When I heard that a Spelman student recently published a novel, I was so excited. And even more when I found out it was Sheryl Means! I didn't know her very well, but she always made me feel like we were old friends I jumped at the opportunity to interview such an inspiration on my blog and to share her book with my readers! Check out the interview below:
What led to your decision to take the journey of writing and publishing your own book? How was the process?
Since
I was a little girl, I was encouraged to write and I always made it my
business to be good at it. Last October (2012), I started the book and
everything took off from there. I finished the writing by October 25 and
I said to myself, "Now what?" I sent it to a few people I know and
whose opinions I trust and ended up getting amazing feedback. After
that, it was just a matter of finding a publisher because I already had
confidence in what I was planning to do. The process was hindered a bit
by my grandmother's apprehension and anyone that knows me knows that I
regard and value her opinion and insight higher than anyone's but, I
pressed forward because it was something that I wanted for myself and
that's what is most important. When you do the things that make you
happy, you're much better off.
Unfinished Projects speaks on many deep issues such as racism and
mental health. What inspired you to write on these issues in a fiction
book?
What comes
easiest to me is writing about what I see. I write about the things that
get me excited in negative or positive ways. In this particular story, I
wanted to bring interracial relationships and colorism to light because
those are two things that have been prevalent in conversation within my
own family. Colorism, especially, is an issue in the Black community
and I wanted to make that understood through characters like Big Boy,
Jonathan and Jasmine. Mental health is a theme in a lot of my writing
because its something that doesn't get the attention necessary in
communities of color and that comes from years of stigma about the
mental health field as invalid science. Jonathan was perfect for
disproving mental health as irrelevant. My most concise answer would
have to be: I'm inspired by real issues that other people would rather
ignore.
After reading your novel, what do you want readers to take with them?
When people finish
Unfinished Projects, I want them to
have enjoyed the novel and have provocative conversation with other
readers. (I'm hoping to get a jump start on that through the
Facebook page by having something like a virtual book club.) With anything I
write, I want people to leave it thinking something new.
Sheryl Felecia Means
is a May 2012 graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Originally from Newark, New Jersey, Means has high aspirations that she
hopes to bring to reality through educational and social reform. She
currently works as a Communications Analyst for the Hudson County
Chamber of Commerce. She has been accepted to the University of Kentucky
for a PhD program in Educational Policy Studies. Means is also a
published author. Meaningful and visible reform in disenfranchised
communities and battered education systems is the ultimate goal for
Means as she follows in the footsteps of her paternal grandfather, Dr.
Fred E. Means, former dean, educator and civil rights activist. She is
dedicated to making waves in her community and worldwide by any Means
necessary.
Now that you are complete, what are your next steps?Do you plan on publishing again?
I
will definitely be publishing again. I already have something in the
works. I just hope grad school doesn't tie me up too much. :)
Broke2Dope is about changing the ideology that college students have to
be content with being "broke" by showcasing entrepreneurs like
yourself. What are your thoughts on entrepreneurship?
I
love everything about what it means to be an entrepreneur. When I was
in middle school, I started my own jewelry business. Although I've long
since closed shop, I never lost that entrepreneurial spirit because its
so crucial to survival in this economy. The world is definitely changing
and there are so many new markets opening up and opportunities are
presenting themselves. A business starts with an idea. So, when you get a
big one, run with it!
How has life been since graduating from Spelman? What has been your biggest challenge?
Life
after Spelman has been awesome. I love being home and around family. I
think my biggest challenge is more a personal space issue but, that's
what I get for moving back home! Haha. I've definitely made jobs for
myself through social media. It's definitely a burgeoning field for
recent college graduates to get into because its geared almost entirely
to our generation. Other than that, I'm writing all day.
Do you have any advice to students about to graduate?
If
you're on your way to crossing the stage, I say enjoy every minute of
the people you have around you. They're going to be your friends for
life, these are the memories that you're going to carry with you forever
and you don't want to be the one that missed out on anything.
Shanika Simmons
Unfinished Projects speaks on many deep issues such as racism and
mental health. What inspired you to write on these issues in a fiction
book?
