SOWBO Magazine 4TH edition

Somebody had to
be her e to tell the
stor y.
Valencia Griffin-Wallace
I have been writing since a
young age. My mother kept a
poem I wrote when I was 8
years old and I probably have
been writing ever since. It is one
of my first loves along with
drawing. Writing is an
expression of a story rather it
be yours or not, it is a creative
outlet of emotions put on
paper. I decided to finally
publish because our stories
should not die in us or with us.
My past wasn?t pretty, but it was
the pain that fueled my
purpose. That story has to be
told for my future generations
to know that whoever I become,
I literally fought to become her.
The highest hope for my
favorite book, Motherless Child
is that it become a teaching,
motivational, and life-giving tool
for those who have dealt with
addiction. Drugs have been a
problem long before my birth
and will continue to be if we
don?t deal with the why behind
it. Since it is not being dealt with
properly, kids grow up like me,
dealing with situations due to
the drug use of someone close
to them.
I needed a representation of
childhood innocence, but
loneliness at the same time.
Since, I didn?t?have any pictures
of me looking innocent and
lonely, I needed to find one. The
little girl on the cover seems to
be like any other child just
trying to enjoy typical childhood
things like blowing a ?wish,? but
it makes you ask what is she
wishing for? My answer
combined with the title tells it
all. To be normal.
Being my own boss definitely
helps. I actually wrote the book
years ago, but since I was in a
different place emotionally, it
didn?t ?read? right. So, when I
went back to rewrite it, I had
some memories that I forgot. It
was a little easier. I dedicated
plenty of late nights until it was
finished. When you have a goal
date, it makes it easier to
strategically set aside time for it.
18
When formulating the chapters,
I started with my life timeline
and filled in the memories and
events accordingly. I also
listened to music from that time
period in my life, it helps with
putting you back in that era
emotionally.
The only thing I knew was I
wanted it to have an ?aww?
effect when people saw the
cover. I had the picture toned
down because I didn?t want it to
be bright and shiny. I needed it
to be a book cover that made
you know, this was a story of a
different kind of childhood.
Money was never a factor when
writing it. It of course is a form
of passive income now, but I
never planned on it making me
rich. I think that takes away
from the honesty of writing
your story. Sure, I could have
made it 10 steps to blah, blah,
blah and put in some redundant
catch phrases, but I had to be
true to who I am, was and
growing into.