Look and Listen

Biography

I am a African American female, mother and grandmother born and raised in Clearwater, Florida that loves to travel. I also have a zest for living and learning new things. As a child growing up I had dreams of becoming many things but being a published author wasn't on the list. Circumstances brought me to this place. Thus the reasons for the titles of my published works, "Know Where You Going? You Gotta Know Where You Been!" and "Florida Girl" Short Stories of Family, Community and History." Both titles are memoirs of my childhood.

Inspiration

I 2002 I read an article in the St. Petersburg Times about a pictorial book titled, "BLACK AMERICA SERIES, Clearwater, Florida." On the cover of the book is a picture of African American teachers standing on the front steps of Williams Elementary, the school that I attended as a child. It was then that I realized that I had fond memories of those teachers because we stayed in the same neighborhood,and many of them were my teachers. I thought that the highest compliment to be paid to them and their legacy was to write a book telling my stories. "Know Where You Going? You Gotta Know Where You Been!" is the results. I continue to be inspired because I realize that I am contributing to the legacy of preserving and acknowleging African American history in my community and the State of Florida.