Guest post written by author Joy L. Smith
Joy L. Smith is a childcare professional and lives in Queens, New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, she has a bachelor’s degree in human development and differences, with a specialization in communication disorders. She’s been writing since she was a teenager and has been mentored by Ibi Zoboi, Radha Blank, and Emma Straub through the Girls Write Now program. Turning is her debut novel.
I suppose I wasn’t born and decided that I wanted to be a writer. It took me years before I realized that authoring was my calling, but I had some help to guide me there. Before I thought of myself as a writer, I considered myself a reader. That I enjoyed reading and in doing so I tried my hand at penning the stories that kept me captivated. And now it fills me with so much happiness to say that my books are in the same stores as these authors today. I went from being on the outside of their spaces to joining them.
Let’s talk about Sharon M. Draper. When YA authors of my teenage years come to mind I immediately think of her. And her book resume is amazing. Draper has written books that absolutely stand the test of time, and true workmanship of what it means to write for teenagers and young adults. My favorite book by her is Copper Sun. The story of Amari, an African girl who is captured and sent across the Atlantic through the Middle Passage and given as a gift to her Master’s son. What a timeless story, that had me white knuckled and rooting for Amari the whole time, as she used her wit to navigate this new world and reclaim her freedom. Talk about a page turner. Copper Sun has all the best things; stakes, voice, humor, drama and someone to care about. Personally I’ve read it many times, but the great thing about Draper’s books is that there are so many to fall in love with.
Then there is Laurie Faria Stolarz. Like Sharon M. Draper has a great catalog of books that I went through as a teen, but it was her books that had me recognizing the importance of a fan base as a writer. She was the first writer I kept track of. When her next books were coming out etc. After all, how could I not after reading Project 17 in the dead of night with my sister and having to cover our mouths because we were that scared and invested in that world she created. And she is the first author who I sent an email to gushing about how much I loved their writing and how I too wanted to become an author. She replied back to me and I will never forget it.
As I was writing my own novel about a Black Ballerina, that is now Turning, I started reading Pointe by Brandy Colbert, and I remember thinking wow if she could write about a Black Ballerina then I can too. And like Laurie I started to follow Brandy’s career, and I haven’t not read every book she has put out since Pointe. There’s something about reading books about Black girls written by someone who used to be a Black girl. And it’s pleasing that each story is so different. The Black girl experience isn’t just one thing. I learn so much, I laugh so much, I get stressed so much and I’m a better writer because of her words. I’m so glad she has shared them.
I remember when I told myself that I would start reading more adult novels, after all I was an adult and I could experience more in addition to still being a big YA fan. So I asked for recommendations and got one for Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age. I mean wow, I’ve never felt more seen than reading that book. And not in the writer’s sense but as a human sense. I related so much. And that had never really happened in the adult books I read, or even the YA. It was the first time I felt like I was the main character in a novel instead of watching it. The latter is still enjoyable, but I felt like it could’ve been me. And that inspires me to write as authentic characters as I can. Maybe someone will see themselves in my stories.
Again, I was recommended, Celeste Ng, Everything I Never Told You and wow can she weave a bunch of characters together! As I was reading I had to stop because it was a masterclass of storytelling and all I could think was I hope to be such a great writer one day. It was like watching the Olympics, but in literary form. How some people have obvious natural ability and work so hard to hone their skills and just create something that appears very flawless.
