Visionary Queen Angela sit down and have conversation with our AUTHOR OF THE WEEK July 27 through August 2nd ROLANDA PYLE

Visionary Queen Angela sit down and have conversation with our AUTHOR OF THE WEEK July 27 through August 2nd ROLANDA PYLEOur Visionary sat down and chatted with Rolanda and it went like this…Queen Angela asked…Can you share a little about your journey—what inspired you to become both a social worker and an author?As a young girl, all I knew is that I wanted to help people. I was quiet and introverted as a child, but loved writing. I always preferred writing to talking. My 8th grade teacher told me that I had a creative writing ability and that stuck with me. So I kept journals and then began to write poetry and short stories. I also became a social worker and worked in several aspects in the field.Queen Angela asked…How does your background in social work influence the themes and messages in your writing, especially your children’s books?I have written poems and articles about a lot of what I have seen in my career. My children's book is about a child who has to go live with her grandmother. One of the aspects of the field I worked is grandparents raising grandchildren. I also have a poem dedicated to those grandparents and have written poems about growing older, family issues, tribute to Veterans, etc.Queen Angela asked…What is the most rewarding part of writing poetry for you, and how do you hope your poems impact your readers?For me the most rewarding part of writing poetry is that I get to express the way I feel. I really feel that I have a lot to say and wouldn't get to say it in any other way. The other thing about writing for me is that it is like leaving a legacy. My poems will outlive me and hopefully touch and impact readers for generations to come. I believe and I have heard that in every poem I write that someone somewhere can identify with it and needs it.Queen Angela asked…Can you tell us about a particular child or family whose story inspired one of your books or poems (without revealing personal details)?That's easy, because that particular child is me and my family. I grew in a home with my siblings and my dad. My mother left when I was toddler, and my paternal grandmother stepped in to help my dad raise us. But I never felt complete and knew that somehow through my own experience that I wanted to help others. It wasn't until I read the required reading in Junior High, the book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou that I felt healed because I found someone else who had lived through a similar situation. That's why I wrote my children's book, I wanted younger children to read it and to identify with it.Queen Angela asked…What are some of the most common challenges you see children and families face today, and how do your books address or shine a light on these issues?Hunger, Homelessness, Being raised by someone other than your parent, sickness, illness and disease, fear, young black men being killed, rejection, hopeless....and the list goes on. My 2 poetry books address these issues and so much more through my poems. My devotional is a compilation, where authors tell their stories, and I'm sure folks can relate. And the children's book is for children who go to live with a relative.Queen Angela asked…As a writer of inspirational, where do you find your hope and motivation, especially on difficult days?I find motivation through my time of devotion with God and from hearing from others about what they went through and how they overcame. I believe, that no matter what I'm going through, if God brought me through it in the past, He will again.Queen Angela asked…What is your favorite poem or children's story you’ve written, and why does it hold a special place in your heart?Well, I told you about my children's book, "Grandma's Hands " already. One of my favorite poems is my poem "FINALLY". I wrote it as I was publishing my first book. For years, folks told me I should publish my poems and after many years, I "finally " did. Another favorite is "Harlem". I was born in Harlem, my parents met and both loved Harlem along with other family members. When my family came up here from South Carolina and from Barbados via Boston, they all ended up in Harlem. So along with the rich culture of Harlem, it holds a special place for me because of that.Queen Angela asked…How do you balance your career in social work with your creative writing pursuits?I'm retired from full time work, and only do consultant work, so I have much more time to focus on my creative writing pursuits.Queen Angela asked… What advice would you give to aspiring writers, especially those who want to tell stories that uplift and inspire?I would advise someone early in their journey to hang in there. First it is always good to get with others, who can advise, instruct and mentor you. So join an author’s group or get with other authors. I would also say to seek and know what direction you want to go in. Do you want to publish a book or write songs or write plays or just tell your story ...