When I made my first callout for Open Book submissions a few years ago, I did so as an experiment. Little did I know that I would meet the most incredible people on the internet. Open Book has allowed us to delve into the lives of creatives and businesses people all over the world, from The States to Africa to right here in the UK. It has been a blast! For me, this just proves that stepping out in faith, and into the other side of fear is where success lies. We have had the best advice, the best success stories, the most moving tragedies all here on Open Book?
Have you been following the series? Comment below this post on what has resonated with you the most.
Meet @thelifeof_char, the first feature of our #OpenBook series, where I speak to my #over30 blogging friends. We have a candid conversation about blogging and life. Read here: https://t.co/PEWW6K9J9W
.@PLBChat @thebloggercrowd @blogersparadise #BloggersTribe #MondayBlogs pic.twitter.com/nwrPlSiGnM— Madeline | The Book Blogger 🇬🇭 (@madelinewblogs) March 19, 2019
“Stepping out in faith, and into the other side of fear is where success lies.”
Today’s Open Book is the last of this series, and we are sitting down with first-time author Tangela Williams-Spann who discusses her debut book, Sad Fat and Black and gives us the most amazing advice on writing, self-love and sadness. For the last time in this series, I am asking you to keep reading – you won’t regret it!
Open Book with Tangela Williams
Thanks for opening up to us Tangela. Can you introduce yourself?
I’m Tangela Williams-Spann, a Black American woman living in the Midwest.
Tell me about your book, Sad Fat and Black.
Sad Black and Fat is a collection of poems and essays that chronicle my ups and downs as I move through life. This book is focused on mental health, weight loss and wellness, and living while Black in America.
Is this your first published book?
First, and hopefully not the last.
Why did you feel the need to write a book like Sad Fat and Black?
Primarily, I wanted to show people that mental illness is a common thing and that people have nothing to be ashamed of for being sad. Especially, in the Black community where there is a severe stigma surrounding mental illness, which doesn’t serve anyone positively. I wanted my book to be relatable to folks that might be struggling to give words to their pain and hopefully give them the courage to start moving forward.
I also wanted to talk about the beginning days after gastric sleeve surgery. Weight loss surgery is more common now and I wanted to show people how things can really be in the beginning stages of recovering and adjusting to your new way of living.
“I wanted my book to be relatable to folks that might be struggling to give words to their pain and hopefully give them the courage to start moving forward.”
What do you feel is most rewarding and most challenging about writing?
The reward of writing comes in for me when someone tells me that my work helped them in some way. Whether it made them smile, think, or cry, I’m inspired to keep writing. The challenging part is keeping that motivation going because there are times when I just don’t have the words or the energy to write something. It’s hard to push through that block at times.
Advice for other writers and aspiring authors?
Just start writing. It doesn’t have to be a lot; something is better than nothing. I would also suggest reading more. Find an author you like and examine how they do it. Study up on the craft as much as you can. The best writers are the best readers!
“Just start writing. It doesn’t have to be a lot.”
What do you do outside of writing?
I am a teaching assistant that is completing her masters’ program in special education. I’ll be finished in December, which is very exciting!
What keeps you motivated?
I am always striving for excellence because I want to keep moving forward to the next goal. That achievement keeps my going when things get rough.
What scares you the most?
Roller coasters freak me out, wooden coasters. They creak and whine so much, it sounds like they could collapse at any second. Terrifying. Apart from that, I’m afraid of letting people down. I don’t want to be seen as unreliable or undependable. That doesn’t sit well with me.
“I am always striving for excellence. I have to keep moving forward to the next goal.”
Can you share your thoughts on self-love?
Self-love is a skill lots of us are working on, myself included. We have to remember to give ourselves grace and permission to take care of ourselves in the way we really need to. Working yourself to the bone isn’t helping anyone. Loving yourself enough to allow yourself to rest is monumental! I plan on getting there soon.
“Self-love is a skill lots of us are working on”
What other passions do you have?
I’m passionate about advocating for the mental health and wellness of Black people. I’m also learning that I have a heart for disability advocacy. This needs to be made much more accessible to so many and it is an injustice that the powers that be are doing little to nothing to improve the lives of so many people.
What is next for you as a published author?
I plan on continuing with my blog for as long as possible. I love writing it and it is a good outlet for some of my frustrations. I also plan on continuing to write flash and micro-fiction and having them in literary magazines.
What was the last book you read?
“You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacy?” It’s a book written by Amber Ruffin and her sister, Lacey Lamar. It’s a collection of stories that detail some of the racism that Lacey has faced living and working in Omaha, Nebraska. It’s hilarious and highly relatable if you are a Black woman in America. I would recommend it to everyone.
Where can we catch up with you online?
You can find me @twillspann across all socials but I spend most of my time on Twitter and Facebook! You can find my blog and other writing on my website, www.twillspannwrites.com
Where can we purchase Sad Fat and Black?
My book is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback. Check out Amazon and Barnes and Noble for your copy. Don’t forget to leave a review!
Thank you very much, Tangela!
If any part of Tangela’s interview resonated with you, comment below!
