March 21, 2025 • 25 mins
Mahogany joins the episode to share her journey of self-love and the inspiration behind her writing. She reads favorite quotes from her book "Self Love Now" and discusses how her military experience has influenced her work. The conversation covers where listeners can find Mahogany's books and her upcoming projects. Mahogany also shares her social media handles for those interested in following her journey. The episode wraps up with closing remarks and a teaser for the next episode.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:12):
Hi, and welcome to another episode of readingbetween the words, and we're gonna between
we're going to read between the words ofMahogany and her book.
Thank you so much for being here.
Yes.
Thank you for having me.
Yeah.
So let's see your book.
What what is your book called?
Yes.
(00:33):
It's self love now.
This book is actually my fifth book that I'vewritten.
It's a it's actually a quote book, So it'sactually, a lot less words than my other books,
but it's kinda like a revamped version of myvery first book, self love, because I actually
do have another book titled self love, similartitle.
(00:54):
But this one is is more so of what self lovemeans to me now that you know, I was 20 I'm 25
now, and I wrote self love when I was 19.
That was my very first Yeah.
Can feel good.
That's great.
And you've got five books.
That's amazing.
So so what's the difference between this bookand the first book?
(01:15):
Well yes.
So there's quite a there's quite a bit littlefew differences.
Well, one main difference is this one is aquote book, and the other book is actually more
like a poetry free form type of writing book.
Almost like if as if you were writing in yourown journal or something like that.
It's more free form.
And then, also, to the covers, the covers areactually similar, but they do look a little
(01:39):
different.
Like, this cover looks more like what I wantedmy first cover to be, actually.
But your first cover yeah.
It looks more cartoony, my first cover.
And then this one is a little bit different toobecause it's just I kinda take I kinda go
through, like, the emotions that I was kindagoing through using the quotes, basically,
(02:00):
from, like, you know, the the bad moment theugly moments, the bad moments, all the way up
until the good moments of what self felt likefor me.
Yeah.
So because, know, self love, the journey iskinda it's up and down.
There's never, like, a straight narrow.
So I was just that's the difference too betweenthis one and the first one.
Because the first one was more it was moreabout, like, just some things I may have felt
(02:25):
harshly, but I don't I don't know if I ever hadtoo many too many good too many, you know, good
good ones in that one.
So
Okay.
Good.
So here's the big question.
You wrote your first one, and now you have yoursecond one.
I'm gonna ask you two questions.
(02:46):
One, why did you write a second book?
Well, kept writing.
Really?
Because, I mean, I actually like I actuallylike my writing my books.
That's probably something that I would doregardless.
You know how people say they are passionateabout something or they find something.
Something that you would do if you made anymoney from it or not.
That's pretty much books.
(03:07):
It's pretty much, something that I would dobecause that's something that I came up with
when I was going through a very hard time.
And I would just write to myself really just tokinda release, whatever I was feeling.
And I've just decided, you know, maybe I couldshare it and others can relate to it and grow
from it or just build some type of inspiration.
(03:29):
You know?
Like, they don't have to write a book oranything.
But, you know, sometimes I've had moments wheremy me just being inspired to do something that
I wanted to do that came from my heart has alsoinspired people to just do other things that
they wanted to do.
Just like something small as running a smallbusiness or whatever they wanted to do, but
they kept putting a whole yeah.
(03:49):
Good.
So so why did you write your first book?
I mean, I understand writing down things, butwhy did you turn it into a book?
Yes.
My first one, I wrote it I wrote it I made it abook because I was always, like, writing poems,
and, sometime I would do the poetry videos.
And, I just thought to myself, how can I makethis more more solid or more, like, more
(04:16):
forever or more, you know, something that isalways accessible or something that I can go
back and look on and, you know, just in caseI've lost these journals that I write in or
something like that?
You know?
That's why I decided to, yeah, to turn it turnit into a book.
Awesome.
Awesome.
So now you have your second book.
It's a little updated.
It has maybe some happier times in it than thefirst one.
(04:40):
What is it you really want the reader to getout of your book?
Yes.
With this book, I want them basically to reallywhen you like especially when you're first
starting to learn to love yourself because, youknow, some people some people have never had an
issue with that, you know, because naturally,they may have always been more for themselves
(05:02):
than normal.
You know what I mean?
So but there is a lot of people that don'treally know how to love themselves, so then
turn it on how to love other people.
So this book just tell it just shows, like,what it's really like when you're going through
the self love journey.
It's like, there are a lot of moments where itdoesn't feel good or it doesn't feel like
sometimes you start over, and sometimes youfeel like you're on the right path to doing
(05:25):
what's better for you.
And and sometimes you take 10 steps back.
You know?
So but, eventually, you know, you finally getto that point where you know that you wanted to
get to or you wanted to speak speak intoexistence or what you've been feeling like
you've been this entire time, but it just tooksome time for you to actually, you know, stand
on your own two feet and actually keep thosepromises to yourself as far as doing what's
(05:49):
better for you.
That's that's really awesome.
And I love it.
I love that it comes from a place where youhave actually made progress because then people
know it can happen.
You know?
You've shown that it can happen.
So do you want to read a little bit from your
book?
Yes.
(06:10):
Of course.
Awesome.
Favorite parts.
Yes.
Since they are quotes, I will kinda break themdown because, see, the quotes are pretty short.
So yes.
At the beginning of the book, this is my veryfirst one that is that's in there.
I put, if you could talk to your 19 year oldself, what would you say?
(06:35):
I would tell her you are lovable, you areworthy, and you are more powerful than you
know.
You are and have everything money cannot buy,and that is what makes you more than worth it.
So this was my first one because, you know, Iwas explaining that my very first book was
titled self love.
And this was kinda like a, you know, redoneversion, but it was more so what I wanted it to
(06:57):
originally be.
So I wrote this one because it's just basicallyme going back to my talking to my younger self,
like and wishing that I you know, saying thewords to myself that I wish I heard or I wish I
just kinda held on to and at least just knewinstead of, like, always feeling so down on
(07:19):
myself, being so hard on myself, and havingsuch a negative thought pattern, you know,
because of the things that I've been through orfeeling you don't have a low self esteem.
The things that you have to really really,like, overcome as far as, like, that's that's
on you know, it's not intangible.
It's stuff that you can't really touch, butit's stuff that you feel all the time.
(07:39):
So Yeah.
That's awesome.
And I'm glad you asked the question.
What would you ask your younger self, or whatwould you say to your younger self?
A friend of of mine and I were talking, and wethought, you know, it'd be really cool to write
a book about a letter that we wrote to our 12year old self.
And, you know, anytime you put something out inthe world, it's gonna be heard.
(08:05):
And just shortly after that, a friend of ourswas putting a book together called Dear Younger
Me.
And so in there, I have this letter, Not somuch a letter, but I talked about the
experience of talking to my younger self andhow difficult it was.
You know?
(08:25):
But because on on my part, it was I didn'twanna look my younger me in the face because I
knew that younger me is gonna be disappointedthat I never became the doctor, that I never
did these things.
And through the process, I actually hear myyounger self say, yeah.
(08:45):
But look at all the stuff you did too.
Amazing.
So it it was a healing process, something Inever expected to happen.
So I think think everybody should write aletter to the younger self.
You might be surprised at what comes out of it.
So let's get back to your book.
That's what this is for.
So read some more from it.
(09:06):
This is really good.
Yes.
But I'm I'm glad you said that it's a healingprocess.
It's very true.
That's literally, when you write That's why Isaid it's something that I would do regardless
because it has been very healing for me.
So
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yes.
So then I jumped right into my second quote.
And this one goes, Russian thoughts going goingthrough my head.
(09:29):
The only time I catch a break is when I'msleeping or when I'm dead.
So I deal with I deal with I know that one getsreally dark.
You know?
Yeah.
I deal with a lot of anxiety, especially when Iwas, like, first, in the military.
First, I've always had Russian thoughts.
I always like, as soon as I open my eyes, I'mthinking a lot.
(09:51):
But, you know, I never paid any much attentionto it until I was able to get to myself and,
you know, away from home, which was the firsttime was when I joined the military.
And I was Yep.
Finally got to the per unit.
You know?
So it was it was I wake up till the time I goto sleep, I have just so many thoughts.
(10:12):
It's my mind's never quiet.
It's just like, you know, I can't catch abreak.
So that's kinda how I feel, you know, daythroughout my daily.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
No.
I know.
Those thoughts are always there.
It's like, what do you mean you don't have amillion thoughts a day?
And it's like, how do you do that?
Yeah.
So give us another one.
(10:34):
Yep.
So then my second one, I also I touch on myanxiety.
Not my second one, my third.
But this one says, my anxiety is my worstenemy.
From the moments I open my eyes, I can't stopthese thoughts from crowding me.
So Yeah.
That's what
Yeah.
So true.
So if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you alittle bit about your military.
(10:57):
Why why did you choose to go into the military?
Yes.
So I chose to go into the military because, youknow, it'll give me it was supposed to you
know, it gave me it actually gave me the samereasons that I decided to join is exactly what
happened.
It gave me a stepping stone, you know, in lifethat I was looking for.
I was able to pay for school.
(11:17):
They I still actually am.
I'm in school currently right now, and they areactually covering school for me.
Good.
And I was able to also take care of myself,away from home.
You know what I mean?
So I didn't have to necessarily call back phonefor things or anything.
I didn't really need anything.
They provided everything for me.
But it wasn't really because I needed I know alot of people say be disciplined or something.
(11:40):
I always been disciplined.
I pretty much did what I was supposed to do.
Growing up, it's it's you know, sometimes it'sin you or it's not.
You know?
I I the military didn't always bring that out,and some people some people, believe it or not,
still it's like they're still late or they'restill not on time to things even though they're
in the military.
So it's like, you know, it's just a characterbeing type of thing.
(12:03):
Yep.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So was it did you join to just because it wassomething to do, you know, instead of going to
college, was it a way to get to college?
Is that it?
It was a way for me to no.
Well, I've had a few had a few, like, offers,acceptance to go to college.
(12:30):
But, you know, when you go to college, it'slike you still have to like I said, you would
need to call back home or your parents wouldhave to sign off on certain things, and I just
didn't.
You know, I didn't wanna do that.
I wanted to be independent pretty much.
So and then I was also gonna get collegeregardless.
So that's how I look at it.
Okay.
(12:50):
I'm gonna get pretty much what I needregardless.
And, also, there's also other major benefits tojoining the military that, you know, came along
with it.
So it was, like, my worst best decision that Iever made.
It's pretty fun.
I like that.
Thank you for your service.
I'll say that before we get too far.
(13:10):
Yeah.
That's that's I have I have two that, went intothe service.
So, yeah, different different life, but, eachone is very different too.
In fact, my grandson just went into the navyfull time, and he's he just graduated.
He's did his twelve weeks after, and now he'soff on a boat somewhere.
(13:35):
And we're not sure for how long.
So, yeah, there's definitely some some goodbenefits from knowing a lot of people in the
military.
So what are some next steps for you?
You said you have five books.
What are the other books that you have?
Yes.
So my second one, it was called a cup of familytea.
(13:58):
It's it's basically a book about my life beforethe military.
And, you know, we eventually joined in themilitary, but I kinda go through some things I
went through in my childhood.
So the book is pretty touchy, because, youknow, sensitive information, what my family
felt like was sensitive, and I kinda put it ina book.
So but it was it was my way of just kinda I wasreally just trying to show that, like, you
(14:22):
know, if you come from something that's not sogood, it doesn't mean that you have to stop
there.
And I was also trying to relay a message as towhy to why I perceived that the way that, you
know, my parents may have done things or theway that they may have parent came from the way
that they were raised growing up too.
So so it was, yeah, it was yeah.
(14:44):
There was some stuff in there that was pretty alittle dark.
But but
That's okay.
But you wrote it.
You know?
I've as as someone who helps people get theirbooks written, I've had a a few people come to
me and say, I really wanna write this because Iwant other people to know how they can get
through this situation.
(15:04):
Or if this has happened to them, that it's notthe end of their life, that there's still hope
out there that you can do something better andbut yet they're afraid to write it because they
know that if family and the family probablywill read the book, they're gonna know who
they're talking about.
But what what was the scariest part aboutwriting that book for you?
(15:30):
Were were you afraid of backlash from yourfamily at all?
Oh, I'm afraid.
No.
I mean, I knew it was coming.
But but they didn't know.
But, I mean, this was I mean, I was not reallynot really because I always kinda said, like,
what I felt or I always wanted to I mean, but Ido know, like, growing up, a lot of the time,
(15:52):
you cannot say exactly what you feel becauseYes.
You you might get disciplined, stuff like that.
So it's like you have to avoid.
So it's like I always felt kinda shut down orfelt like, okay.
I can't really express how I really feel aboutcertain things.
Right.
So it was my way.
It was kinda my way of being able to, likelike, for the, you know, child that was just
(16:14):
unspoken for for so many years.
So yeah.
But, I mean, I've you know, it's yeah.
Me me putting the book out, you know, theyprobably they felt like I would, I guess, you
know how sometimes people, like, they wouldopenly share with you, and then they stop
openly sharing with you because they felt likeyou're gonna put it in the book.
And it's like you know what mean?
Like, it was that wasn't that's not what thatwas.
(16:36):
Like, just relax.
Like, you know what mean?
Like, don't do too much.
But it's it's great that you did that becauseyou do.
You need to release that, and you need to getthat voice out from that younger child because
a lot of people hold that in, and that's wherethey have a lot of health issues because
they've never given a voice to it.
So I'm glad you did.
So there's we've got three book covers You havetwo more books.
(17:00):
What are they about?
So I did the third one.
I wrote a children's book.
That one that one, I know you're like, it's aswitch.
But but it's also That book is yeah.
It's also related to love too.
That book is called Somebody Old Loves You.
Oh, no.
That one I'm very happy writing that book Eventhough it kinda came from a bittersweet place
(17:22):
somewhat too because, you know, I was justthinking about the child that I was, you know,
like I said, not always hearing the words ornot always knowing, okay.
Somebody care.
Like, there were moments when I was growing up.
Did feel like, no.
Does anybody really care about me?
Like, you know, they stop you saying that, butthen it's like, you know, your actions or the
(17:42):
way things are going right now, it seems, youknow, it seems different.
So that book just encourages, shows them thatsomebody always always loves them, whereas
their friends, somebody from school, theirfamily.
You know?
Even if their mom and dad is not showing itright now because they're focused on different
things in life, you know, it doesn't mean thatthey don't love you or you know what I'm
saying?
So as opposed to just always yeah.
(18:03):
Just encourage them that they're always
Oh, that's wonderful.
Okay.
And then the next book?
Alright.
Then my my other book.
I wrote, like, this, like, this marketing,guidebook that I put together where I just
kinda describe different things that I did tomarket my books, like doing different podcasts
or radio interviews or just sharing my bookacross all platforms or you know, I talk about
(18:28):
different tips, basically, on you know, andthen how you can, like, convert that and use
it.
You use it for other products too because it'snot you know, everybody uses the Internet and,
you know, different things to get the get theword out there.
That's really great.
So where can we find all of your books?
Oh, yes.
All of my books are available on Amazon.
Okay.
(18:48):
Yeah.
You might know oh, you actually search my name,Mahogany Clark.
Usually, they, all show up under under there,or if you click one of the books, usually more
books will show that I've written.
Yeah.
Oh, that's really great.
So, let's hear do you mind if we hear some morefrom this last book that you have?
(19:09):
Your
Oh, yeah.
Those are really great.
Yes.
Alright.
And so my next quote, I said, I have I have hadto go through all my toughest and wait.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
I have had to go through all my toughest andsome of my best moments alone.
(19:34):
When I fall, I have no one to lean on.
That's what that quote says.
Sorry.
That's okay.
No.
But, you know, it's true.
There are times I think everybody feels likethat, and and sometimes people feel like that a
lot.
Yeah.
But how do you how do you, how do you navigatethat when you feel like nobody really does love
(20:03):
you, that you're kind of alone?
What do you do in something like that?
Well, really, I've gotten used to it, really.
But it's more like yeah.
I mean, because I think about it, and I'm like,well, I was able to do that pretty much.
You know?
Like, why am I so worried about being alone?
(20:24):
Like, that's how I started to think about it.
And then, two, I also started to realize Imean, there is sometimes there is somebody that
can help you with certain things.
Sometimes you just have to ask.
You know?
But you know?
So it's I mean, but it's a know, you ask somepeople for help.
Later on, it gets thrown back in your face.
But sometimes people worry about that.
(20:44):
Everybody kinda goes through that moment.
But sometimes even though you're, like, one ofthe strongest people in the world, usually,
everybody comes to you for help, but you seemto always have it together.
Sometimes people don't think you need helpbecause you do seem to always have it together.
So you sometimes you do have to you have toask.
So
Yeah.
Yeah.
So you kinda need to surround yourself withpeople that you can feel comfortable with, you
(21:07):
know, that you can go talk to.
Yeah.
And and I like it that you put it in this bookabout self love because you gotta love yourself
because sometimes you're all by yourself, andyou gotta be happy with you.
Yeah.
Well, this is this is a really great book.
I got the.
I'm actually looking forward to reading it.
(21:30):
I like these.
So when when you have the quote, do you havesomething else that goes with it, or is or is
it just mainly a quote?
And
I actually put pictures some pictures underlike, it's so it literally looks like when you
open the book, it almost looks like what youwould see kinda in, a journal, but, like,
(21:51):
there's kinda relief.
Yeah.
Even the fonts of the the book, and then I put,like, little pictures in there on certain pages
that I may have took.
And so
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh, I really like that.
So what have you got coming up next?
I know you just finished this.
But I I have been thinking, but I think, I maydo something related to me actually healing as
(22:21):
far as, like, naturally and things that I'vedone to help myself heal.
Like, like, with my anxiety, I've been takingthese herbal teas, using these herbal teas to
help.
Because, you know, with anxiety, I mean, I wasprescribed things.
But like I said, you know, eventually, withprescription, they only get worse, and they
only get stronger, and they only make have moreside effects that, you know, it won't really
(22:43):
help going on.
It makes me feel worse.
So I've tried I've tried different ways to, youknow, help myself naturally.
So it's it's like so I've been drinking theseherbal teas, and I I talk about two on my
platforms, from this website, the guyscollection.
And I've been trying them out, and I tellpeople about how it's making me feel, how has
it helped with my anxiety symptoms.
(23:04):
Or, two, I could just talk about other thingsthat I do on a daily to, like, working out, how
do I eat my eating habits, everything that I'vedone to that helps with, you know, just getting
some sun, the stuff that people just kindaignore, you know, just to have a healthy
balance in life pretty much.
Oh, good.
About doing something related to that.
(23:25):
Yep.
Okay.
Good.
So you said that's all on your website?
Oh, no.
No.
No.
Not not no.
I was saying, this website that I the the teasthe herbal teas, they're from this website, the
Goddess Collection.
Yeah.
K.
I'm sorry.
I I just my mind, the way it thinks, I think.
(23:45):
I thought you said you're writing somethinglike vlogs doing, like, a daily thing of of or
are you keeping that to yourself daily, findingout what works and doesn't work?
And
Oh, yeah.
No.
I post it on Instagram, Facebook.
Yeah.
Yeah.
On YouTube, TikTok.
Yeah.
Social media channels then.
Okay.
All good.
Good.
Well, what are they?
(24:05):
So we need to find out.
Somebody wants to find out more and payattention to this because I think that's really
helpful.
Yes.
Yeah.
So do they just look for mahogany on socialmedias?
Or
Oh, yes.
My my social media tag is for my TikTok, myInstagram.
(24:29):
It is mahogany rights with a z.
So it's m a h o g a n y w r I t e z.
So it's like mahogany rights.
And then for, like, my Facebook and YouTube,it's Mahogany Clark.
My my basically, Mahogany.
Yep.
So m a h o g a n y c l a r k.
(24:53):
Nice.
Nice.
So your military family, I can say it that way,are they?
Do they follow you and read your books and andstuff too?
Oh, yeah.
Some of them.
Yes.
Yeah.
I do have support.
I yeah.
And then I still do have a best friend of minefrom when I was in the military.
So it was I had just went to see her in Texasas well for her baby shower.
(25:15):
Good.
Yay.
So that was nice.
Very, very beautiful moment.
Oh, good.
Good.
Alright.
So we can find your books on Amazon.
We can find you on social medias as MahoganyWrights with a z or Mahogany Clark.
And thank you.
Thank you for being here.
This is really great.
(25:36):
I am I am I am looking forward to getting somenew reading.
Yes.
Thank you.
Okay.
Great.
Well, we'll see you next time on ReadingBetween the Words.
Be sure and check out Mahogany's books, andthank you for being here.
Thank you.
Thank you for joining us.
We'll see you next time on reading between thewords.
Hi, and welcome to another episode of readingbetween the words, and we're gonna between
we're going to read between the words ofMahogany and her book.
Thank you so much for being here.
Yes.
Thank you for having me.
Yeah.
So let's see your book.
What what is your book called?
Yes.
(00:33):
It's self love now.
This book is actually my fifth book that I'vewritten.
It's a it's actually a quote book, So it'sactually, a lot less words than my other books,
but it's kinda like a revamped version of myvery first book, self love, because I actually
do have another book titled self love, similartitle.
(00:54):
But this one is is more so of what self lovemeans to me now that you know, I was 20 I'm 25
now, and I wrote self love when I was 19.
That was my very first Yeah.
Can feel good.
That's great.
And you've got five books.
That's amazing.
So so what's the difference between this bookand the first book?
(01:15):
Well yes.
So there's quite a there's quite a bit littlefew differences.
Well, one main difference is this one is aquote book, and the other book is actually more
like a poetry free form type of writing book.
Almost like if as if you were writing in yourown journal or something like that.
It's more free form.
And then, also, to the covers, the covers areactually similar, but they do look a little
(01:39):
different.
Like, this cover looks more like what I wantedmy first cover to be, actually.
But your first cover yeah.
It looks more cartoony, my first cover.
And then this one is a little bit different toobecause it's just I kinda take I kinda go
through, like, the emotions that I was kindagoing through using the quotes, basically,
(02:00):
from, like, you know, the the bad moment theugly moments, the bad moments, all the way up
until the good moments of what self felt likefor me.
Yeah.
So because, know, self love, the journey iskinda it's up and down.
There's never, like, a straight narrow.
So I was just that's the difference too betweenthis one and the first one.
Because the first one was more it was moreabout, like, just some things I may have felt
(02:25):
harshly, but I don't I don't know if I ever hadtoo many too many good too many, you know, good
good ones in that one.
So
Okay.
Good.
So here's the big question.
You wrote your first one, and now you have yoursecond one.
I'm gonna ask you two questions.
(02:46):
One, why did you write a second book?
Well, kept writing.
Really?
Because, I mean, I actually like I actuallylike my writing my books.
That's probably something that I would doregardless.
You know how people say they are passionateabout something or they find something.
Something that you would do if you made anymoney from it or not.
That's pretty much books.
(03:07):
It's pretty much, something that I would dobecause that's something that I came up with
when I was going through a very hard time.
And I would just write to myself really just tokinda release, whatever I was feeling.
And I've just decided, you know, maybe I couldshare it and others can relate to it and grow
from it or just build some type of inspiration.
(03:29):
You know?
Like, they don't have to write a book oranything.
But, you know, sometimes I've had moments wheremy me just being inspired to do something that
I wanted to do that came from my heart has alsoinspired people to just do other things that
they wanted to do.
Just like something small as running a smallbusiness or whatever they wanted to do, but
they kept putting a whole yeah.
(03:49):
Good.
So so why did you write your first book?
I mean, I understand writing down things, butwhy did you turn it into a book?
Yes.
My first one, I wrote it I wrote it I made it abook because I was always, like, writing poems,
and, sometime I would do the poetry videos.
And, I just thought to myself, how can I makethis more more solid or more, like, more
(04:16):
forever or more, you know, something that isalways accessible or something that I can go
back and look on and, you know, just in caseI've lost these journals that I write in or
something like that?
You know?
That's why I decided to, yeah, to turn it turnit into a book.
Awesome.
Awesome.
So now you have your second book.
It's a little updated.
It has maybe some happier times in it than thefirst one.
(04:40):
What is it you really want the reader to getout of your book?
Yes.
With this book, I want them basically to reallywhen you like especially when you're first
starting to learn to love yourself because, youknow, some people some people have never had an
issue with that, you know, because naturally,they may have always been more for themselves
(05:02):
than normal.
You know what I mean?
So but there is a lot of people that don'treally know how to love themselves, so then
turn it on how to love other people.
So this book just tell it just shows, like,what it's really like when you're going through
the self love journey.
It's like, there are a lot of moments where itdoesn't feel good or it doesn't feel like
sometimes you start over, and sometimes youfeel like you're on the right path to doing
(05:25):
what's better for you.
And and sometimes you take 10 steps back.
You know?
So but, eventually, you know, you finally getto that point where you know that you wanted to
get to or you wanted to speak speak intoexistence or what you've been feeling like
you've been this entire time, but it just tooksome time for you to actually, you know, stand
on your own two feet and actually keep thosepromises to yourself as far as doing what's
(05:49):
better for you.
That's that's really awesome.
And I love it.
I love that it comes from a place where youhave actually made progress because then people
know it can happen.
You know?
You've shown that it can happen.
So do you want to read a little bit from your
book?
Yes.
(06:10):
Of course.
Awesome.
Favorite parts.
Yes.
Since they are quotes, I will kinda break themdown because, see, the quotes are pretty short.
So yes.
At the beginning of the book, this is my veryfirst one that is that's in there.
I put, if you could talk to your 19 year oldself, what would you say?
(06:35):
I would tell her you are lovable, you areworthy, and you are more powerful than you
know.
You are and have everything money cannot buy,and that is what makes you more than worth it.
So this was my first one because, you know, Iwas explaining that my very first book was
titled self love.
And this was kinda like a, you know, redoneversion, but it was more so what I wanted it to
(06:57):
originally be.
So I wrote this one because it's just basicallyme going back to my talking to my younger self,
like and wishing that I you know, saying thewords to myself that I wish I heard or I wish I
just kinda held on to and at least just knewinstead of, like, always feeling so down on
(07:19):
myself, being so hard on myself, and havingsuch a negative thought pattern, you know,
because of the things that I've been through orfeeling you don't have a low self esteem.
The things that you have to really really,like, overcome as far as, like, that's that's
on you know, it's not intangible.
It's stuff that you can't really touch, butit's stuff that you feel all the time.
(07:39):
So Yeah.
That's awesome.
And I'm glad you asked the question.
What would you ask your younger self, or whatwould you say to your younger self?
A friend of of mine and I were talking, and wethought, you know, it'd be really cool to write
a book about a letter that we wrote to our 12year old self.
And, you know, anytime you put something out inthe world, it's gonna be heard.
(08:05):
And just shortly after that, a friend of ourswas putting a book together called Dear Younger
Me.
And so in there, I have this letter, Not somuch a letter, but I talked about the
experience of talking to my younger self andhow difficult it was.
You know?
(08:25):
But because on on my part, it was I didn'twanna look my younger me in the face because I
knew that younger me is gonna be disappointedthat I never became the doctor, that I never
did these things.
And through the process, I actually hear myyounger self say, yeah.
(08:45):
But look at all the stuff you did too.
Amazing.
So it it was a healing process, something Inever expected to happen.
So I think think everybody should write aletter to the younger self.
You might be surprised at what comes out of it.
So let's get back to your book.
That's what this is for.
So read some more from it.
(09:06):
This is really good.
Yes.
But I'm I'm glad you said that it's a healingprocess.
It's very true.
That's literally, when you write That's why Isaid it's something that I would do regardless
because it has been very healing for me.
So
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yes.
So then I jumped right into my second quote.
And this one goes, Russian thoughts going goingthrough my head.
(09:29):
The only time I catch a break is when I'msleeping or when I'm dead.
So I deal with I deal with I know that one getsreally dark.
You know?
Yeah.
I deal with a lot of anxiety, especially when Iwas, like, first, in the military.
First, I've always had Russian thoughts.
I always like, as soon as I open my eyes, I'mthinking a lot.
(09:51):
But, you know, I never paid any much attentionto it until I was able to get to myself and,
you know, away from home, which was the firsttime was when I joined the military.
And I was Yep.
Finally got to the per unit.
You know?
So it was it was I wake up till the time I goto sleep, I have just so many thoughts.
(10:12):
It's my mind's never quiet.
It's just like, you know, I can't catch abreak.
So that's kinda how I feel, you know, daythroughout my daily.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
No.
I know.
Those thoughts are always there.
It's like, what do you mean you don't have amillion thoughts a day?
And it's like, how do you do that?
Yeah.
So give us another one.
(10:34):
Yep.
So then my second one, I also I touch on myanxiety.
Not my second one, my third.
But this one says, my anxiety is my worstenemy.
From the moments I open my eyes, I can't stopthese thoughts from crowding me.
So Yeah.
That's what
Yeah.
So true.
So if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you alittle bit about your military.
(10:57):
Why why did you choose to go into the military?
Yes.
So I chose to go into the military because, youknow, it'll give me it was supposed to you
know, it gave me it actually gave me the samereasons that I decided to join is exactly what
happened.
It gave me a stepping stone, you know, in lifethat I was looking for.
I was able to pay for school.
(11:17):
They I still actually am.
I'm in school currently right now, and they areactually covering school for me.
Good.
And I was able to also take care of myself,away from home.
You know what I mean?
So I didn't have to necessarily call back phonefor things or anything.
I didn't really need anything.
They provided everything for me.
But it wasn't really because I needed I know alot of people say be disciplined or something.
(11:40):
I always been disciplined.
I pretty much did what I was supposed to do.
Growing up, it's it's you know, sometimes it'sin you or it's not.
You know?
I I the military didn't always bring that out,and some people some people, believe it or not,
still it's like they're still late or they'restill not on time to things even though they're
in the military.
So it's like, you know, it's just a characterbeing type of thing.
(12:03):
Yep.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So was it did you join to just because it wassomething to do, you know, instead of going to
college, was it a way to get to college?
Is that it?
It was a way for me to no.
Well, I've had a few had a few, like, offers,acceptance to go to college.
(12:30):
But, you know, when you go to college, it'slike you still have to like I said, you would
need to call back home or your parents wouldhave to sign off on certain things, and I just
didn't.
You know, I didn't wanna do that.
I wanted to be independent pretty much.
So and then I was also gonna get collegeregardless.
So that's how I look at it.
Okay.
(12:50):
I'm gonna get pretty much what I needregardless.
And, also, there's also other major benefits tojoining the military that, you know, came along
with it.
So it was, like, my worst best decision that Iever made.
It's pretty fun.
I like that.
Thank you for your service.
I'll say that before we get too far.
(13:10):
Yeah.
That's that's I have I have two that, went intothe service.
So, yeah, different different life, but, eachone is very different too.
In fact, my grandson just went into the navyfull time, and he's he just graduated.
He's did his twelve weeks after, and now he'soff on a boat somewhere.
(13:35):
And we're not sure for how long.
So, yeah, there's definitely some some goodbenefits from knowing a lot of people in the
military.
So what are some next steps for you?
You said you have five books.
What are the other books that you have?
Yes.
So my second one, it was called a cup of familytea.
(13:58):
It's it's basically a book about my life beforethe military.
And, you know, we eventually joined in themilitary, but I kinda go through some things I
went through in my childhood.
So the book is pretty touchy, because, youknow, sensitive information, what my family
felt like was sensitive, and I kinda put it ina book.
So but it was it was my way of just kinda I wasreally just trying to show that, like, you
(14:22):
know, if you come from something that's not sogood, it doesn't mean that you have to stop
there.
And I was also trying to relay a message as towhy to why I perceived that the way that, you
know, my parents may have done things or theway that they may have parent came from the way
that they were raised growing up too.
So so it was, yeah, it was yeah.
(14:44):
There was some stuff in there that was pretty alittle dark.
But but
That's okay.
But you wrote it.
You know?
I've as as someone who helps people get theirbooks written, I've had a a few people come to
me and say, I really wanna write this because Iwant other people to know how they can get
through this situation.
(15:04):
Or if this has happened to them, that it's notthe end of their life, that there's still hope
out there that you can do something better andbut yet they're afraid to write it because they
know that if family and the family probablywill read the book, they're gonna know who
they're talking about.
But what what was the scariest part aboutwriting that book for you?
(15:30):
Were were you afraid of backlash from yourfamily at all?
Oh, I'm afraid.
No.
I mean, I knew it was coming.
But but they didn't know.
But, I mean, this was I mean, I was not reallynot really because I always kinda said, like,
what I felt or I always wanted to I mean, but Ido know, like, growing up, a lot of the time,
(15:52):
you cannot say exactly what you feel becauseYes.
You you might get disciplined, stuff like that.
So it's like you have to avoid.
So it's like I always felt kinda shut down orfelt like, okay.
I can't really express how I really feel aboutcertain things.
Right.
So it was my way.
It was kinda my way of being able to, likelike, for the, you know, child that was just
(16:14):
unspoken for for so many years.
So yeah.
But, I mean, I've you know, it's yeah.
Me me putting the book out, you know, theyprobably they felt like I would, I guess, you
know how sometimes people, like, they wouldopenly share with you, and then they stop
openly sharing with you because they felt likeyou're gonna put it in the book.
And it's like you know what mean?
Like, it was that wasn't that's not what thatwas.
(16:36):
Like, just relax.
Like, you know what mean?
Like, don't do too much.
But it's it's great that you did that becauseyou do.
You need to release that, and you need to getthat voice out from that younger child because
a lot of people hold that in, and that's wherethey have a lot of health issues because
they've never given a voice to it.
So I'm glad you did.
So there's we've got three book covers You havetwo more books.
(17:00):
What are they about?
So I did the third one.
I wrote a children's book.
That one that one, I know you're like, it's aswitch.
But but it's also That book is yeah.
It's also related to love too.
That book is called Somebody Old Loves You.
Oh, no.
That one I'm very happy writing that book Eventhough it kinda came from a bittersweet place
(17:22):
somewhat too because, you know, I was justthinking about the child that I was, you know,
like I said, not always hearing the words ornot always knowing, okay.
Somebody care.
Like, there were moments when I was growing up.
Did feel like, no.
Does anybody really care about me?
Like, you know, they stop you saying that, butthen it's like, you know, your actions or the
(17:42):
way things are going right now, it seems, youknow, it seems different.
So that book just encourages, shows them thatsomebody always always loves them, whereas
their friends, somebody from school, theirfamily.
You know?
Even if their mom and dad is not showing itright now because they're focused on different
things in life, you know, it doesn't mean thatthey don't love you or you know what I'm
saying?
So as opposed to just always yeah.
(18:03):
Just encourage them that they're always
Oh, that's wonderful.
Okay.
And then the next book?
Alright.
Then my my other book.
I wrote, like, this, like, this marketing,guidebook that I put together where I just
kinda describe different things that I did tomarket my books, like doing different podcasts
or radio interviews or just sharing my bookacross all platforms or you know, I talk about
(18:28):
different tips, basically, on you know, andthen how you can, like, convert that and use
it.
You use it for other products too because it'snot you know, everybody uses the Internet and,
you know, different things to get the get theword out there.
That's really great.
So where can we find all of your books?
Oh, yes.
All of my books are available on Amazon.
Okay.
(18:48):
Yeah.
You might know oh, you actually search my name,Mahogany Clark.
Usually, they, all show up under under there,or if you click one of the books, usually more
books will show that I've written.
Yeah.
Oh, that's really great.
So, let's hear do you mind if we hear some morefrom this last book that you have?
(19:09):
Your
Oh, yeah.
Those are really great.
Yes.
Alright.
And so my next quote, I said, I have I have hadto go through all my toughest and wait.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
I have had to go through all my toughest andsome of my best moments alone.
(19:34):
When I fall, I have no one to lean on.
That's what that quote says.
Sorry.
That's okay.
No.
But, you know, it's true.
There are times I think everybody feels likethat, and and sometimes people feel like that a
lot.
Yeah.
But how do you how do you, how do you navigatethat when you feel like nobody really does love
(20:03):
you, that you're kind of alone?
What do you do in something like that?
Well, really, I've gotten used to it, really.
But it's more like yeah.
I mean, because I think about it, and I'm like,well, I was able to do that pretty much.
You know?
Like, why am I so worried about being alone?
(20:24):
Like, that's how I started to think about it.
And then, two, I also started to realize Imean, there is sometimes there is somebody that
can help you with certain things.
Sometimes you just have to ask.
You know?
But you know?
So it's I mean, but it's a know, you ask somepeople for help.
Later on, it gets thrown back in your face.
But sometimes people worry about that.
(20:44):
Everybody kinda goes through that moment.
But sometimes even though you're, like, one ofthe strongest people in the world, usually,
everybody comes to you for help, but you seemto always have it together.
Sometimes people don't think you need helpbecause you do seem to always have it together.
So you sometimes you do have to you have toask.
So
Yeah.
Yeah.
So you kinda need to surround yourself withpeople that you can feel comfortable with, you
(21:07):
know, that you can go talk to.
Yeah.
And and I like it that you put it in this bookabout self love because you gotta love yourself
because sometimes you're all by yourself, andyou gotta be happy with you.
Yeah.
Well, this is this is a really great book.
I got the.
I'm actually looking forward to reading it.
(21:30):
I like these.
So when when you have the quote, do you havesomething else that goes with it, or is or is
it just mainly a quote?
And
I actually put pictures some pictures underlike, it's so it literally looks like when you
open the book, it almost looks like what youwould see kinda in, a journal, but, like,
(21:51):
there's kinda relief.
Yeah.
Even the fonts of the the book, and then I put,like, little pictures in there on certain pages
that I may have took.
And so
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh, I really like that.
So what have you got coming up next?
I know you just finished this.
But I I have been thinking, but I think, I maydo something related to me actually healing as
(22:21):
far as, like, naturally and things that I'vedone to help myself heal.
Like, like, with my anxiety, I've been takingthese herbal teas, using these herbal teas to
help.
Because, you know, with anxiety, I mean, I wasprescribed things.
But like I said, you know, eventually, withprescription, they only get worse, and they
only get stronger, and they only make have moreside effects that, you know, it won't really
(22:43):
help going on.
It makes me feel worse.
So I've tried I've tried different ways to, youknow, help myself naturally.
So it's it's like so I've been drinking theseherbal teas, and I I talk about two on my
platforms, from this website, the guyscollection.
And I've been trying them out, and I tellpeople about how it's making me feel, how has
it helped with my anxiety symptoms.
(23:04):
Or, two, I could just talk about other thingsthat I do on a daily to, like, working out, how
do I eat my eating habits, everything that I'vedone to that helps with, you know, just getting
some sun, the stuff that people just kindaignore, you know, just to have a healthy
balance in life pretty much.
Oh, good.
About doing something related to that.
(23:25):
Yep.
Okay.
Good.
So you said that's all on your website?
Oh, no.
No.
No.
Not not no.
I was saying, this website that I the the teasthe herbal teas, they're from this website, the
Goddess Collection.
Yeah.
K.
I'm sorry.
I I just my mind, the way it thinks, I think.
(23:45):
I thought you said you're writing somethinglike vlogs doing, like, a daily thing of of or
are you keeping that to yourself daily, findingout what works and doesn't work?
And
Oh, yeah.
No.
I post it on Instagram, Facebook.
Yeah.
Yeah.
On YouTube, TikTok.
Yeah.
Social media channels then.
Okay.
All good.
Good.
Well, what are they?
(24:05):
So we need to find out.
Somebody wants to find out more and payattention to this because I think that's really
helpful.
Yes.
Yeah.
So do they just look for mahogany on socialmedias?
Or
Oh, yes.
My my social media tag is for my TikTok, myInstagram.
(24:29):
It is mahogany rights with a z.
So it's m a h o g a n y w r I t e z.
So it's like mahogany rights.
And then for, like, my Facebook and YouTube,it's Mahogany Clark.
My my basically, Mahogany.
Yep.
So m a h o g a n y c l a r k.
(24:53):
Nice.
Nice.
So your military family, I can say it that way,are they?
Do they follow you and read your books and andstuff too?
Oh, yeah.
Some of them.
Yes.
Yeah.
I do have support.
I yeah.
And then I still do have a best friend of minefrom when I was in the military.
So it was I had just went to see her in Texasas well for her baby shower.
(25:15):
Good.
Yay.
So that was nice.
Very, very beautiful moment.
Oh, good.
Good.
Alright.
So we can find your books on Amazon.
We can find you on social medias as MahoganyWrights with a z or Mahogany Clark.
And thank you.
Thank you for being here.
This is really great.
(25:36):
I am I am I am looking forward to getting somenew reading.
Yes.
Thank you.
Okay.
Great.
Well, we'll see you next time on ReadingBetween the Words.
Be sure and check out Mahogany's books, andthank you for being here.
Thank you.
Thank you for joining us.
We'll see you next time on reading between thewords.
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