In July 2019, I saw a clip of a primarily white crowd chanting “send her back” to congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a US President’s rally. It was a tense time in US politics. And as a black woman, also an African immigrant, I remember feeling defeated, hopeless, and even hated, despite being a permanent resident and an accomplished immigrant contributing meaningfully to society.

Later that year (November), I became so overwhelmed with my life that I decided to quit my job and buy a one-way ticket to Cape Town, South Africa. At the time, I don’t think I realized the impact the political climate had on me. I blamed my “stressed state” only on my job. From Cape Town, I went home to Zimbabwe for over a month before spending a few more months traveling around the world, only one-way tickets at a time.

During this break, I wrote most of the stories in this collection. How does a pharmacist end up as an author? To process, I suppose. I’ve always had an interest in writing, and even while in pharmacy school, I took creative writing courses. Before quitting my job, I was a member of the San Francisco Writer’s Workshop, sharing my work weekly and receiving feedback from fellow writers, some accomplished, others budding. At the time, I had no expectation of ever publishing my work; writing was purely a hobby.

I realize that most of the stories written during my break are heartbreaking, harrowing, and hopeless. As I found more balance in my life, my stories and characters became happier and stronger. Some of my defeated characters also began to rebel and rise, picking up the pieces from the scenes where I left them, for example, curled up in a ball on the floor, crying, demanding alternative endings. The result is a beautiful collection of the human experience. In this collection, you will meet black immigrant women in varying circumstances. Some stories will fill you with joy, make you laugh, and cheer in triumph; others might make you hurt and cry.  I’m proud of the work I put into crafting this collection, and I hope it moves you to empathize with those different from you. For immigrants, for women, for people of color, I hope you feel seen in this collection.

I’m back in Northern California, working in a role I enjoy at a pharmacy start-up in Silicon Valley. I’m stronger, healthier, and happier. My passion for amplifying underrepresented voices has only grown, and I’m working with Mukana Press to bring more marginalized voices to your coffee tables and nightstands.

I hope you enjoy my work. If you do, would you consider sharing the title on your social media accounts or asking your local library to carry a copy? And if you have the means, perhaps buy a copy for a friend or family member, too. I wouldn’t mind making money in the process :-).

Contact Information