In My Own Words

I fell in love with writing in Mrs. Jones’ creative writing class at Laney College (Oakland, CA) in 1993. Mrs. Jones was a sassy, sharp-tongued, witty powerhouse from the Caribbean. She didn’t bullshit anyone and, if you were smart, you didn’t bullshit her, especially in your writing. I did my best not to do that and avoid all the pitfalls of writing as she laid them out to us.

 

When Mrs. Jones handed back my third short story submission, she’d written a note beneath her critique, “Glodean, you are a natural storyteller. That is a special gift that you would be best served not to waste.”

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I went home that night and danced around the living room because Mrs. Jones complimented me, and she never gave compliments. Halfway through the semester, just as I was finding my voice groove, I showed up to class one evening to find a substitute standing where Mrs. Jones should have been. He waited until we were all seated, then announced Mrs. Jones passed away over the weekend. We were all devastated, especially me, because by then, she'd become my mentor.

 

The teacher who followed was the worst, and I gave up all hope and stopped writing until 2004 when I started at Mills College. During my time at Mills, I found my voice again and the inspiration for Zayla’s story (Salmon Croquettes).

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I've been writing ever since.

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My commitment to myself in 2023 is toCome back monthly and you'll be able to read my recent writings. I'm currently working on the sequel to my debut novel: Salmon Croquettes. I'm also working on a memoir, "Tough Love: Sh*t My Momma Used to Say (a leadership book of sorts for parents and leaders).

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You can also follow me on Medium.com