Photo by Nneka Julia
I'm an award-winning writer, unapologetic lover of trash TV, 1/3 of the Black Girls Texting podcast and 1/2 of Craft & Release. BedStuyBrat was my AOL Instant Messenger name back in the T-Mobile Sidekick days, and it still applies; much of my work centers around my community of brown people and brownstones. As an avid traveler, I also find inspiration in the people, foods, and fashions of distant lands. In short, I tell stories from around the world, and around the way.
I've written travel pieces, cultural critiques, and personal essays in print and on the web for Vogue, Interview, Essence, National Geographic Traveler, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and Guernica, among others. I’ve applied my storytelling skills to creating content for corporate partners including Airbnb and Intrepid Travel.
Named one of Brooklyn Magazine’s 30 under 30, I am a former fellow of VONA Voices and The Los Angeles Review of Books’ Publishing Lab. A graduate of The New School’s MFA in Creative Writing program, I’m frequently called upon to serve as a panelist and moderator, sounding off on everything from diversity and inclusion within the travel space, responsible travel, media, gender, and Black millennial identity. As a lecturer and educator, my topics of expertise include narrative writing, the art of storytelling and personal essay.
I’m currently crafting a collection of essays on race, class, identity and relationships. My determination to become a published author was a main storyline in an Oprah Winfrey Network docu-series called Checked Inn, starring me and my family.
I'm likely somewhere overthinking.