JRW: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
KA: I read voraciously as a kid and always tried to write my own stories growing up. I feel like I’ve always known that I wanted to be a writer of some kind. In my teen years and beyond, I started writing songs. And with college and grad school, I really started enjoying writing nonfiction and pop culture analysis. It all kind of came together in the book I finally did write in 2019 – Ain’t I A Diva?: Beyoncé and the Power of Pop Culture Pedagogy, which actually also came out of my teaching.
JRW: What subject are you most passionate to write about?
KA: I’m a sucker for pop culture, particularly music. And clearly, having written a whole book about her and her creative work, I’m definitely passionate about Beyoncé. I like to write and think about how the music we listen to can be used to analyze the world around us. I’m also passionate about the field of Black feminism and education and so always want my writing to offer up some greater purpose beyond me. I want it to contribute to giving other people new views and perspectives on the world that they might not have always had; get them to ask questions they might otherwise think of. And to shed light on why it’s so important to read and listen to Black women’s voices in making this world a better place.
JRW: What are the most surprising things you learned while publishing your work?
KA: Promoting your own work is HARD, and it’s going to fall solely on you to do it. You can’t always count on the publisher to spread the word, get you readings, etc. and the more promotion you get, the better your sales will be. People buy books at in-person events in much higher numbers.
JRW: What advice would you offer new writers?
KA: Just follow what you’re passionate about. Take every opportunity offered to you and run with it, even those that don’t pay anything (if you can) because you never know what connection can be made at any point. Reach out to those you admire on social media just to thank them for their work and let you know you admire them and they inspire you. The worst that can happen is they won’t respond, and the best is you make a new connection. Trust yourself, and build a thick skin. It’s a long road.