Life, Love, (or lack thereof) Music, and people, as well as imagination and dreams is what inspires me to write. I had a very difficult life growing up. I'm sure that's a song a lot of people sing these days. But my life has been one tragedy after another. Starting at age 14 I've been a victim of rape, which led to my becoming an unwed mother, and then getting into one violet relationship after another. I've been a battered girlfriend, and a battered wife but I realized that I had two choices in life, to give up or to keep going. I chose the latter and by doing so, my writing was unleashed. I've always enjoyed telling stories. My first book was written when I was in first grade as a class assignment when the teacher gave the class each an empty book cover. We were to write a story to go with the cover. I found that book after my mother passed away. That was when I realized that my imagination had started at a young age. Also, my father used to tell me stories that he would make up and they were fasinating. So, I decided to use the tragedies of my life as a backdrop in writing my stories. Some instances are true, some are not, but I think that's what makes it so interesting, the audience can't tell which is which. My second book, Shades in Love II-The Secret Within Her is also available. It is a spin off of my first book entitled, Shades in Love-Incriminating Evidence. My first book was written basically for myself until a friend read the manuscript and prompted me to get it published. So I did. I couldn't believe the support and reviews that I have received from the many readers, which in itself has inspired me to continue writing. I love to entertain people by giving them a release from a stressful day. I think that life should not measured by the number of breaths we take – but by those moments that take our breath away. I'd like to be remembered as someone who can invoke unforgetable and passionate feelings in people. And if I can do that with my writing, then I have accomplished what I set out to do. Maya Angelo said, "In life, people may forget what you said, and people may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel."  Words to live by.      

I've received an outstanding literary accomplishment of Merit award for a poetry piece entitled “My Friend” from the Creative Arts & Science Enterprises.

I have also received awards from the IMTA (International Modeling & Talent Association)for TV Beauty, Real People, and Runway Modeling just to name a few.

So far I have had the opportunity to be asked to appear on a local talk show in Bronx, NY to discuss my book, in which the talk show also filmed my first booksigning at Barnes and Nobles and aired part of that on the show. The interview can be read on my website at www.shades.webalias.com.