People ask, “What inspires you?” or “How did you start writing?” The truth is I have been writing since I was a young girl and now that I am grown I can look back and say, “Writing has always been in my blood.”

I have an Auntie I didn’t know about until I told my family that I was writing my first poetry book called, Seasons of Sobriety. My grandmother immediately stood up, saying some words under her breath, and rushed to the basement to rummage through dusty storage.

No one knew what she was up to but when she came back, she handed me a book (the book I am holding in this photo) and told me a story about my Great Great Aunt Izzie. My Auntie went by the pen name of Beth Brennan because in 1955 writing was a man’s job, not a woman’s. Her community disapproved of her writing a poetry book but, she didn’t care what other people thought. She was a rebel and published her book anyway. She wrote about her journey being a pilgrimage, riding on wagons, and gazing into the starry night.

Her defiance was in her words as my defiance is in my words. I relate to her by defying what my society expects of me. I am a free thinker, a wild wonderer, and truth seeker. I don’t limit myself to my own thoughts, I love to explore others opinions and perspectives which helps shape my own mind to be well-rounded.

My purpose is to continue the legacy of writing without hesitation or fear. For I feel the most alive when I get to put my words on paper and my hope is for you to feel the same.