The IMWA is excited to announce KishaLynn Moore Elliott, author of the “Black Woman Grown: A CHILDish Continuation,” as our August 2023 Member of the Month! Please take a minute to read KishaLynn’s interview with IMWA Board Member Janet Hafner.
1. How did you first discover the IMWA?
Jeniffer Thompson of Monkey C Media interviewed me for The Premise Podcast, and she told me about this group. I signed up right away.
2. Have you always been a writer?
No. I was a reader first, starting at age three. Words always came naturally to me, and I learned to read early as a result of my mom’s commitment to reading books to me at night. I began writing at age five and wrote my first novel at twelve. I didn’t publish my first book until I was thirty-two, but I always knew I would be an author one day.
3. What impact do you think writing classes have on your writing?
I minored in writing in college, and for the most part, my “personal narrative” focus was unappreciated by my professors, who deemed it “not creative enough.” I was often advised to stray away from my life as inspiration and instead look to nature and esoteric topics. I categorically rejected that advice and persisted with telling and retelling my own stories in my writing.
During the pandemic, I took an online playwriting workshop, and it opened up a whole new world of ways to tell my stories in a more fictional way—developing characters and dialogue. I take more risks in my writing now—not everything reads like a page from my journal. But even my fiction is heavily inspired by my reality—the best stories are.
4. We’d love to hear about what you are presently writing.
I’ve just published Black Woman Grown: A CHILDish Continuation, the second book in a series that presents a collection of stories for my life that follow the theme of a child who grew up too soon.
5. Who are your favorite authors? Favorite memoirs?
Judy Blume is my favorite author. She opened doors for me and gave me permission to write about adult themes from a young age. Her characters were my best friends growing up. For memoirs, I love to read the autobiographies of comedians such as Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres; Michelle Obama’s book, “Becoming” changed my life. But my favorite memoir of all time is the “The Diary of Anne Frank.” It was probably the first I read, and her effort to live like a normal teen in abnormal situations resonated with me as a child.
6. Any advice for new writers?
Write as if no one will ever read it. Edit as if everyone will read it. Publish as if everyone should read it. Also, remember that writing is not editing. Write first. Edit later.
7. KishaLynn, please tell us about your book and your launch and what you’ve learned about the process.
I launched my book via social media and have largely ridden the wave of word of mouth to achieve sales. I vend at local events to sell signed books—I recently did so at San Diego Black Pride and San Diego Pride. I prefer to meet my readers face to face.
8. Please let us know how we can reach you. Website? Social channels?
I am on Instagram @coachkishalynn and on Facebook and LinkedIn under KishaLynn Moore Elliott.
Visit www.BLAAC.life to contact me. My books are available on Amazon or at www.childishthebook.com and www.blackwomangrown.com.
