and I was like shout out, wasn't expecting that, you know. You know, because a lot, of, a lot of people won't even give you credit. That's right, that's right, you know.
Speaker 2:No, you ain't helped me you ain't said nothing to me, but they're saying that also planted seeds in somebody else, because this is probably somebody else out there thinking I wonder if I could teach. And they heard her story. Yeah, I mean, your seed is just multiplying. So that's what I try to teach my students. You know I teach eighth graders, so I don't know if I have that much of an impact as you did, but I try to teach them that no matter what you do is going to affect somebody, it's kind of like a ripple effect.
Speaker 2:You can affect somebody in a positive way. I mean your positive effects can keep going because they treat somebody positive and then that person treats somebody positive. You don't know whose day you might be influencing just by giving somebody a smile, I agree, a hug or whatever I'm. I'm the hugger, that's my fault. And the other teachers are like mm-mm, I ain't touching them, little raffles. I tell them I ain't been to shake your hand, I'm not touching your hand, but I put my arm around you and hug you. I get it and they know that I care about them. Uh-huh, they come up to me and ask me stuff and I'm like you need to touch your mom over there, but they just feel uncomfortable with me, and that's a blessing.
Speaker 1:Um, now you talk about eighth grade. My eighth grade English slash lit teacher is where I learned to love reading. Now, I was good at English and I am not not patting myself on the back, I was pretty decent, don't let the pat your still.
Speaker 2:baby, wait a minute, pat your still.
Speaker 1:There we go, there we go.
Speaker 2:It's women's history month.
Speaker 1:Pat your still. That's right when I'm gonna clap for me.
Speaker 1:So, but you know I say that to say you know I wasn't a slow kid and you know I learned and I enjoyed and I did. But the art of lit opened up for me in her class. So you can impact them in the eighth grade In positive ways, because I still think about her today. I still know, I still say Miss Tiner's name because when she had us to read Pip and great expectations, man, I was all in. I couldn't wait, you know, for class discussion.
Speaker 1:I was ready for baby and that built, or really took me to another level, that I don't have to just read anything, because I've always read, because my oldest brother used to read to me before I could read. So when I started reading, I read, you know, go to somebody else's house, I'm reading the readers digest or something of that nature. But she taught me how to really enjoy reading and you know it was a good thing and so I appreciate her after all these years. Wow. Now when it comes to you being an educator, how long have you been an educator and what, what, what was your passion behind it?
Speaker 2:All right, this is. This is the way I started an education in 2001. I was in Louisville, kentucky. I went to school at the University of Southern Mississippi to the top and I was in business. I went to what I've started out in premed, but I couldn't handle when they said we were going to have to work with cadavers and I was like, no, I got out, I got out.
Speaker 2:Two years in premed I changed over to business and so I got a, I got my mask, I got my bachelor's in business and I was working on my MBA and my husband at the time got a job in Louisville, kentucky. So I went up there two weeks after he moved and, you know, I was, you know, putting in applications but I didn't have a job. And this is how I know God works in mysterious ways. Because I had no idea, no inkling about teaching. But while he was working there, his first couple of weeks, he said that one of the teachers were had decided they were going to quit and I said, oh, just got started. And he said they're going to be looking for like a substitute. So I said, you know what? I'm not doing anything. I can substitute, teach for a while until I get a job. And because I had not gone into education, the principal called me. She's like you sure you want to try? This sounds like. He said, can you come and, you know, give us a sample lesson? And I was like thought that was weird. I said, well, maybe that's how they do things in Kentucky. And I, you know, went in Long story short, I went in the couple days later to teach the lesson.
Speaker 2:And I taught the first lesson and I was supposed to only teach one class. I ended up teaching for half a day because the teacher quit early and they had another sub in the room. So I taught half a day and at lunchtime she said okay, you don't really will, because she had several people come in and observe me teaching. And on the way home from leaving the school I got a phone call from central office saying that I had been a recommended for the job and to come by central office and sign the paperwork. I said this is how a lot for us to teach.
Speaker 2:So I went over there and lady asked me. She said what job are you here for? I said I'm supposed to be substance to substitute teacher at Stuart middle school. And he and she said oh, you're the one that Jennifer colleague all about. I was like yeah, she said she didn't call for a substitute, she called for a full time teacher. And I was like huh, I was shocked. I went in there and that was like September of 2001 and I've been in education every sense.
Speaker 1:Oh, you know I'm happy for my calculator, but that's been quite a few years, male, that's great.
Speaker 2:And the thing about it is. The thing about it is I had to go back to school. I had to go back to school to be a teacher and and I was like you know what, I got a whole MBA, and I'm not going to do so. About what is it? Almost 10 years ago now, I had an opportunity to get a job as the director of finance, the business manager for school district, so I could use my MBA. I was still being education and I did that for four years, but I missed the kids so much I left that job, went back to the classroom. People call me a fool, but it's just so rewarding.
Speaker 1:No, that's a passion. You go. You go where your passion is. You know mine is nursing. I know that. Nobody has to tell me that.
Speaker 1:You know people have questioned I can't believe you are a nurse. And yes, you know. So you know that somebody from my distant past I didn't know you were a nurse I said you didn't, she was supposed to. I can't believe you are a nurse. And I went you can't believe it. And I was like okay, okay, okay, I'm not sure it was not much of anything, but she was like a stark disbelief and I was talking to one of my brothers about it. Why did she say it like that?
Speaker 1:I didn't ask, I wouldn't concern her thoughts, don't matter. I can't deal with people right about now, but I don't know how I ended up in nursing. All I know is fell in it. I said, if I fell in love with it, after the first year I was going to go and get my bachelor's in nursing and I did my associate degree in nursing and my bachelor's in graduate school. I did my associate degree and I have loved every moment of it. Now, every day is not a good day, but I am more comfortable with patients that I am with people.
Speaker 2:And when you said that people can't believe that you were a nurse. People can't believe that I'm a school teacher because I was so shy when I was in school. I was shy when I was in college. I had to take a class under my advisor and when me and him were in the office talking, we were talking up. He would tell me stuff.
Speaker 2:I respond to him, but as soon as I got in that class I'm not talking. I do not like talking in front of people. So he would ask me a question and I would just sit there and ask. So we get to his office. He's like why are you ignoring me? I told him. I said I will make an A on every one of your tests. I don't talk in class. And he said I got to, you got to participate. So we made up a deal and twice that semester I could ask him a question in class, but he had to let me know before class started that he was going to have to ask me a question and I would answer it, but he only get one. That's how we worked it out. Well, that's good. My first grade teacher follows me on Facebook and she told me. She said I couldn't believe that you became a teacher.
Speaker 1:We just, like you said, you never know what God really disease is planted in you, and so we just go for what we know. I remember we started doing open heart surgery we I'm talking about the hospital, naturally and we had to educate the patients before they went home. And I was not one really to do a whole lot of talking, believe it or not, and so I had to start educating these people on what they could do, what they couldn't do. You know, husband and wife, and so when it came down to the talk on sex after open heart surgery, it was all I could do not to run after wrong. I mean I'm talking to people on us to be my grandparents. I got wet, I mean I was drenched in sweat and I was just I wouldn't even look at these people. I read from the paper and the patient's wife she saw don't worry, we'll do that, no way.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:I mean, I got the points across but they didn't tell me that part. You know that I would have to educate patients. Now, many years later, I can talk to you guys about the drug use and not break or sweat. But you have to grow in it. You know, you just have to grow in it. And I was telling someone this story. She's like how did you get through it? As a girl I was sweating everywhere. I mean bullets, and I'm not one to fire. I said, but I was sweating bullets. But from that came teaching my peers, from that came teaching some of the physicians. When I taught certain, it was advanced cardiac life support, the doctor had to come in and take that as well. And you know so, despite not small beginnings, you never know where they're going to end up. You know, I just went back that life. You know. I just thought.
Speaker 1:I'd take it, patients go on. But they started that part and they did need the education on the exercise, their medication activities for a daily living, you know. But I was like, oh, y'all did not prepare a sister for that, you know, you just didn't do it.
Speaker 2:I'm like some of the things the kids come up and talk to me about, I'm like no, I'm not equipped. I'm the math teacher, not the science teacher. I still am down there to miss King as I go to miss King, talking to Miss King about.
Speaker 1:Let her handle that. So from education we're going to. When did you become an author? And Melanie is an award winning author, so tell us about that journey.
Speaker 2:That was a journey. I became an author. Well, I became a published author. Was that when the yeah 2021, this one that was published? I started writing in 2020. This one, the pandemic here, right?
Speaker 1:Because it was COVID-19 but we didn't hear about it until 20, about the first quarter of 2020.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, I had. I had gone through a divorce. I left my now a husband in July July was the first of July in 2017 and I was divorced November 2017 and I had been living trying to cope with, trying to figure out who I was, because my identity had been stripped. So I had a mentor, and my mentor was helping me to understand life and all the stuff that I thought was supposed to be real life. That wasn't because I was. I don't know what. I was restricted in my previous life. So the mentor helped me to understand some things, and one of the things he told me to do to help me understand who I was and what I needed to work on was journaling.
Speaker 1:And writing a journal.
Speaker 2:So my first book began as a journal. I would just sit and write about my experiences. And I started when I wrote in my journal. I would take a piece of it of what I was writing and I would post it on Facebook as a Facebook story. And as I was sharing parts of my journal with him, he said you know, this could help somebody if you wrote it as a book. And it was August, my birthday month, august of 2020, when I started writing my book and at first I tried to play it safe and write the politically correct story. And he was like I know your story and it is not gonna reach anybody if you don't be realistic and if you don't open up and just be honest and transparent. So I had to rewrite it and I just got real, raw and transparent. And that's when the story began, august of 2020.
Speaker 1:That's great, I think. And he was correct. You know he was correct and writing can be therapeutic, so the journaling comes in handy with that. So we do have to be authentic and we have to be realistic. And you know I get that when you say I got to get raw. You know you have to be where people, where people can relate to what you're saying. But it is hard to write those things. It is difficult, it is extremely difficult.
Speaker 2:When I was writing. I would have to go and just rent out a hotel room so I could have no distractions, nothing coming at me. I'd turn my phone off and I would get my computer and I would write and as I wrote would write. Tears were just flowing.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I would write until I passed out. I was just exhausted with each chapter. Each chapter was like giving birth Sure, sure. And I wrote and cried. And when I woke up and my computer was laying on halfway on the bed, halfway on my lap, I knew that chapter was done.
Speaker 1:That's how each chapter got done. Well, I applaud you. I applaud you for writing, for telling your story. Now, what is the name, what is the title of that book?
Speaker 2:The title of my first publication is called A Womanly Wisdom what they Couldn't Tell Me.
Speaker 1:Oh man, that's great. That is great. So being an author is not necessarily an easy journey, especially according to where you wanna go. When I started, I didn't know where I wanted to go. I just wanted to write the book, that's just it, and I just thought that was it. But since doing that, we know that there's so many, so many, so many layers to all of that. Now, what was your award-winning?
Speaker 2:publication. Yes, my award-winning publication was my poetry book Yay, and it is entitled Slavery of Melanin, poetic Professions of Eston, and I wrote that. Well, I had been writing the poems that were included like, all along from. Like 2020 is when I wrote the first poem, but like 2021 is when I started writing poems continuously. And in what's this 2024 now it is. I think it was in 2021, or 2022, I contracted COVID and, yeah, cause it came out March 2022. So I contracted COVID. It was January of 2021. I know it was January of 2022. December 2021 is when I started compiling this.
Speaker 2:Over the Christmas break. As you know what, I'm gonna put all my poems together and publish them. But they all didn't fit together as, like, a irregularly themed book. So I couldn't say it was a poetry book on any particular topic. Sure, but when I got ready to think about the name, I said you know what?
Speaker 2:It's just a little bit of me, a little bit of all the different pieces that make me who I am. So it's like I thought about that five-flavored pound cake I used to like. It's got a lot of flavors in it. So each one of the chapters, or each one of the sections, is named after. It's kind of like a flavor. So I know you can't see it, but I did. I printed it in paperback too, cause I wanted it paperback in color, but like the. Just to give you a hint of what it's like. One section is called melanind dripping like dark chocolate. One of them is melanind dripping like Bloody Mary, and that's the one that's got a little spiciness in it. One is melanind dripping like whipped cream and melanind dripping like honey. Now, some of my hardest pieces to write was in a section called melanind dripping like tears, because I actually wrote a poem about how I felt suffering from COVID Sure and I put that in there and it was entitled. It could have been worse.
Speaker 1:And that is true. That is true. I can visualize that. That's great. That's great because I went to an author's anyway, I don't know what you call it. He basically told us about his book. So we were in the audience and he talked and he demonstrated his wife would ask questions like they had never done this before. But she, you know she would. But I saw where the questions kept him on topic as to what he wanted to say. So at the end, when he read the book, I said well, you know, I really enjoyed your topics, I enjoyed how you brought your book to life.
Speaker 1:I said but when you write about yourself, you really have to lay yourself fair. And I saw you get a little emotional on this day. And he said, yeah, and as many years as he has done this he's been writing about his life. And I said, well, I'm not gonna write about it. He has done this. He still has the effects at that particular point, you know, because he was talking about his dad and what a hard working man his dad was and how he saw his dad crying one day in his mom's arms and he said, whoo. And you know, he just, you know that still makes him shudder. You know to see his father that way, but his father had been insulted on the job, so to speak. And so you know you do have to lay yourself fair if you really want to tell your story. I don't think I've gotten. I'm getting there with this next body of work. Yeah, you know, but it does bring you some hesitancy, but it is a good story to tell. So what pushed you to poetry?
Speaker 2:My first piece that I did, one of my well, my first publisher had before he became my publisher. He was pushing me. He said I think you got something in you, I think you can do poetry. I'm like no, you're the poet. And because I've never even met this guy before he was friends with my brother-in-law I was like I'm the math teacher and he kept tagging me in these poetry submission things and so I would just kind of like disregard it and didn't think anything else about it. But when George Floyd was murdered, mike Gwynne issued a call for poetry based upon that situation and for an anthology that he was putting out, and for the first time CT Miller didn't tag me in the submission. Mike did, and it's like I don't even know him, but he was friends with CT and he had saw CT had kept tagging me and stuff, and so he tagged me in it and I felt a little overwhelmed because I was like all these people are poets. I'm not a real poet, I'm even right.
Speaker 2:And the night before the submissions were due I was lying in bed and then it had to be like 11 o'clock at night and something came to my mind and I got my phone and started typing it up and in my bed I submitted it to him. And the next morning well, the next day I woke up and I saw an email from him and he was like I like this, clean it up and send it back to me. It was all kind of typos in there. It was like midnight when I put that together I was like I can't believe I sent this. And when he chose my piece to go in the anthology, I was honored. But I was nervous because I was like all these, I kept telling people, all these people are real poets. I was like I just put something in there. But that was my first time actually writing something and submitting it to someone and I enjoyed the process and they enjoyed what they got. So that was my first time.
Speaker 1:Hey, and the rest is history.
Speaker 2:And the rest is history. I like it Look. The rest is her story, Her story, her story, Women's history.
Speaker 1:Yeah, please, yeah. Don't let my friend hear me say that boy, oh, she'll be all over me. But you know what friend I'm talking about too.
Speaker 2:But then of course.
Speaker 1:I made a mistake and said women's health. It is not women's health, it's like get off.
Speaker 2:Get off that. I was on a podcast with Sir Lawrence last night and he asked me what did I think about women's history? I was like, yeah, I see we celebrate y'all men and I ain't got no problem with you men being celebrated, but we just want 30 days. Can you give us 30 days you can?
Speaker 1:give us 30 days, just give us 30, come on. We've earned that, we've made that.
Speaker 2:Well, it's at 31. I think March is 31. March is 31.
Speaker 1:I think March is 30. Now you got me pulling out the calendar.
Speaker 2:I got pulled out my calendar too, is it? Let's see? Yeah, march is 31.
Speaker 1:OK, because I went back to school 30 days, had September.
Speaker 2:I know, but I never learned that one I did.
Speaker 1:You do the knuckle thing.
Speaker 2:I know that. I know February has 28. Most times I said well, this vote has been a 30 day, so March got to be 31.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes, now we met and helped me and from incorrect On the book slant, that's where we met.
Speaker 2:That's where we met.
Speaker 1:That's where we met.
Speaker 2:That's where I fell in love with Gentry.
Speaker 1:And that's where I fell in love with the voice. Someone asked me one night oh, caroline, what was your opinion of Melanie's piece? And I was like it's the voice. I mean, what do you expect?
Speaker 2:The voice has said it all that was so funny how I got that name, because I didn't come there. That was that was given to me by the book slummies For real.
Speaker 1:Are you serious?
Speaker 2:Yes, oh, ok. Yes, I was doing poetry one night and everybody was saying it's her voice. It's her voice. I'm like it's just me. And I remember, remember, wild, wild, william, william Washington. Yes, he was on there one night and he was like he said is that your poetry voice or is that your regular voice? I'm supposed to have more than one. I didn't know. And so the next I think the next few times I got on there, andy called me. He said you know what? We got a name for you. Now You're the voice. And I thought OK.
Speaker 2:But they don't know what they were speaking into existence, because God had already commissioned that before. That's great. I had a situation. I was a victim of domestic abuse and I had a cousin who they found her body burned in a car.
Speaker 2:And her grandmother, my aunt. When I hugged her, she said I think if you would have talked to her she would have still been here, and it made me feel like my silence was deadly. So I remember taking a walk. I was at my parents' house and I used to go for walks for about an hour and I was taking a walk and I'm going to walk and I recorded it live on Facebook so it's out there somewhere. But I told God. I said from this point on, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, because one time I was that person that couldn't speak for myself. So I want to be the voice for someone who cannot speak for themselves. And when they started calling me the voice, I was like OK, god, I'm hearing you. Oh man.
Speaker 1:Oh man, oh man, Look at God girl, Look at God, my head, these nuggets they have just transformed. Because I think when I came on you were, everybody was saying oh, here comes the voice, here comes the voice.
Speaker 1:But it really was true, because I was just mesmerized by your readings and truly by your poetry and I was like, wow, but hey, use what you have and just give honor to God about your abilities and your talents and what he has brought us all through, because we've all been through something and maybe even going through something right now. But one thing for sure we can help somebody. We can help somebody, and that's what we're here for. We're here to help one another. So what are you working on now?
Speaker 2:Well, I am working on a few things. One of the major things I'm working on is a piece for an upcoming anthology that a group of beautiful women are working on is entitled to women in the waiting room and surgery for your soul and being a nurse, I know you can appreciate this but it's surgery. It's opening up a wound and going in there trying to work on it and hopefully I can get it so back up and be okay. I know I'm going to be okay, but in order for me to actually be effective in this writing, I'm having to go to places that I thought were closed off, that I thought was healed, and what I'm noticing is just a scab over a wound right now. So I'm in the middle of teaching. We're getting ready for a major test, the state test. So I had to put it on hold for a minute, but next week I'm planning on going ahead and finishing up, knocking it out, because we're going to spring break and when I write I don't have discipline when I write.
Speaker 1:When.
Speaker 2:I write. I don't want to say, okay, I'm gonna write for an hour and stop when I write. I just want to write. If I don't eat, that's fine. I sit that time aside for God to allow me to put the words together that need to be said or need to be read. I don't like any distractions or any interruptions. So that's why normally when I was living with my sister, I normally would go and just get me a hotel room so I could just write if it's 12 o'clock at night, one o'clock in the morning, and if I think of it, just write it. So I'm looking forward to that because I know that it's going to bring about some healing for a lot of women and possibly men who pick it up, because, you know, healing is for everybody and you never know who may be inspired or motivated by your words.
Speaker 1:I agree, I totally agree, I'm excited about the project.
Speaker 2:I have some lovely co-arthers that like sisters. I mean it's amazing. I was talking to my partner last night and one of the things that we discussed was he said you've outgrown Mississippi. Oh, what do you mean? I said I don't want to move. He said no, it's not that you move. He said the people that you can, you connect with with your poetry, with your writing and stuff, how many of them are from Mississippi?
Speaker 2:I had to think about that and the you women that I've met and through social media and have connected with, have become close with you. Know, you brought in my horizons and even though I'm a little small town girl, I look up and I'm winning awards and and being nominated for things and it just brought back to my mind I'm sorry if I get a little teared up, you're good. It brought back to my mind when people say that your name will go, will be in places that your feet will never touch Mm, hmm, mm, hmm. I've. I never would have imagined that I would meet some people from around the US as I have now, in the world, as I have now, and people outside of my little area know my name and that was important to me when I was going up, because I was the quiet girl that nobody knew, mm, hmm. And to see people nominate me for a poet of the year and things like that, I'm like, how do these people what? How do they know me? But God orchestrated it that way Because I mean amen, amen.
Speaker 1:You know my story. I'm sure you've heard it and if not, I'll give you just a touch. God asked, told me to run for a local political office and I was like I ain't no politician, I'm in the nurse. I'm walking around my bedrooms and what Run? No, no, no, no, no, no, I'm the nurse. You know, just let me be the nurse. And then I followed it with obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience is better than sacrifice. So I call all family members. Everybody's like yeah, I'm like, what is wrong with these people?
Speaker 2:You got the problem.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you know, if I hadn't gotten one, no, I probably would have let it go, but obedience is better than sacrifice. So I did that. I probably was six to eight weeks out from election, but I did everything. Everyone else did low budget, but I did I. So when it came back around again, I went all in all in. I mean, I went all in last, you know, because you got to walk, shake hands, get people to know you got it, so I had acquired more followers, but most of sure I said OK, lord, now I was obedient, I did what you asked me to do and I lost both times. So what's up? So he said, I have a larger platform for you.
Speaker 1:And I went OK, that's what's up. But I cannot say where that platform is. I'm kind of like you, you know, and I'm like, OK, so, being a part of the book slam and talking to other people and being here and being here and being interviewed here and being interviewed in UK, I'm like just don't feel, you know, I'm grateful. I have more humble than you realize with the opportunities, but I don't know if this is it. You got what I'm saying. I just don't know. I just don't know. So I'm just following his lead. I'm just doing what he encourages me to do. I'm saying yes to things I would not have said yes to and I'm like no, I feel a bit overwhelmed. I have more sticky nose on what you need to finish, what you need to start, what you need to do this on.
Speaker 2:So I feel you, I feel you, you know, I'm not going to be any more on you than you can bear, and that's true.
Speaker 1:And that's so true. And so I do it with an open heart, a happy heart, because I have never liked letting anyone down. And so when people, when I commit, I commit, you know, wholeheartedly to it. So I feel you on that, you know. So, hey, we will see. We will see. Coming from where I am, and who would have ever thought it? You know what I mean. You're right and you are absolutely correct. Who would have ever thought it? You know, I know that was not, this was not on my agenda.
Speaker 1:Like I said, after a day of campaigning I started writing my book and I think that was in 14. And it really relaxed me. It was very authority, just to make gentry and I wanted a name where no one had that name. That I was aware. I ain't wondering about that. She talked about me. No, no, you are not here, you are not on the horizon, and so that's how gentry got started and I have enjoyed creating her up, enjoyed taking her on whatever exhibition she likes, going on, you know, getting together. But I just don't know, melan, I just don't know. But I'm going with the process, and so I wouldn't have done this in 14. This one on my mind, this one on my mind and be interviewing you, but I am so humble and so honored to do it, you know. So I'm thankful. I'm gonna say all that to say it. I'm like you, I'm grateful. I am so grateful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we'll be talking this weekend about one of my fears and that's one of my fears is that I don't know. I know what moments of success look like, but I don't know what the end looks like, the end result, because I keep evolving, I keep changing, I keep doing it. I thought about that when you said about the sticky notes. I'm like, if I'm doing this, I'm doing that. I got my photography going, I got my books, I got my publishing, I got my teaching. I was like, what else do I do? Because I love music too? Sure, my keyboard over there. I was like you know what? Do I need to stop something? But God keeps pushing me and, like you said, just keep going.
Speaker 1:I agree with you. I mean, I agree because I was like, because I have been a beta reader, I've been an art reader of people that say, well, you write a four word for me, I'm like, yeah, google, what does four word do? What would be the four word? You know, it's things like that that I never would have thought that I would have done. It wasn't on my mind. But I'm grateful, I am humble, you know, by by the acts, and I like to say and saying yes to some things. I would have normally said no, girl, you don't want me to go find somebody who who's really quick to do that. But you know, as we said earlier, if God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it, you know. Now let's talk about your photography for a minute. I'm glad you mentioned that. When did you get started with that? Because you have been taking some awesome pictures.
Speaker 2:Actually, I started taking pictures when I was in middle school, high school, and that was way back. When you get those disposable cameras and then drop them off at Walmart to get, my nephews tease me about that all the time.
Speaker 2:And I had the little Walmart photo albums everywhere until my ex husband destroyed them. He got rid of them somehow and all my memories were gone, and so when I graduated high school, my aunt bought me my first camera. It was like the kind that you put the roll of film in and take the roll out to go get developed.
Speaker 2:I still have that camera in my room Mine too. I put it on hold after I got married because my ex husband was like you had like Papa Ross, so you always got that camera with you. So I kind of put it on hold, put it to the side. But two years ago I think it was around two years ago I started working with my partner, because he's been doing it for like 17, 20 years. I started going with him and at first I was just like the flunkie, just let me carry stuff, I don't want to get behind the camera. But something happened and I had to take some pictures and the people loved it and I loved it.
Speaker 2:It's like a ministry to me, because what I do is I look at an individual and I let God speak to me and I was like okay, let me let me pose you. You know, a lot of times they'll say I don't take good pictures. I don't take pictures, don't worry about it, I'm doing that part. You gotta take the picture. I just need you to stand here and relax and by the time I take the picture, show it to them. They're like that's me. I was like yeah, that's you. I didn't put anybody else in front of my camera, but you and I get to show them themselves in a way that they hadn't seen before.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's great.
Speaker 2:I get to show them what we see in them when we look at them. So it's some ministry to me. It's kind of like taking my poetry and making a visual of it. For the future.
Speaker 1:That's great, I mean. But I have seen some of your work that you posted. I'm like you go, ma'am. Thank you. You know it really is, and it is not to sound corny, it is an art. You know it's an art form. So you kind of like, you are the artist, You're that circular artist.
Speaker 2:And I do like the paint. I know you.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you can see my screen, but I have, I was looking at that, so that's your work as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think this was a self-portrait. I did it back in 2018. Ok, and I took a picture of myself that I had on my phone and I just drew it on the canvas and I painted it, and so that was my rendition of a self-portrait.
Speaker 1:Well, great, I mean, come on, you know, at least you're not letting your no hold you back. That's right. And that's what no, does you know it holds you back. I mean, why keep these talents and this information all bottled up and no one gets to see and experience them? You know, it's your work, it is uniquely you. Let it be you, you know. I mean I'm loving it. I am loving it. No, I didn't know you did self-portrait, but I love it. Now, who's what? It's? Another one I see Is that gentleman? Does he have on glasses?
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, that is. I can't really see it for the mic, but that is actually my hallway. It's a girl with blowing a bubble, that one, that one we did at one of those paintings. Ok, ok, yeah, that one had a painting, but the one I did up here that was freehand, that was just me drawing out.
Speaker 1:That is wonderful. That's wonderful Both of them are. But I've been to one of those paintings, melody. Halfway through I'm like I'm done with this.
Speaker 2:That's what most people say, but I finished it.
Speaker 1:I finished it Now. I finished both of them.
Speaker 2:I got a couple of projects. I'm over there waiting to like I get a weekend or something free. I got I go to some of them and just get the kid. I just got to get the kid and I paint it later, but this is one of my favorite pieces. I know they can't see it, but this is one of my favorite photos. This guy, when I took his picture it was just to you know, you know work with some lighting and get some different lightings and stuff. But once I took the picture it was like a moment because he had never seen himself that way and he's like that's me. I'm like, yeah, that's what I see when I see you. So yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1:That's what art is for me. Now, before we leave, can you grace us with a little bit of your poetry? You know what?
Speaker 2:I had picked out a piece just for you, gentry. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you Once. I would you know, I like to get, I like to get prompt ideas from some people, and I asked my family once. I was like I want to write some poetry, give me something to write about. And my brother and my dad are both ministers and my brother was being funny. He said a 23rd song. I said, ok, I got you, I got you. So this is my poetic piece. That entails the 23rd song. It's called Transformation.
Speaker 2:The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want, but I do. Is it just me, or do you want to? Are you like me and want to begin anew? Am I wrong to desire things in my life? I want more than what I have, at least the same as what I, what I give? Is that too big of a cost to live? He makes me look. He makes me lie down in green pastures, but why lie on the ground? Can a better place be found, even if I must move to a new town? He leads me in the path of righteousness for his namesake.
Speaker 2:But wait, maybe my mindset needs an update. The turmoil is not what he is trying to create. If he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies, how could I even let my mind allow those negative feelings to prevail. Now he is preparing everything I may need so that he may get the glory and I can tell his story and begin to take inventory when I shall not want. It's because he supplies all my needs. He gives it, though it's not free.
Speaker 2:You see, he paid the price on Calvary. He fills my cup until it runs over. My every need will be met with no regret and no feelings of lack or regret, lack or fret, because he knows needs I haven't seen yet. When I walk through this shadowed valley, I will have no fear, because the master will always be near and the life I desire will become crystal clear. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me and I will always feel their presence around, and in that time the peace can be found and the little we show shall be renowned. So I'll gladly lie down in the lush green grass, because it provides a cool, soft place to rest and, just like the birds in their nests, I shall rejoice, knowing he knows best. I no longer must feel lost, for I shall dwell in his house forever, having to wonder about my role in life. Never because all because he supplies all I need, whatsoever.
Speaker 1:That's beautiful. That's beautiful. I love it. Now, is that going to be a part of your compilation?
Speaker 2:or is it?
Speaker 1:already.
Speaker 2:That's actually in my book Flavor of Melanin. I told you all different flavors. Now it's this little hot part in that too, but I got some. I got some references to my Lord and Savior in there, because that's part of me as well, absolutely. That's why you get all the flavors when you buy that piece.
Speaker 1:Okay, and I have enjoyed your spicy pieces. I know I have enjoyed every. I just have enjoyed your work. There's no sense in me sitting here saying, oh, oh, the vapors. I have the vapors. No, I am like, give me more.
Speaker 2:I know, I know, I did one in a book, in a portrait event the other day and they were like you talk, like that. I'm like, yeah, I did the Blackberry juice, if you remember that one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but the thing about it it flows well, it does not flow. It does not flow where it to me, where it's offensive, okay yeah, and then that's where people have to balance what they do and what they say.
Speaker 1:And I think that that is part of not only poetry, but writing. What do you really want to write? Do you want to be a little bit more explicit? Do you want to be a little bit more timid? Do you want to be I'm mistakenly you Right? Yeah, no, so, so you just have to choose which one you want to be. Perfect balance. Yes, I think that's where that adds to all of it. You have to be balanced. What, Melanie? Do you have any? I have enjoyed having you on Gentry's journey. I really really have. The hour has zimmed by, but do you have any? Tell us where the audience can find you and then you can close us out in prayer, if you don't mind, sweetie.
Speaker 2:Okay, you can find me on Facebook under Melanie Johnson and if you go to my Facebook page until March 18, please go and vote for me for a part of the year. I was nominated for part of the year. It's at the top of my Facebook Timeline, so vote for me on IG. You can find me at Melanie Johnson speaks my, my. My IG page for my photography business is called Melistic imagery. It's like male and realistic put together. Okay, so just follow me. Melanie Johnson, look for me. I'm out there somewhere, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I'm Googleable Now, melanie. I have been voting for you, but I don't know if it's going through, because it just sits there yeah.
Speaker 2:I think you hit the button and it shows that circle in the dot. Then that's a vote.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, okay, I've been doing it correctly. Because I have done it many times, I'm like I sure hope you just have to do it one time.
Speaker 2:Okay, it only reaches the one time, so just do it the one time, and I just try to get as many people to go on and just click it.
Speaker 1:But no, I'm saying like, if I did it today, if I did it two days ago it doesn't.
Speaker 2:It doesn't like if you vote more than once, it doesn't count. It like okay, I'm just going to vote one time.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I have definitely done it Okay. Because, I saw it.
Speaker 2:I'm like, yes, my girl, yes, my girl, I left that check out still in the lead.
Speaker 1:Yay, I mean, hey, let's clap for ourselves. It is women's mom, Women's history mom, women's history, mom. Let's make history, baby. Let's do it. So, if you close us out in prayer, thank you so much for Melanie, for gracing Gentry's journey With your presence Now you're more than welcome.
Speaker 2:Dear Lord, we come to you tonight the first and foremost to say thank you. Thank you for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon us tonight. Thank you for allowing us to be a blessing to others, dear Lord, we know that there are some people out there right now, dear Lord, who are suffering, who are going through some things, who have lack, and some people who don't even know you in the part of their seniors. But, lord, we pray that you let your presence be known in their lives. Help us to be a conduit so they can be guided to you, dear Lord. Help them to be able to know you and be able to worship and you and be able to tell others about your goodness and your mercy.
Speaker 2:Dear Lord, we pray for those who are sick, those who are maybe on their bed of affliction. We know many people are suffering right now. We just ask you to watch over them, take care of them, comfort them, heal them and help us to be whatever we need to be to help their healing take place, even if it's nothing more than just a prayer. Lord, we just thank you for all your many blessings and we give thanks and honor to you in Jesus Christ's name that we pray, amen, amen. Amen.
Speaker 1:Amen.