Storytelling is nuanced and complex. Most of us expect it in the context of fiction and imagination, but I've learned through my own career that science, research, and academia also involve true and impactful stories, in order to fulfil the goal of scholarship, learning, and development. Here are some examples of this complexity in my own work. 

While working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, I enjoyed the unique opportunity of combining my gift for story telling with my graduate education in academic and professional writing, using them for qualitative research and analysis at a STEM-focused institute of higher learning. This process involved creating interview scripts for specific research projects, coordinating and completing those interviews with a variety of anonymous subjects, analyzing interview transcripts using NVivo software, and writing summaries of the analysis for use by scientists and program administrators in future publications and presentations. Some of that work can be seen below.

One of the ways I make sure that my skills and gifts as a writer are maintained and enhanced is by participating in the fine arts and humanities as an artist and academian. As a creative, I like to participate in poetry events and theatrical productions. As a scholar, I seek out opportunities to present my work and scholarship at conferences, festivals, and workshops. Here are some examples below. 

When it comes to creative writing and publication, my interests and genres of choice are poetry and black southern gothic literature. I've published a collection of black southern gothic stories in a book titled Rinda, which is available as a large print paperback, trade paperback, and e-book. I've also published a collection of poetry & journaling prompts for individuals who want to explore the healing process through creative writing. This collection is titled Writing for Healing: Journal and Poetry Prompts for Healing & Recovery. I've also released a chapbook of poems on courtship and dating, titled The Courtship and the Hunt: Poems on Desire, Discernment & Devotion.