Hello everyone! Welcome to another Author Spotlight! These spotlights are for showcasing author’s (predominantly women and people of color) writing talents and published works. So without further ado let’s get on with the Author Spotlight!
About the Author:
Seleta Harvey who also goes by the name 4everguardedartist is a personal development life coach, lifestyle blogger, abstract artist and Creative Director of Pure Vision Art Company LLC as well as one of five co-hosts of the up and coming podcast Black Women Heal Show and the Communications Director of The Author’s Network. . She is the author of the book Life, Love, God And All The Other Bullshyt and a poet with her work appearing in collections with other poets. When she’s not busy writing, or creating art she enjoys sports, Tai Chi, Archery and nature.
What and when started your love for writing?
I believe my love writing started when my mother was teaching me to write in cursive in Kindergarten and from there it grew. Having a very active imagination as a child it really gave me a chance to honestly express myself and paint worlds with just a pen/pencil and some paper. Soon after that I started writing short stories and poetry. In school I never really fit in so writing allowed me to create my own in a place where I wasn’t 100% relating to others.
Of all of the book genres, what drew you to write about yours?
I am extremely quick witted by nature and as my mother said I have a sharp tongue because I think fast. It is always one- liners and/or quotes that you come across that really gets you to think, laugh and cry. I believe it is a powerful thing to be able to invoke a range of feelings with just simple quotes and being how some quotes are short they are easily remembered.
Why should someone else be interested in reading the genre that you write in?
Simple why not? Like they say if you have tried everything else and nothing works try God. I am simply saying if you have tried and read everything else on the planet what do you lose by reading the genre that I write in? You do not lose not one single thing and yet you gain so much more than you bargained for. It’s about being open-minded and exploring new genres that will give you insight and invoke ideas to bring to fruition.
If you could meet your favorite author who would it be and why??
If I could meet my favorite author it would be Ralph Waldo Emerson but it was a toss up between him and Henry David Thoreau. They are in my eyes one in the same because they both thrived during the Transcendentalism Period and they focused on the values of individualism, nonconformity, free thought, confidence, self- reliance, idealism and how richly divine nature is. They held true to what it means to be your own person with your own thoughts and being able to express oneself and personal knowledge of God. Why because I would simply want to know what geared them both to be what they are and helped them to inspire their written works of art.
What makes your book(s)/writing special?
What makes my books and writing special is the fact it came from a place of pain and through that process I was able to heal myself. Sometimes it takes a great deal of pain voluntarily and involuntarily to awaken what lies dormant in each of us. It’s like unlocking a part of our existence that we never thought it was possible to experience. We essentially have two choices: allow it to transform us from the ok to the great or allow it to keep us stifled and complancent.
Anything that is brought to the surface within us deserves a right to be explored and see how it can change us for the good. Even though my books were birthed from pain I have come to learn that so many individuals can relate and have the confidence to address what they are going through. It takes courage to see the parts of yourself that you struggle with or feel what area you are lacking and want to do something about it. The specialty of my books/writings tells that I have a certain level of awareness from life, love, God, and yes all the other bullshyt that comes my way or what even may come your way. My book/writings are meant to inspire and let others know that they are not alone. And to also act as a reminder for them to embrace the sweet moments in life and allow them to fill your day with happiness no matter what comes along. My book/writings are the little “blips in life” that you come across because you didn’t realize how much you needed until you bought it and read it.
So…what are you working on now?
I am currently working on Part 2 for my first book and working on my first erotica poetry book titled ” The Exception: Poems Of E_____a written by Irene. As well as being one of five co-hosts for Black Women Heal Show and preparing for my upcoming art show in November.
Seleta’s story was so inspring to learn about, and I am happy to have her here on the blog! If you want to get in contact or connect with her you can follow her on:
Thank you all for reading and remember:
