Ingrid: Can you tell me what is it like balancing a family, writing career, full-time job as an OT, Executive Director of Lend Your Hand, Inc and being a woman?

Terry: (laughing) Well, it’s something you don’t think about. You just do it. I don’t take the time to actually think about it. I don’t ponder on it. I am very determined and have tall goals. I am very spiritual and rely on my faith in God. I know I can rely on Him to take me where I want/need to go. That helps me get through my day. When I am tired, I am done. Because I am so driven and goal oriented, I have to see goals accomplished. I feel you need to be accomplishing something daily. Time is not going to wait for you. If it is a couple of things a day, at least do something towards your dreams. 10 years ago when I first started, I accomplished my goal of releasing my first book. However, I must admit I really haven’t taken time to enjoy all that I have accomplished because I keep going. I drive for perfection. I have tall goals and big dreams. My main priority is the youth—helping them to express themselves. A lot of kids need to be listened to and/or heard. Make Some Noise! is one thing I will never let go of. Kids have some really deep things to express. Making a difference in their lives (the lives of young people) is my #1 passion. Don’t ask me how I do all this. All I can say is God makes a way.

Ingrid: What is it like being an author as a woman of color?

Terry: There are two different worlds. I feel stuck in the middle. There is the white world and black world. Even though my writing focuses on the black culture, I am very accepted in the white community with people into poetry, the arts, etc. They say my writing has crossover appeal, and they can relate. The only thing I have had to deal with is my complexion and outer appearance. I have gotten that I am not black enough. Over time you learn to adjust to it. Like my poem “My Sister”, love your sister like you love yourself… We are all the same. My goal is to uplift any/all that I can. It’s a cycle unfortunately as blacks that we have to go through, but it has to be broken. I get a lot of support. I think my biggest supporters are the kids. I draw to them and them to me. I share with writers in my workshops the rejection letters I receive so people can come to new levels of understanding, and move on to inspire others. Some will like you and some won’t, and they have that right. I just move on to uplift others who are open to receive the blessing.

Ingrid: What fuels your passion for doing all that you do?

Terry: For one, the kids. As I stated earlier, my goal is to be able to make a difference in the lives of young people especially. I know what it feels like to not have enough confidence in self. Knowing that you are not alone and that others are going or have gone through what I have is encouraging. Writing allows me to heal myself—even things from my childhood. Writing helps me release and relate to other people and vice versa. It fuels me to give to even my own children what I didn’t have. I have had editors say to me, “Your life seems so crystal clean. We want to know what you’ve been through—your struggles.” I feel you have to open up in your own time, and when you are ready to handle what comes after revealing private parts of your life. Some times you have to experience some things in order to write about it and have the emotion behind it. All my experiences have helped me grow and develop as a better person. They have made me the person I am today. In everything I do, I have to see that I am growing and changing for the better.

Ingrid: What advice can you give to others aspiring to launch writing careers?

Terry: I have been writing since elementary school. When I was 6 years old I met Maya Angelou. She lived for a short period in my home town. It was something that never left me, and that experience has made me what I am today. I think that when I graduated from high school, writing was a realistic career goal for me. It was like I had to do something real—much like a teacher or a career in criminal justice. A defining moment for me was when I turned in a paper that I had written for a class assignment, when it was returned to me it had a note on it that said, “If this is the work of an author, please note it.” The fact that my teacher thought it was that good excited me! I lacked confidence in myself so that was a catalyst for me to prove that I was good enough to write. I think many aspiring writers lack confidence and education on being a writer. There are so many resources out there, but it can be intimidating. To pick up a finished/published books in the bookstore and question am I good enough to do a finished work like this, is a real barrier for some. I have noticed one major thing that holds writers back, the process. There are a lot of misconceptions about the process of writing/publishing a book. It’s not exactly like one would imagine it to be. Carry out your dreams no matter how unlike likely they seem! It’s not a competition for me. There is enough for everyone in this world. Helping others accomplish their goals/achieve their dreams is a goal of mine.

Terry: You know, I deal with so much as a black woman/mother raising black boys. It’s difficult, but I think us as parents need to listen to our kids and be more involved. I see so many black youth, boys especially, that need guidance. They need ways to express themselves creatively. I am very passionate about that. I think as black women/mothers we need to be more in tuned. We need to educate more—pass along information. We are not perfect. Mistakes are how we grow and learn. I strive to lead by example. I do fall, but I get up. Don’t let people hold you down. God will make a way.

Ingrid: You have a blank sheet of paper to express yourself “freestyle.” What would you say to the world so we can feel the real essence of you?

Terry: All one has to do is have a conversation with me to see who I am and my heart. My heart hurts for people. I am a very compassionate person. I love people, kids. I give of myself so much to people and the world. It can be frustrating at times to give so much of yourself and not get anything back. However, I consider other people and believe that through prayer you give expecting nothing in return. God will reward you. It’s a blessing to me just to be able to give—knowing that it’s not about me. That’s what keeps me going and doing what I do. It’s not about me, my feelings or my emotions—even though at times you can grow weary. People judge you without knowing what’s inside a person. Writing helps me to heal and heal others. I can only be what God wants me to be—giving, loving and compassionate. I let God take care of the rest. Got is all. I can do all things through Him. I have always been an open book.

Terry and I continued to talk for I know two hours. She was such an inspiration to me, and I hope that something in our conversation will inspire you. She truly is what she says she is, an open book and very supportive of others. She shared her wisdom with me and even shared some resources that she had to help me in my journey as a writer. You will find her website (www.terryoneal.com) to be very informative, and I encourage you to dare to dream and take her lead. Pick up that book you started a year ago and purpose yourself to finish it starting today. If you have published a book, tell 3 new people what they can do to accomplish their publishing dreams. If you know someone that is an inspiring writer, encourage them to use their gift to bring new light to the world. If you’ve never purchased a book by Terry O’Neal, log onto her website and purchase one today. It’s important to support women/authors like Terry—positive, uplifting with a desire to positively impact our youth and the world.