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Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Music commentary
Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Fat Baby: Not Your Average Book Club Chat
"The grave has so much potential in it." Those powerful words from Allaina Maria 360 capture the essence of this riveting conversation about refusing to leave this world with your gifts still inside you.
When multi-hyphenate author Allaina Maria 360 steps into the ListenLinda Book Club Live space, the energy shifts immediately. As number five on our 25 Awesome Authors of 2025 list and a familiar voice to our listeners from previous appearances, Allaina brings both warmth and wisdom to this discussion of her raw urban novel "Fat Baby."
The title itself—drawn from Black cultural experiences where childhood nicknames stick for life—creates an immediate connection with readers. Allaina masterfully balances authentic street storytelling with redemptive perspectives, explaining that "when you write in truth, there's not much room for error." This commitment to honesty without exploitation guides her approach to difficult subject matter, creating a space where readers facing similar circumstances can find themselves represented with dignity.
The conversation takes an unexpectedly personal turn when Allaina shares about her healing journey after losing her sister to murder just over a year ago. In a haunting twist, Allaina had unknowingly written aspects of her sister's story into her previous book before her passing. Despite this profound loss, she remains anchored in faith, frequently returning to Psalm 23 during difficult creative moments.
For writers and creative spirits, Allaina offers practical wisdom about self-publishing through KDP, from formatting challenges to marketing strategies. Her advice blends nuts-and-bolts knowledge with inspirational perspective: "It's going to cost you something, but if there's anybody worth investing in, it's you, because nobody can do you like you."
The most powerful moments come when both women discuss refusing to dim their light despite criticism. As Allaina puts it, "Decorate your own house... I build my house and I decorate my house, and then I'm very selective of who I allow in." This perfect metaphor for authentic living reminds us all to pursue excellence without seeking approval.
Grab "Fat Baby" on Amazon today and leave a review! And don't miss Allaina's upcoming projects including her poetry collection "Beauty for Ashes" and new musical EP. Follow her journey at allainamaria.com or @allainamaria on social media.
Hey there, I'm Jacqueline Cox, but you might know me as ListenLinda. Um, where do I even begin? I guess you could say I wear many hats Podcast host, entrepreneur, Mrs Illinois, usa, and so much more but it all started with a simple passion to tell stories and empower others. Building a platform wasn't easy. There were days when I wondered if anyone was even listening. But then something amazing happened. I realized the power of my voice. Suddenly, my words were reaching people, touching lives, making a difference. Now I see my mission clearly to create spaces where every voice can be heard, thank you, and together we can make our voices echo far and wide. To be a guest on Listen Linda. Contact Jacqueline Cox on Facebook Messenger.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey, friends, Welcome back to Listen Linda Book Club Live. I am your host, Dr Jacqueline Cox, and today feels like family because our guest is a dear friend of mine and a friend of this show the multi-gifted author, creator and truth teller, Elena Maria 360. You know her voice from the women of the waiting room takeover and her powerful survivor testimony on our feed, and you definitely know her from the book fat baby. When the streets call, answer okay. She's also number four on our 25 awesome authors of 2025 and was featured in our very own listen linda magazine, the july Family. Help me welcome Elena Maria to the stage, honey.
Speaker 3:How you doing.
Speaker 2:I'm all right Now. Before we get started, everybody know me. No, we have to start with our opening prayer. Okay so, father God, thank you for gathering us in community. Bless Elena, bless every listener under the sound of my voice. Bless this conversation to heal, equip and point us towards your hope. Guide our words, lord. God, get glory from this hour in Jesus' mighty name. Amen, amen, amen. Welcome back. Welcome back Now as a friend of the show. What does it feel like to be here as our Arthur number four in the 2025 Awesome Arthurs lineup?
Speaker 3:What does it feel like? It feels absolutely amazing. You know, when you have friends, you know Jackie is like a woman of integrity and sometimes we get close to people they'll lose that. Oh, that's just my friend. But it's so nice to know she's just a friend. She's actually a mentor, a woman who's on a mission, and to be a part of what she has going on, to know me personally and still include me, that is very, very humbling and I'm always honored and the caliber of people that she's connected with. To be listed amongst those 25 makes my heart glad. So thank you so much. Always humble.
Speaker 2:Now, for those who you, for those new to you, give us the one minute. Who is Elena Maria? Writer, actress, singer, survivor, however you want to frame.
Speaker 3:Well, I'm Elena Maria At my core. I'm a mom of two beautiful girls, I'm a daughter, I'm a sister, a woman who loves God, family, community. I'm a woman of femininity, beauty and grace, and that's the core of me, and I love God. But as a multi-hyphenate, I am a multi-genre author, a singer, songwriter, actress, screenwriter, poet, oh God, entrepreneur, and the list goes on and on. But above all, I'm a woman who loves God and loves his people, and that's Elena.
Speaker 2:Amen, elena 360. Okay, she's full circle. She does it all, honey, and she does it with grace and humility. That's why I love you so, so, very much. Now she's full circle. She does it all, honey, and she does it with grace and humility. That's why I love you so so, very much. Now let's get into this book. Honey, fat baby, hold it up for people to see. Even a cover had me shook. Honey, yes, yes, now, fat baby, fat Baby. That title, it stops you in your tracks. What did it come from? And who is Fat Baby at her core?
Speaker 3:It came from just black experience, like I said, who doesn't have a cousin whose name is Tyrone but their grandma called him that man. We have named an arrowhead, a fat, fat a juju, so it's something that our culture can relate to right off the bat. Because obviously we know her government isn't Fat Baby, right, her government is Tina Posner. So automatically, like Fat Baby, that's got to be somebody's nickname. So it automatically grabs you and like wait, what is that all about? What is the culture? What is the story? What, what does that even mean? Like, how do you name a book fat baby? So it came. It came from a place, like I said, of just um being relevant to our culture, um, but also something to grab you, because you just don't see books called fat baby. You want to know what I never, what's under that?
Speaker 3:um, but the, the actual Tina. Her nickname was Fat Baby, literally because she was a fat baby and they, you know, picked it up and it just ran with it, which is synonymous with our culture. I'll say my sister, her name is Shauna, but her nickname is Humpy because when she was a baby my uncle sat around and she humped over. And here she is to be 49, and her nickname is still Humphrey to this day. So it is so true to our culture.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and with this book it holds. Hard realities, guys, Trauma, exploitation, survival. Yet you write when you write, you write with dignity and fight. What guardrails did you keep? To honor real pain without really glorifying it in this book?
Speaker 3:Well, when I was writing, I remembered that there is somebody out there who's that's their story. It's easy to write to get the shock value oh my God, did you read that? That was so but to remember that someone's story who's not bold enough to speak, or they can pick it up and see. They may have to see the pain, but they realize they're not alone. A lot of times when you're going through the amount of trauma that fat baby went through and those generational curses, the enemy or your mind would trick you to think you're alone. And you know, no one understands that God doesn't love me. And why be? You know what I mean. It's easy to get caught up in. You know those emotions and they are valid. I'm not invalidating any feelings because they're valid. When you're hurting, you're hurting. If you're sad, you're sad and you have a right to feel them. But sometimes being able to see someone else, know there is someone else out there and they survived or they did not survive, and what takeaways can you as an individual use to survive? You know, what can I take away from Fat Baby? What can I learn from some of the choices she made? Are these the outcomes I want for my life.
Speaker 3:You know, and a lot of times it's not even maybe an individual who went through it. They live vicariously through someone else. So you know, just because you're not actually caring that way, you're caring the outside way and you care for the loved one who went through what she went through. You care for the one who's burdened, you care for the one who's been abused and you don't really know how to help care.
Speaker 3:So reading a book such as this reminds you that people are not alone Others. This reminds you that that people are not alone. Others are struggling and that baby is a harsh book, but it is a reality and it's one of those things you don't want to talk about. And when I wrote it I had some moments. I was like man, this I don't want to be seen as I'm trying to provide shock value, but at the same time, they have those resources in place where fat baby was living because of those real situations and you have to be in depth with it and that's what I loved about it, because you didn't glorify it, you didn't um the way that you told it.
Speaker 2:It was so raw and it was so real. And I'm gonna tell you something, it really took me back to um, not as far as like um real, like x rated, like the coldest winter was, because it was really raw, right. But with Fat Baby it put me in that mind frame of winter. Winter went through some similar things in that book. And Fat Baby, though it was better to me because in the coldest winter ever, it was better to me because in in, in the coldest winter ever, it was more so glorifying that life in in fat baby, it gave a whole different perspective.
Speaker 2:But what I'm saying, as far as the rawness, the realness, how you kept it real, it really and and I you know, the coast once ever is one of my favorite books of all time. I am you already know I'm a fangirl, christina babe, okay, for miss dane, honey, that is my girl. So when I read this book I was that immediately it drew you already know how I feel about your books too so immediately it drew me in. I was like mariah, who girl? What is fat baby? I loved it. I loved it. I loved. Now, while you were writing the book, what scripture or truth kept you steady? What kept you focused while writing this book Because a lot of times I know with myself as well, and that's why I always have to end up getting like somebody else to read it, because I kind of go off script what kept you steady and focused on the end goal of the book?
Speaker 3:Well, you know, I know it's going to sound cliche. You know because everybody knows this particular passage. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want he's making me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the sea of waters. He restores my soul. He leads me to the path of righteousness. For his name's sake, he ain't going to walk through the battle of shadow and death. I feel no evil, for God with me, thy rod and thy staff. They comfort me. Thy prepared the paper before me to present to mine enemies. Thou anointed my head with oil. My cup runneth over Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.
Speaker 3:Well, when you're talking truths and when you're writing, sometimes you pick up and you feel it. You know what I mean. You're carrying the burden of the character. You know what I mean. And I worked in social work for a very long time with different people from different backgrounds, with a lot going on. And then I also have a sister who you know, who passed away. That was her calling in the community, touching, feeling these people. In the story she would tell me of the people that she's touched, you know, and the horrors that these young girls go through in the system, and the horrors of molestation and rape and X, y, z, and sometimes you, when you're writing and expressing those things, you have to stop and pray because you get heavy, you know, you get, you really immerse yourself into the character and sometimes it's a lot.
Speaker 3:I have two children of my own, two girls. I couldn't imagine if they went through some of the things that that baby went through. I couldn't imagine, couldn't fathom. So there were moments where tears were shed and in that point I go back to my safe place, which is the word of God. That scripture always comforts me, no matter what, and it's applicable to everything. People think oh, people coming against me, no, no, no. It's applicable to everything. People think oh, people coming against me. No, no, no. It's more than that. If you listen, god comes to me in the present. He is north as my head, with all Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. So even after I'm finished writing this, god is still with me. You know what I mean. I go to get comfort, to let that heaviness off of me, to go with my day Because you. To go with my day because you think you read some things that sit with you, certain movies. You see, it sit with you all day long.
Speaker 2:You have to pray that thing off for you because you feel so heavy, but it was a story that needed to be told, absolutely, absolutely. And one thing that I could, I could really um get with, because you know I love me a little street lit. You know storytelling I really really do. That is, if you see, I got, I got my Alicia Keys baby, I got my dead girl walking, I got like I really love these type of books and um, with fat baby. That's that's kind of what it gave me. It gave me like a street lit pulse in the storytelling. Um, how did you balance, you know, authenticity with that redemption, um peak, uh truth, absolutely that's the answer.
Speaker 3:In short, when you write in truth, there's not much room for error, there's no fallacy, it's truth. And when you write in truth, people, when they read the pages, they can feel the truth coming through the pages. So so, if you stay with the truth, you're always going to win Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Now. My listeners first met you, my home listeners first met you with your book Mirage yeah, and that powerful conversation on on everything and surviving loss and everything. So what has healing looked like for you since? Um, getting past everything that you've been going through this year? Just this?
Speaker 3:alone. I don't know what it looks like it. It it has many masks. You know, one day it feels like triumph because I, you know, as I don't know what it looks like it. It it has many masks. You know, one day it feels like triumph because I, you know, as I don't know, if you know, my sister was unfortunately, uh, brutally murdered, um, and it just passed. August 2nd was a year, um, and on facebook I didn't do this elaborate, I just put long live, long to 365. It was the one full turn. Elena, 360, 360, and I left it at that because her life was worth celebrating, right? But so many notes in Mariah was so true to my sister's life and I didn't realize I was writing part of her story. The book came out and was written way before she passed away, so that's one of the things I asked you.
Speaker 2:It's many masses. I was like did she write this? You know?
Speaker 3:I was like I can just imagine, you know, wow it's crazy, and my sister was the one that helped edit the book, so go figure right. So she read the. It's really crazy how life imitated art. So it was a lot of emotional, which is why I was saying, like, also about that baby. You know you have to say those scriptures to arm yourself because you know it gets. It gets very real when you're writing emotion. You attach to the character, especially if they die or are injured, or you know you're attached to that person like their living, breathing thing. And then I'm also, you know, a screenwriter too.
Speaker 3:So in the process of bringing these characters to life, especially Mariah, that's going to be a heavy undertaking for me because, like I said, a lot of that is my sister's story that I did not know that I was writing, you know. But it comes with many masks. Some days there are smiles, some days there are tears, some days, you know, there's despair. You know we like to wrap everything up in beauty. You know sometimes there is, there are ashes, but then also God also gives us beauty for ashes, which is a poetry book that I have coming out later this year.
Speaker 3:So things in my life the lane of 360 is literally infinity circled around my life, my writing, how I'm moving, but I stay anchored in God, remembering he is always with me. And I again that scripture I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever Amen. And that Selah, that's it, that's the end of the story. When my journey is over, all of the writing, all of the singing, the acting, whatever, and then I, the vessel, shall dwell in the house of love, forever Amen. So I paint my hopes on that eternity and that's how I get through the day-to-day and the blows of you know life Okay.
Speaker 2:So we're going to take a quick break, we're going to hear a word from our sponsor and then we will be right back with Elena Movesh.
Speaker 4:Sis, have you ever survived something that was supposed to take you out? Have you walked through something so heavy, so painful, that you didn't even recognize yourself after, but somehow you made it through? Through the Rain is for women who've been through the storms, all women who face unique challenges and triumphs. This is about what we went through and how God pulled us through. This ain't just another book. This is real talk, real healing and real ministry For all women who've been through it and still got the strength to speak. Your tears, your triumphs, your testimony they all matter. You don't have to be a writer, sis. I got you From ghostwriting to one-on-one consults. I'll help you get your story out the way it's meant to be told with grace and power. Your story has power. Let it do the ministry. Come join us through the rain. We're waiting on you, sis. Spots are limited. Payment plans are available. Dm me today and let's walk this journey together.
Speaker 2:It's time to turn your pain into purpose, your struggle into strength. Yes, so that is the commercial for Through the Rain, the devotional, and I am searching for some authors or some writers or somebody who just has a testimony. So if you want to tell your story, hit the inbox. I think it's on this side of your screen. Ok, hit the inbox over here and contact me today to find out how you can be featured in the Through the Rain devotional. So back to Miss Elena Maria, speaking of where we kind of left off, what do you want survivors that are tuning in right now to know before they go to sleep tonight?
Speaker 3:Well, there's more. That's what I want you to know. There's more if the fact that you survive that simply mean that there's more, that mean it's not the end. So, since it's not the end, continue to push. You know, keep going, dig deep, pray or let me, whoever you connect to I'm a christian, everybody's not a christian find that higher power. You know, because everybody does it. You know it's a 360 world. We have to be considerate of all.
Speaker 3:So find that place. You know where you I call it being in love with the altar. Find the altar. Find that place, whether it be the shower, the car, I don't know the park, wherever it is, and find a place to allow yourself to cry, allow yourself yourself to feel, allow yourself to think, allow yourself to speak, allow yourself to say, allow yourself to feel valid, to validate yourself. People are not going to always support and validate you. Get comfortable giving yourself validation while you walk through and navigate the ebbs and flows of life, feelings, emotions because they are complex. We are complex human beings and also you're doing fine. I am proud of you. I am proud of you.
Speaker 2:I'm proud of you too. I love that. I love that Now I'm doing a Arthur Bootcamp right now. You know about it, the 21st day, arthur Bootcamp, and I'm pretty sure that those ladies are going to be listening in. So I want to kind of get your perspective on this, on nuts and bolts, when you wrote, can you, can you hold up our fat baby right now for me? Ok, turn it to the left so they can. Yeah, you see that book, you see, I think it is OK. How long did fat baby take from first page to publish? And what did the KDP self-publishing teach you? Yes, yes, oh Lord. You know some people be thinking it's easy, breezy, I got to be somebody on here that is a vet baby. Please, please, please.
Speaker 3:It takes a little while so for writing it. It was a couple of months for me. Of course you want your story to be complete, you know. So that's a given right. But once you upload the KDP they may reject it. The settings are off, the margins are off. If you do your own book cover oh no, it's too big, you upload it. You view it. Somebody's book cover oh no, it's too big. You upload it. You view it. Somebody's face cut off. You got to send it back through. Oh, it can get tricky. It can get tricky.
Speaker 3:And then you got to deal with the pricing and determining. Do you want to do expanded distribution, which gives you less income, versus just Amazon, say, here in the States? We're in the States, so if you just want, you know the Amazon distribution, so that plays with the financial margin of what you receive. So you have those questions to determine which route do I go? How do I price the book? When is the best day to release the book? What are other books in this market doing? What do I label the book when I am in there trying to determine is it an urban fiction? How do I put the best label to get the best results if you're aiming for bestseller Now, if you just want to label the book, you know you can do that. But there are other nuances that go into picking the correct category for the maximum exposure to get that in that top 20, that top five, whatever your goals are.
Speaker 3:Then there's the marketing piece. Do you want to use Amazon marketing? Do you use Facebook marketing? So it gets. It can be. A lot of.
Speaker 3:This is not to discourage, but a lot of time people think oh, I'm an author. There's more to the story. You got to put in the work, absolutely. So it's up to you to brand yourself, to the way you want to brand yourself and what type of product. So you got to put in the work and it is doable because I have multiple books.
Speaker 3:Dr Cox has multiple books, so you're not talking to novices who are just doing something. We're not new to this, we're true to this. You know putting out quality work, so it's going to cost you something. You know, which is one of the things I speak on as a motivational speaker. You know it's going to cost you something, but if there's anybody worth investing in, it's you, because nobody can do you like you. So just take the time, dr Cox. I know she offers all kind of classes, resources. She does one-on-one consultation. It's going to cost you something but you got to seed into yourself and you'll make sure that you're seeding into good ground. So once you put a little water on it, your money paid to Dr Coffey will start seeing the plants to grow. So you know.
Speaker 2:Amen, yeah, now, thank you for that. Okay, because I want them to hear from a well-known, esteemed author who get in there an indie author who get in there? And kind of get that meat and potatoes. You know the process. Oh yeah. She said oh yeah. What's next? Any projects we can pray over and anticipate from you?
Speaker 3:Oh well, absolutely. As far as an author, I have again my poetry book coming out the December. I'm really excited about that and it's actually labeled Beauty's Wear Ashes poetry for the whole meet and it is a nod to the Black women. Now, any woman can be empowered and, you know, love this book and find themselves in it. But it is a nod to the Black woman and her beauty and her prowess and her strength and her majesty. So just want to show a little love to people like me, you know, but I love all people, but again, all women of any hue, color, shape. You can find yourself in the pages of Beauty for Ashes, because women, we already know what time it is just to be a woman, from the day we were born, the organs we were assigned, the things that once you hit puberty, the things that come with it. We are just built different from real. So this is just to empower the beautiful women of the world.
Speaker 3:As far as a singer-songwriter, I am in the lab working on my EP. I'm really excited about that. That will be also called 360. So I'm really, really excited. I'm really particular about continuity across my brand. So if you see it, you know who it is, it's me. And then, acting, I am everywhere. As you see, I have so many projects lined up, so within the next year or two, you'll see me on your TV screen a lot more than you would think. I'm really excited about what's happening in my life and I'm so grateful to God for all the wonderful opportunities that are coming my way.
Speaker 2:I make sure I tell people all the time. I think I've said in the last three shows I quote you on this when you say you will not let the grave get any of your potential.
Speaker 3:I always say my girl.
Speaker 2:Elena say my girl, because I ain't going to steal your stuff. I ain't no destiny robber, okay, so I ain't going to steal your stuff, but I always make sure I say that because I love how you live in that. You make sure that before you leave here, you don't have a drop of oil left. And I love that about you. I love that love that.
Speaker 3:So much about you. That's why he gave us the vessel. He poured it in for support out, it's not for the shelf to look pretty. You know what I mean. When the pastor has oil at the church, they take it and put it on the hand and anoint the members and pray for them.
Speaker 3:Our job is to pour it out pour it out, pour it, out, pour it out, pour it out, and I want to leave a legacy for my children. What good is it to have all these gifts? And I died and my mama could have known my mom did.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I tell people all the time.
Speaker 2:You know, I tell people that all the time, elena, I'm 36 years old and a lot of people that are in my circle or even like on my timeline are older than me, and so I get all of these things on my timeline all the time Like, oh, y'all so caught up in accolades, accolades, accolades, accomplishments, accomplishments. And I'm like, well, yeah, I'm 36 years old, I have kids that are looking up to me. So, yes, I'm doing the work, but, yes, I'm also achieving my goals and I am going to grab my accolades and I am going to grab my titles and I am going to grab my achievements. That don't mean that they make me, but just because you see me living in my now, you had your turn, you had your opportunity, let me be great. I'm not going to say, and they used to discourage me and make me not want to reach for things, and I think that's really what the devil, you know, the spirit is. That spirit is disguised up in that Like, let me throw that on the timeline and try to throw her off or make her.
Speaker 2:Because when I used to see people say, oh, accolades don't matter, or you think you got this title, and I'm just like, maybe I shouldn't, but I'm like, no, maybe I should, maybe I should, because when my kids get older, they're gonna say, oh, my mama got her honorary doctor. Oh, my mom at 35 got the lifetime achievement Achievement Award from the president, or you know, and these types of, oh, this bestseller and that bestseller, when my mom did it, she got people that never, it's going to always be on Beyonce internet, that you have people on here that say, oh, when Jacqueline Cox does it, she does it and she does it with grace, she does it with excellence. That is going to carry over because of the seeds that we sow in the ground. So, as you can remember, I used to be like, no, I don't think I'm going to do no podcast. No, I don't think I'm going to do this because of people.
Speaker 2:But now you see me and because of what you said, it lit a fire in me. That's why I say you, you have purpose, everybody has purpose. Because when you said that, like I'm not gonna get a great my potential, I got so much stuff I can do. I'm not worried about what nobody said, and that made me like you know what. She is absolutely right, because listening to people who are behind their keyboards and don't really have, you know, ambition or anything like that. That's no longer going to stop me, because I'm worried about what they think about me and what I'm doing.
Speaker 3:So I just want to do that. They make up kind of places for people to live. Right, you have barns, you have trailers, you have tiny homes, you have mansions. Move into your house and decorate it how you want. Decorate your own house. That's how I live. I don't desire to be in a tiny home. I'm living in a whole mansion and I'm going to decorate every room the way I want to, because when the journey is over, my journey is over. So I build my house and I decorate my house, and then I'm very selective of who I allow in my house. And there it is. So once you think about it in those terms my house, my furniture you ain't got to live here, right, my house, my furniture, my bill, my hands, my handiwork and that's how I do it You'll be surprised. Well, dang, you're saying too yes, I am, and I would love you to purchase an album, but it's not to share on Facebook. Listen, I'm going to tell you right now. I'm too old to be worried about what people are thinking about. Elena.
Speaker 2:I can't, you can't be around people jealous of you.
Speaker 3:You got to love them like this yes. You can't. The grave has so much potential in it. That's one of the places with the most talent the grave.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they never used it because they were too afraid of what other people made. Worried about people.
Speaker 3:I refuse. If you look at my page one day, I'm posting my books, I'm posting my shops, I'm posting that I'm going to act somewhere. I'm about to start screenwriting. So if you're following my journey, you're going to always see me doing things and I'm going to keep doing things. And if those things aggravate your spirits or demons or what have you, or your lack of ambition, that's unfortunate. But I pray that god provides me with people who want to support me. They'll come. They'll come. Yeah, just stay comfortable. That's the main thing. You can be as great as you want to be, but I promise you humility of closed doors, uh, before you even get a chance to open them, because you could be gifted, as ever. But your humility can really slam some doors and lock them.
Speaker 2:I was saying people, your title doesn't give you entitlement, because I had somebody and I'm just going to go ahead, I'm going to speak on it because you know me, I'm going to speak on it. Somebody inboxed me the other day and was like hey, can you? You know, I would really like if you would join this anthology. And I didn't know the person. But they said the guy had led them to me and I said, well, you know, right now I'm doing like five anthologies at one time. And then I I'm managing social media, managing like three visionaries who are working on theirs right now. So I'm doing their book trailers, their like I just I didn't get along with this podcast, I just didn't have the time. So I'm saying, well, right now, you know, I'm kind of swamp doing, you know, spearheading, a lot of my own and I got all this other stuff. I said, but, um, make sure you keep me in mind for your next one.
Speaker 2:They went completely off on me, told me, oh, oh, well, mine's a national, international and all of this and that, well, it just goes to say like they were very rude about it. It was a pastor, you know, and I was just like OK, pastor, you be blessed. And I and I knew right then and there, elena, you know me, you are a friend of mine, so you see the growth. You see the growth because I just want, like are you kidding me? And but right there to me it was like okay, I passed the test, because I honestly believe that it was a test, because it was like I'm not saying no, what I'm saying is not right now, and if that's not okay for you, it ain't nothing I can do about that. It ain't nothing I can do about that?
Speaker 3:People like to talk about that, but sometimes it's uncomfortable.
Speaker 2:Making other people uncomfortable even though you're uncomfortable, it gets weird because you want to say yes, yes, you don't want to hurt people's feelings and it makes you feel uncomfortable, but they can be okay, they will be, they'll be okay yeah, you know me, I'm so used to just saying yes and then over overbearing myself and I just this year start putting up boundaries and borders and like, okay, I'm not doing nothing after five on this day, I'm not working after eight o'clock ever. You get what I'm saying like I have to set boundaries if there's anything over 30 minutes. You got to book a console with me because I'm just swamped. And the moment I say no, I got backlash. And I was also afraid because the title said minister, she's a pastor. And I was like I don't want to be disrespectful, I'm trying to be as as, as, as.
Speaker 2:Sometimes we just have to think before we speak, pray before we speak. And I was like every you know, I saw something else really quick. I was like every you know. I saw something else really quick. I saw something else on Facebook on my timeline, that said something about how crows are the only thing that's in, like the air or the atmosphere that's brave enough to attack an eagle, but the eagle does not fight back. Because what does an eagle look like? Kind of flap, flap, flap, flap, flap, and fight a crow? No, he just goes higher and higher and higher until that crow falls out and I say I'm going to be that eagle from now on. I'm just going to be the eagle. I'm not even going to, because I know that a lot of times that those are my tests and I clog my blessings that way, you know. So I have to be very careful in these days because it's always spiritual warfare everywhere and you have to really be careful at how you handle certain situations.
Speaker 2:And I'm learning that now. Like I'm so glad I'm learning that early, because a lot of people don't don't learn it when I do. I mean, like right now, at 36, a lot of people don't get it till later in life. But I'm glad that God has given me these lessons and surrounded me with people like you, like with Dr Belmont, like with Laquita Parks and Carolyn Coleman, audrey Ann and Melanie Johnson and just like, just like my little tribe and Leanne Hendrick and Tanya Vincent, you know, and LaShawn and anybody I did name. Y'all know who y'all is. Honey, it's me, but you know they surround me and you guys really pour into me and give me the wisdom that I don't have, and then, on the other end, I'm giving y'all my marketing and just whatever I know and it just it all comes together full circle. So especially you, my Maria, you know I it, just it all comes together full circle. So especially you, my Maria, you know I love you, my girl.
Speaker 2:But yes, yes, go high end. You know exactly what I was going to say Go high end, high end, high end. So, going back into just the last little portion of our interview, I want you to, I want to do a round robin, which you kind of saw it, so I want you to finish the sentence Writing is my outlet. A line from fat baby that still convict you is.
Speaker 3:Oh God, life didn't love me and I didn't love it back.
Speaker 2:One boundary that you keep to protect your peace while you're creating. Do not disturb.
Speaker 3:On my cell phone. Say it one more time D and D on my cell phone.
Speaker 2:Amen, I heard you, but I want the end, okay. So, family, what I want you to do, hold your book up. What I want you to do is grab fat baby on amazon tonight and leave a review, because it matters okay, and flip through our list of linda um july magazine. Um, so, uh, the feature to learn more about elena's journey. And I have to correct myself. I will not do myself justice and and they will read me down in the comments chat Elena Maria is the fifth author because Lakeisha Williams was the fourth.
Speaker 2:So I have to make sure that I correct that, because I said fourth last week, I said fourth this past week. Okay, charge it to my head and not my heart. Elena is number five and Angela will be on at noon. She is number six. Okay, so, elena, number five, awesome authors of 2025 for the best selling, the international bestselling magazine. Let me beat the horn on them. Greg, listen to the magazine, okay, elena. Beep, listen Linda Magazine Okay, elena. Thank you, thank you so much for trusting me again. You're not just a guest, you are my family love and, on behalf of Listen Linda, book Club Live. We honor your courage and your craft. Doors here, you already know they stay open for you, girl. Love you like God. Love the church. Baby, love you too. On that note, I want you to pray us out.
Speaker 3:Okay, alright. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the beauty of being alive, for the breath that you've given us today. We ask you, god, to let us not take any breaths anymore in our life for granted, but we will use every breath to become and to do everything you instilled in us to do, to bind the spirit of fear of the listener, who feel they're not enough, they're not big enough, they're not smart enough, they're not bold enough, they're not talented enough. And I say now you are more than enough. Through Christ Jesus, we ask you, lord, to cover each and every listener right now, god. Whatever's broken, whatever's hurting, provide a balm. Right now, god, in the name of Jesus, cover us and let this be an amazing day, and we thank you in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Now, I already have your website here, but tell people how they can get in contact with you and how they can reach you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's elanamariacom, spelled A-L-L-A-I-N-A-M-A-R-I-Acom my mom got a little fancy with the spelling. But also on social media, across all of them, it's Elanamaria. You'll find me everywhere. And, as a shameless plug, happy, happy, happy birthday to my big girl, holland Miles. She's 13 today. Mommy loves you, big girl. Happy 13th birthday.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I stole your mama for an hour, okay, holly, but I love you. Happy birthday, holly, and God bless it. And run your mama pocket. She been saving up for two years for this day.
Speaker 3:You see my face? That's how my bank account looking at me, ma'am, ma'am ma'am, she gonna bag you wherever you want.
Speaker 2:All you gotta do is ask her. She gonna take you wherever you want. You wanna go to Paris? You wanna go to Greece? Okay, those big countries, okay, I'm putting it in the atmosphere for you cause I love you, tt. Jackie, love you girl. She love the kids ton well, I'm her 16th.
Speaker 3:We're taking Holland to Holland for the 16th birthday, so yes, see, she already got it.
Speaker 2:You just gotta put it in the uniform. All right, and I got that from Leanne. When she say sprinkle, sprinkle, so sprinkle, sprinkle, I like that girl, but I love you, elena. Um, happy birthday to your baby. Once again, get ice cream, wasted honey, and I will talk with you soon. Thank you Y'all. At noon we'll be having Angela Anderson and her book the Power of I Am, so I will be right back.
Speaker 1:I'm out Smile.
