August 19, 2025 • 32 mins
If you missed tonight’s lively SCBookGal & Friends Podcast, don’t worry—you can catch the replay! We welcomed Chrissie Clay, author of Brooklyn Bridge Bae, for a fun, insightful conversation that romance readers and aspiring writers will love. What we covered Chrissie’s writing journey: how she got started, stayed motivated, and brought her stories to life Inspiration behind Brooklyn Bridge Bae: themes, setting vibes, and what readers can look forward to (no spoilers!) Craft chat: character chemistry, pacing swoony moments, and balancing romance with real-life emotions Publishing and process: routines, revisions, and tips for staying consistent Community and readership: connecting with readers and celebrating Black romance
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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/da-crew-podcast--5763835/support.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE ON SUBSTACK https://open.substack.com/pub/queenangela/p/scbookgal-and-friends-podcast-with?r=qc93s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/da-crew-podcast--5763835/support.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
K k k k.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
K k luke luk lags and gentlemen, lay, I have
(00:47):
your attention please. The show starts in five eight seven
six five four three pump shoot one go four three
(01:48):
pump shoot one go.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Hey everyone, it's a Tuesday night, and I am here
again with the new author, with the new book, and
this one, I know it's going to hit a little
home because it's poetry, and you know, poetry is it's
something to make you feel good. It's something to help
you get those emotions out, you know, like like poetry
(02:27):
you can kind of call the purge, you know. And
the reason why I say that if you get all
these thoughts out on the paper and then you feel
better sometimes depending on how you're doing it. But I
have a new author, Okay, you guys. It's wonderful. And
I love when authors reach out to me after I
put the call out, and she was one of those
(02:49):
ones that reach out to me. So tonight we're gonna
talk about a book entitled Can't Handle Failure, and we
are going to be talking to author poet Stevens. Okay,
So we're gonna bring this lady out and we're gonna
welcome her to sc bookels and friends. Come on up, girly,
(03:10):
how are you?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
I'm fine, how are you?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I am grave? So welcome, welcome, welcome, and we are
so honored to have you here tonight with this beautiful
book that is on that side. Y'all, I got it
right for the first time, can you believe it? So
we're gonna jump right into this, but a full any further,
(03:40):
tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I'm a mother, I'm a CNA. I'm going to school
to be an LPN. I'm a poetry writer. I've just
finished my first short story book, and that.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Should because.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I do everything because the sky is the limit, and
can't nobody tell me I.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Can't do it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
You need depend that the sky is the limit, and
nobody can't tell me I can't do it. First of all,
my hat goes off to you being a mother and
you in school with that in word that's called nursing.
My hat is off to you, sweetheart, and you're writing books.
(04:34):
How old is your little person?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
My youngest is one going on too. My oldest is
twenty two.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Ooo. Again, I believe I could do anything, and I.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Believe I want the big family.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
So I have a big family. I have seven beautiful children.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Seven So what are ages? So we got twenty two.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Or we have a twenty one?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I have a nineteen going on twenty. I have an
eighteen fourteen, then the baby, and then I have my
adopted chiald, which is mine. So you can't tell me
she ain't mine.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Okay, now I'm sorry, you can tell me. I'm not
gonna ask answer that question. But you look so young.
You have this baby faced, beautiful smile with the cheeks.
Can I ask how old you are?
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Believe it or not?
Speaker 5 (05:40):
I feel like I'm thirty nine going on eighty.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
What you will, girl?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Why you feel like you're going on eighty?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
The knowledge I acquired in the years, I feel like
I acquired it a little late.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
But then most of.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
It that I knew, I just wanted to ignore it.
And that old lady is with the talking and when
things didn't go right, you know how the old people say,
you got to go to that prayer closet. So I
had to go to that closet. I'm an old lady.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Ain't nothing wrong with it, that closet, And you guys,
it's not always a closet. But we called our prayer, closet,
my closet, across my bed, and in my bathroom where's yours.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Mine is my vehicle.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
It's the only place that I find peace because it
takes me an hour and fifteen minutes to drive the work,
and it takes me an hour and twenty minutes to
drive back.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
And in that time I can find all the piece
I need.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
We can have all the conversations, no interruptions, no phone calls.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Just me and my closet.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yo, that is what's up. Yes, mama, your traffics sound
like my traffic here in Charleston. So tell us a
little bit more about yourself. So you guys, well, we're
(07:14):
having a little technical difficulties, but you know, with me,
we're gonna make it do what it do. Her book
Can't Handle Failure is a novel that is mainly okay,
she's coming back back. There we go, you back, girl.
We just make you do what it do. We don't stop,
We keep on going. We wait for you to come back. Okay,
(07:42):
All right, here's a little suggestion. Place your phone on
airplane modes so no calls can come in and you
won't get disconnected.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Yeah, but you can't.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Tell these people.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You know, these fancy phones that we have going on.
I literally this my little friend is next to me
all the time. But let me tell you, guys a
little bit about her book. Why she sets that up? Okay,
this book of hers is about poetry about what she's
been through in life and how she finds a way
(08:24):
of dealing with it. It talks about being abused, emotionally dreamed,
and just trying to survive the every day to day.
A lot of us. I feel that can take something
away from one of the peoples to this book. You're
back at it. I did it. So her poetry is
(08:45):
a book that is almost for everyone. Okay, you guys,
but we're gonna let her talk a little bit about it.
Can't Handle Failure. Where did you get your title?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
My mom has a lot of health problems, and the
last time she was in the hospital, they told her
she had CHF and her chances of living were.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Little to none. You know, the same old, same old.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well, one thing my mom said that she instilled in
our minds is failure is not an option. Either you
gonna do it or you're gonna do it right. So
I named the book after her. Can't Handle failure because
you're not gonna go away from me like that.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
It's not happening.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
So I can tell you take you take life by
the reins and you kind of stir it in with
God's guidance. You you put it where it's supposed to be.
I can see this.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Oh yeah, So.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Was there any part of your book that was hard
to to write? Was there one point that you just said,
I gotta put this down because this brought up all
these emotions in me. Were there any points.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
That were like that?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I would have to say all of them were like that,
only because I write how it comes to me. So
if I was driving.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
And it comes, I gotta pull over.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
We got to write this down because if I don't,
I won't remember it. And there's a message in it.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
So I have to pull over. Lot, we got to stop.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
So there's notebooks everywhere. There's one in my car, my
husband's car, the kids, card I have a notebook somewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Okay, A lot of people I know they say they
keep a lot of notebooks written everywhere. Are you? Are
you a type of person that you will grab all
the notebooks and pick certain poems or you just say
I'm gonna grab this notebook and I'm gonna take the
points of that feel are relevant to my book and
(10:54):
place them inside my back.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
I take the poem, I take the notebook. This is
how we feel. We're gonna write, and if we write
all night, we write all night. There are days I
can know for a fact I stayed up and wrote.
I have poems I haven't published yet, but my husband
keeps from because he was like, you never know.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That is true, that is true, So what start that
you're writing?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Honestly, I was that weird kid.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
I've been writing since I was thirteen, and I'm kind
of people like. I'm very when I'm around people. I know,
I'm very open and I'm bubbly, but when I'm around.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Strangers, I am shy. I am really, really, really shy.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
So I was that weird kid.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Instead of making friends, I'm gonna just write how I
feel and believe it there and hope nobody reads it.
So the whole time my sister and brothers are making friends,
I'm writing.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Then once you.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Know, you become a teenager and you think you know
everything and mom have to shelter me from it.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
She was like, I don't really want you to.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Go outside because you're not ready. The boys are looking
at you in the wrong way. You don't know what
it is.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
And I'm like, oh, she just being her.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Now I'm mad.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
So now I'm going to write and let you see
what I wrote. Why because you don't toush touch your parents,
but they always tell them how you feel. So I'm
gonna write this poem and I'm gonna leave it on
the kitchen table because when you come in after you
get off work, all permission forms and everything, you won't red.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
It's on the kitchen table.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
I'm gonna leave it right now because you made me mad.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
If she'll.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
How much trouble did you get in from speaking your mind?
Speaker 5 (12:47):
A lot?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
See, I was the type of child you know, talking trash,
but you bull you writing on a piece of people
and leave it on the kitchen tea. So how do
you how was do you use your writing?
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Well?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I understand now that you use it as a former communication.
Do your kids use it as a former communication with
you like you do with your mom?
Speaker 4 (13:19):
No, my kids we have a very open life. Treat
me with respect when we speak to me. Don't curse
at me.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
If you want to talk to me and we can.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Talk about anything because I don't want Like I love
my mom for everything she did, but I kind of
felt like she was trying to hope the world for
us to wear.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
We didn't really.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Have real life experience. I want to be the parents
to wear if my baby said, Mama, look here, I
think I'm ready for SECT and I think we need
to have some birth control talk. I think we need
to talk about why do you feel like you're ready?
Is it you or are you being pressured?
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Like?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
I want to keep those lines open because I don't
ever want my kids to feel like they're afraid to
see and tell me anything because I don't want to
find out through the streets because they don't be mad,
because then I feel like you skipped the main player
in this game.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Regardless of what.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
At the end of the day, I always have your back.
Just be honest with me, because I can't have your
back if I don't know what I'm defending.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yo.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I send it to my son all the time, like,
don't let me go into something blindsided. I want to
be able to defend you. So you got to give
me the ammunition that I need. Yes, And I want
to say that I really do agree with you with
having that open door and being able to talk. I
just feel that our parents and our grandparents lived that
(14:47):
life up shy, don't ask me, you know what I'm saying.
And then when we started to go out there they
got mad. We was like, well, who we were supposed
to ask?
Speaker 1 (14:57):
You?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Weren't letting us ask you questions?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You know the secret taboos we don't talk about.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Right, And so that is awesome. I love the fact
that you do that. I would try to do that
with my ten year old. Would Yeah, that's a whole
different story that.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
So if I tried it with my one year old
right now, we'll be eating chicken nuggets.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
And old Gracie's Corner or what other lady name was
you guys, miss Rachel which one't be talking? Yes, thank you,
thank you because I never understood miss Rachel. She kind
(15:42):
of scared me a little bit. But anyways, So how
did you publish your book? Were you independent or did
you use a publishing house? And why did you make
that decision?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
So this is why a lot of people say, read
before you sign. I went with I'm not going to
name the company, but I went with a publishing house
and didn't read.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I was just so excited they were.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Going to publish my book.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
My first book was a flock.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
But in the contract it stays.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I have to give them another book within five years
or they could sue me.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Whoy Yeah yeah. So let me ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Are you.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
How are your feelings going forward? Are you wanting to
stay with the publishing house or are you wanting to
go independent?
Speaker 4 (17:00):
I would like to go independent because there's a lot
of poems that I wrote that I submitted to them
that they didn't think would hit the tard bit community,
and I felt like they were trying to edit the
book to where it wasn't really me.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
You know what. I hear a lot of people say
they love going independent, they just don't like all the
work that goes behind independent, And I think what you
happened through is one of those scenarios that happen when
you go with the publishing house. So are you so
(17:46):
your short story is that going to be under your
independent or is that publishing?
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I'm going to go independent with this one only because
it would be best for three reasons. The first reason
would be if I edit the book, nobody's going to
change it. It's not going to be Hey, you know
you're too urban in this part of the book.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
We need to change this or changed this.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
It's this is what we're living.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
This is how we talk. This is how you can
relate to people.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I like the fact that you said this is how
we're living, this is how we talk. As a reader,
I love when Life. For the book that I'm currently reading.
You guys, you might not be able to see it
doesn't like this a little bit of it. This is
called reverse by Ryan Jenkins. And I love the fact
(18:51):
that in the book it has that slang, it has
that that that dialogue that represents or is about the
character that makes the book real. So how are you
too urban? And an urban book?
Speaker 4 (19:11):
A couple of my poems were too urban, and when
they categorized me, it was urban about what was urban poetry?
And then it went from urban to urban African American.
It just couldn't be a book of poetry. It had
to have several different labels. When I go to the library,
I don't go and say I'm looking for an urban section.
(19:33):
I'm just looking for one section.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
You guys, African American is not a genre. Please understand
that African American is not a genre. It's barely a week,
but it is not a genre. So please don't go
(19:58):
in your public library. Action, can I have the African
American books? Because there's no such thing as an African
American book. Okay, remember that, just like you have with
Caucasian authors, there are mystery romance such as such, they're
the same thing. Just telling me you want an African
(20:19):
American author, not an African American book. Don't do that
because what that does is that puts you in that box,
and nobody want If they don't want to go in
that box, they're never going to recognize you. So I
applaud you for doing that. So since we're talking about this,
your cover very very distinctive, how did you come up
(20:45):
with that cover? Man?
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Actually, it was my husband's idea.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Oh, good job, he'd be a good job. So how
did you guys? Well, how did he come up with it?
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Because as he say, anytime that I'm finished writing for
the night, I just leave my part in the middle
pad just like that, just leave it there.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
So we was like, you know what, that would be
a nice.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Cover, very very to the point in actually representing you
through the book. I love it. So poet Stevens, how
did you get that name just because of poetry and
your last name? Yes, Sam, understandable, understandable. So what does
(21:39):
literary success look like for you?
Speaker 1 (21:44):
For me? Literary successful beings?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Like I said, I have a short story coming up,
and it touched on a lot of things we grew up.
I'm able to talk about because it was taboo, you know,
like the uncle that you not posting dressed around, stuff
like that. This book touches on it. And if my
book can reach one girl to the point she say,
(22:08):
I know I'm not in this by myself. Somebody's been
through what I'm going through, that's my success right there.
If somebody can read my book can go you know
what this girl right?
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (22:20):
I made it f this time, but we're gonna try
it again.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Because I know who won't be easy for me.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
I've been a CNA for a very very long time,
so it's a new come up for me. But I
can't let one bad grade go.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
I don't think this for me no more, it's not
gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
I'm so you're wanting to reach those with this book
who would who would benefit best from your.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Writings, anybody that's willing to listen, anybody that's willing to understand,
and anybody that can read in between lines.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Oh okay, I love that reading in between the line.
So you're wanting them to come up with an interpretation
for themselves.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yes, because what I can what I'm thinking, You might
read it and.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Be like, well that ain't what that is.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Understandable Now it's It's nice to have a book where
you can interpret yourself and place yourself aside the book.
So I love that. So before we went online, it
wasn't able to tell you this. So I'm gonna go
ahead and tell you now. The last five minutes of
Scie book out different podcasts, we have our fun questions. Okay,
(23:43):
So the pun questions are questions that involve music and
media because I love music and I love media. So
I have now had a staple question that I asked
every author. But before I ask you that question, I'm
gonna ask you this. You have an opportunity to have
(24:06):
your poetry down at a spoken word conference at essence
like this, Let's do a big who would you want
to read your poetry and why did you choose that person?
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Jill Scott.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Oh see, you went straight there? So why Jill Scott?
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Because when Jill Scott first came out, a lot of
people really wasn't rocking on the neo soul. Everybody was
so into hip hop and you know, everybody want to
be a hot girl, and you know, we wanted to
be suked and everything else. But she had a vibe
of her own. It wasn't, hey, I want to be
(24:49):
a copy paste person. It wasn't like I see Erica
Badu do a number try.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
No, she was like, this is my soul, this is
my lane.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I'm gonna create my own Pa, You're right, That's exactly
what she did. And she didn't let anybody kind of
dictate her and she grew along the process.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So I see it.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
I feel that one here's a staple question Lifetime is
on the line in the Love Your Book, they want
to make your booket to a film. Who would be
your leading lady and who would be your leading man?
(25:31):
And why did you choose them?
Speaker 4 (25:34):
My leading lady would have to be Whoopy Goldbert. It
is because we were brainwashed to believe Whoopy was an
ugly woman. I was brainwashed to believe that I was
very ugly that nobody never wanted me.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I was undesirable, I was damaged good and it took.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Somebody thirteen years to finally crack.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
Me down to where I became the diamond I am today.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
So I have to go with whoopy Why because everybody
took past the other dog. Oh she ugly.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
You know, she did this and did this, But at
the end of the day, she's still smiling. She is
beautiful as she ever was off.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
My leading man.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Would have to be Samuel L. Jackson, because the man,
the way he say ms, and the way every time
I messed up with my granddaddy had to look at it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And if that man, because I want.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Him Samuel L.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Jackson. Okay, I see it, I see it all right.
Lifetime's back on the line again, but this time they
want to do a bio pic of you. Who would
you give the honor of playing you? And why I.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Would play me?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Okay. There are emotions that certain people can't tap into
if they've never been through it.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
MM, only you could play yourself the best, So I
totally understand that. So before we leave tonight, give us
the rundown. Tell us where we can get your book.
If you could tell us when your next book is
going to be coming out, and if you have any
social media handles, tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
My book is on Amazon.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I just discovered recently that.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
They finally put it in Books a million, so I'm
excited about that. My social media platforms are poet Brooks
on Instagram, poet Brooks also on TikTok. I'm I'm I'm
gonna say, I'm viral ish probably every other day. It's
(28:01):
more of a comedy short than anything because when we
have we go to work with Gardis I work with.
We don't go to work to work, We go to
work to last. It is twelve hours of a straight poverty.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Show Joe and listen. I work at a public library
and there it is like this, totally like that, and
you like, I actually didn't come in to work, but
I'm gonna laugh my butt off, So it's time to
get off because I need some entertainment. I told me,
I understand that.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
And I always feel like you never know what somebody
going through, so if you can make them laugh, you
compleet the whole day. And my residents think on a clown,
so every time I make a joke, they always laughing
at me anyway. So yeah, I'm social media ish. I'm
trying to do better. I'm really really trying to do better.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
I ain't just speak consistent like I have to tell
myself okay.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
I'm learning about that.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Well I will, yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
But yeah, the title of it is Secret.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I'm trying to have it out around December January, and
this book is a roller coaster. You're going to laugh,
you're going to get angry, you're going to see everything
from Miss Angels eyes, and you're going.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
To be like I went through that. I went through that.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
I went through that, and you're gonna learn you can
overcome it, you can hear from it and become a
better person.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Now that's my type of book, So you know, I
will be looking forward to that. I love those books
that take me on the roller coaster. So keep me
in contact because I surely want to read it. Yes, ma'am, Well,
what's made poet Stevens? Thank you for being with us tonight.
(30:00):
I'm gonna let you say one more thing to your
new readers, old readers and soon to be readers want
they see this podcast, what would you like to say
to them?
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Keep an open heart?
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Open mind and open ears because everything you see not
might might not lad up to everything you hear, and
sometimes your best thing is to just listen and don't respond.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
That hurt them worse.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Ooh, I like that. Listen and don't respond. Sometimes I
don't know how.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
You don't want a reaction, and if they don't get it,
that makes the mad and.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
They walk off.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
I'm slowly learning that.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
That is true. But then for me, there's some reason
why I feel like I gotta have the last word,
and maybe that's why my child is that. Yeah, that
makes sense. Sometimes I do feel like I got to
get that. But you know what confirmation? Stop talking so
much and just walk away. All right, here you got
(31:06):
I'm gonna stop paying attention. Stop paying attention. Well, thank
you for joining us tonight. It has been a pleasure
you guys. Go grab Can't Handle Failure by Poet Stevens.
We got it on Amazon, they got it on Bonds
and Noble. Go ahead, get your copy read this one
so you could be ready when a new one comes
(31:28):
out Secrets in December. Okay, thank you again for being
with us tonight. Hey, guys, I'll be back on Thursday.
And Thursday I have a double feature. I got two offers,
not one, but I got two. But I see you
(31:48):
next week Thursday. Remember I mean this Thursday my fault.
Remember there's no such thing as an old book because
not everybody is there in every book. Have a good night, everyone,
five
K k k k.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
K k luke luk lags and gentlemen, lay, I have
(00:47):
your attention please. The show starts in five eight seven
six five four three pump shoot one go four three
(01:48):
pump shoot one go.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Hey everyone, it's a Tuesday night, and I am here
again with the new author, with the new book, and
this one, I know it's going to hit a little
home because it's poetry, and you know, poetry is it's
something to make you feel good. It's something to help
you get those emotions out, you know, like like poetry
(02:27):
you can kind of call the purge, you know. And
the reason why I say that if you get all
these thoughts out on the paper and then you feel
better sometimes depending on how you're doing it. But I
have a new author, Okay, you guys. It's wonderful. And
I love when authors reach out to me after I
put the call out, and she was one of those
(02:49):
ones that reach out to me. So tonight we're gonna
talk about a book entitled Can't Handle Failure, and we
are going to be talking to author poet Stevens. Okay,
So we're gonna bring this lady out and we're gonna
welcome her to sc bookels and friends. Come on up, girly,
(03:10):
how are you?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
I'm fine, how are you?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I am grave? So welcome, welcome, welcome, and we are
so honored to have you here tonight with this beautiful
book that is on that side. Y'all, I got it
right for the first time, can you believe it? So
we're gonna jump right into this, but a full any further,
(03:40):
tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I'm a mother, I'm a CNA. I'm going to school
to be an LPN. I'm a poetry writer. I've just
finished my first short story book, and that.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Should because.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I do everything because the sky is the limit, and
can't nobody tell me I.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Can't do it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
You need depend that the sky is the limit, and
nobody can't tell me I can't do it. First of all,
my hat goes off to you being a mother and
you in school with that in word that's called nursing.
My hat is off to you, sweetheart, and you're writing books.
(04:34):
How old is your little person?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
My youngest is one going on too. My oldest is
twenty two.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Ooo. Again, I believe I could do anything, and I.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Believe I want the big family.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
So I have a big family. I have seven beautiful children.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Seven So what are ages? So we got twenty two.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Or we have a twenty one?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I have a nineteen going on twenty. I have an
eighteen fourteen, then the baby, and then I have my
adopted chiald, which is mine. So you can't tell me
she ain't mine.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Okay, now I'm sorry, you can tell me. I'm not
gonna ask answer that question. But you look so young.
You have this baby faced, beautiful smile with the cheeks.
Can I ask how old you are?
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Believe it or not?
Speaker 5 (05:40):
I feel like I'm thirty nine going on eighty.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
What you will, girl?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Why you feel like you're going on eighty?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
The knowledge I acquired in the years, I feel like
I acquired it a little late.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
But then most of.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
It that I knew, I just wanted to ignore it.
And that old lady is with the talking and when
things didn't go right, you know how the old people say,
you got to go to that prayer closet. So I
had to go to that closet. I'm an old lady.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Ain't nothing wrong with it, that closet, And you guys,
it's not always a closet. But we called our prayer, closet,
my closet, across my bed, and in my bathroom where's yours.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Mine is my vehicle.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
It's the only place that I find peace because it
takes me an hour and fifteen minutes to drive the work,
and it takes me an hour and twenty minutes to
drive back.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
And in that time I can find all the piece
I need.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
We can have all the conversations, no interruptions, no phone calls.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Just me and my closet.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yo, that is what's up. Yes, mama, your traffics sound
like my traffic here in Charleston. So tell us a
little bit more about yourself. So you guys, well, we're
(07:14):
having a little technical difficulties, but you know, with me,
we're gonna make it do what it do. Her book
Can't Handle Failure is a novel that is mainly okay,
she's coming back back. There we go, you back, girl.
We just make you do what it do. We don't stop,
We keep on going. We wait for you to come back. Okay,
(07:42):
All right, here's a little suggestion. Place your phone on
airplane modes so no calls can come in and you
won't get disconnected.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Yeah, but you can't.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Tell these people.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You know, these fancy phones that we have going on.
I literally this my little friend is next to me
all the time. But let me tell you, guys a
little bit about her book. Why she sets that up? Okay,
this book of hers is about poetry about what she's
been through in life and how she finds a way
(08:24):
of dealing with it. It talks about being abused, emotionally dreamed,
and just trying to survive the every day to day.
A lot of us. I feel that can take something
away from one of the peoples to this book. You're
back at it. I did it. So her poetry is
(08:45):
a book that is almost for everyone. Okay, you guys,
but we're gonna let her talk a little bit about it.
Can't Handle Failure. Where did you get your title?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
My mom has a lot of health problems, and the
last time she was in the hospital, they told her
she had CHF and her chances of living were.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Little to none. You know, the same old, same old.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well, one thing my mom said that she instilled in
our minds is failure is not an option. Either you
gonna do it or you're gonna do it right. So
I named the book after her. Can't Handle failure because
you're not gonna go away from me like that.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
It's not happening.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
So I can tell you take you take life by
the reins and you kind of stir it in with
God's guidance. You you put it where it's supposed to be.
I can see this.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Oh yeah, So.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Was there any part of your book that was hard
to to write? Was there one point that you just said,
I gotta put this down because this brought up all
these emotions in me. Were there any points.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
That were like that?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I would have to say all of them were like that,
only because I write how it comes to me. So
if I was driving.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
And it comes, I gotta pull over.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
We got to write this down because if I don't,
I won't remember it. And there's a message in it.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
So I have to pull over. Lot, we got to stop.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
So there's notebooks everywhere. There's one in my car, my
husband's car, the kids, card I have a notebook somewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Okay, A lot of people I know they say they
keep a lot of notebooks written everywhere. Are you? Are
you a type of person that you will grab all
the notebooks and pick certain poems or you just say
I'm gonna grab this notebook and I'm gonna take the
points of that feel are relevant to my book and
(10:54):
place them inside my back.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
I take the poem, I take the notebook. This is
how we feel. We're gonna write, and if we write
all night, we write all night. There are days I
can know for a fact I stayed up and wrote.
I have poems I haven't published yet, but my husband
keeps from because he was like, you never know.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That is true, that is true, So what start that
you're writing?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Honestly, I was that weird kid.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
I've been writing since I was thirteen, and I'm kind
of people like. I'm very when I'm around people. I know,
I'm very open and I'm bubbly, but when I'm around.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Strangers, I am shy. I am really, really, really shy.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
So I was that weird kid.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Instead of making friends, I'm gonna just write how I
feel and believe it there and hope nobody reads it.
So the whole time my sister and brothers are making friends,
I'm writing.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Then once you.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Know, you become a teenager and you think you know
everything and mom have to shelter me from it.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
She was like, I don't really want you to.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Go outside because you're not ready. The boys are looking
at you in the wrong way. You don't know what
it is.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
And I'm like, oh, she just being her.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Now I'm mad.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
So now I'm going to write and let you see
what I wrote. Why because you don't toush touch your parents,
but they always tell them how you feel. So I'm
gonna write this poem and I'm gonna leave it on
the kitchen table because when you come in after you
get off work, all permission forms and everything, you won't red.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
It's on the kitchen table.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
I'm gonna leave it right now because you made me mad.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
If she'll.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
How much trouble did you get in from speaking your mind?
Speaker 5 (12:47):
A lot?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
See, I was the type of child you know, talking trash,
but you bull you writing on a piece of people
and leave it on the kitchen tea. So how do
you how was do you use your writing?
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Well?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I understand now that you use it as a former communication.
Do your kids use it as a former communication with
you like you do with your mom?
Speaker 4 (13:19):
No, my kids we have a very open life. Treat
me with respect when we speak to me. Don't curse
at me.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
If you want to talk to me and we can.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Talk about anything because I don't want Like I love
my mom for everything she did, but I kind of
felt like she was trying to hope the world for
us to wear.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
We didn't really.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Have real life experience. I want to be the parents
to wear if my baby said, Mama, look here, I
think I'm ready for SECT and I think we need
to have some birth control talk. I think we need
to talk about why do you feel like you're ready?
Is it you or are you being pressured?
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Like?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
I want to keep those lines open because I don't
ever want my kids to feel like they're afraid to
see and tell me anything because I don't want to
find out through the streets because they don't be mad,
because then I feel like you skipped the main player
in this game.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Regardless of what.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
At the end of the day, I always have your back.
Just be honest with me, because I can't have your
back if I don't know what I'm defending.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yo.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I send it to my son all the time, like,
don't let me go into something blindsided. I want to
be able to defend you. So you got to give
me the ammunition that I need. Yes, And I want
to say that I really do agree with you with
having that open door and being able to talk. I
just feel that our parents and our grandparents lived that
(14:47):
life up shy, don't ask me, you know what I'm saying.
And then when we started to go out there they
got mad. We was like, well, who we were supposed
to ask?
Speaker 1 (14:57):
You?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Weren't letting us ask you questions?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You know the secret taboos we don't talk about.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Right, And so that is awesome. I love the fact
that you do that. I would try to do that
with my ten year old. Would Yeah, that's a whole
different story that.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
So if I tried it with my one year old
right now, we'll be eating chicken nuggets.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
And old Gracie's Corner or what other lady name was
you guys, miss Rachel which one't be talking? Yes, thank you,
thank you because I never understood miss Rachel. She kind
(15:42):
of scared me a little bit. But anyways, So how
did you publish your book? Were you independent or did
you use a publishing house? And why did you make
that decision?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
So this is why a lot of people say, read
before you sign. I went with I'm not going to
name the company, but I went with a publishing house
and didn't read.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I was just so excited they were.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Going to publish my book.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
My first book was a flock.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
But in the contract it stays.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I have to give them another book within five years
or they could sue me.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Whoy Yeah yeah. So let me ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Are you.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
How are your feelings going forward? Are you wanting to
stay with the publishing house or are you wanting to
go independent?
Speaker 4 (17:00):
I would like to go independent because there's a lot
of poems that I wrote that I submitted to them
that they didn't think would hit the tard bit community,
and I felt like they were trying to edit the
book to where it wasn't really me.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
You know what. I hear a lot of people say
they love going independent, they just don't like all the
work that goes behind independent, And I think what you
happened through is one of those scenarios that happen when
you go with the publishing house. So are you so
(17:46):
your short story is that going to be under your
independent or is that publishing?
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I'm going to go independent with this one only because
it would be best for three reasons. The first reason
would be if I edit the book, nobody's going to
change it. It's not going to be Hey, you know
you're too urban in this part of the book.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
We need to change this or changed this.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
It's this is what we're living.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
This is how we talk. This is how you can
relate to people.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I like the fact that you said this is how
we're living, this is how we talk. As a reader,
I love when Life. For the book that I'm currently reading.
You guys, you might not be able to see it
doesn't like this a little bit of it. This is
called reverse by Ryan Jenkins. And I love the fact
(18:51):
that in the book it has that slang, it has
that that that dialogue that represents or is about the
character that makes the book real. So how are you
too urban? And an urban book?
Speaker 4 (19:11):
A couple of my poems were too urban, and when
they categorized me, it was urban about what was urban poetry?
And then it went from urban to urban African American.
It just couldn't be a book of poetry. It had
to have several different labels. When I go to the library,
I don't go and say I'm looking for an urban section.
(19:33):
I'm just looking for one section.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
You guys, African American is not a genre. Please understand
that African American is not a genre. It's barely a week,
but it is not a genre. So please don't go
(19:58):
in your public library. Action, can I have the African
American books? Because there's no such thing as an African
American book. Okay, remember that, just like you have with
Caucasian authors, there are mystery romance such as such, they're
the same thing. Just telling me you want an African
(20:19):
American author, not an African American book. Don't do that
because what that does is that puts you in that box,
and nobody want If they don't want to go in
that box, they're never going to recognize you. So I
applaud you for doing that. So since we're talking about this,
your cover very very distinctive, how did you come up
(20:45):
with that cover? Man?
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Actually, it was my husband's idea.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Oh, good job, he'd be a good job. So how
did you guys? Well, how did he come up with it?
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Because as he say, anytime that I'm finished writing for
the night, I just leave my part in the middle
pad just like that, just leave it there.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
So we was like, you know what, that would be
a nice.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Cover, very very to the point in actually representing you
through the book. I love it. So poet Stevens, how
did you get that name just because of poetry and
your last name? Yes, Sam, understandable, understandable. So what does
(21:39):
literary success look like for you?
Speaker 1 (21:44):
For me? Literary successful beings?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Like I said, I have a short story coming up,
and it touched on a lot of things we grew up.
I'm able to talk about because it was taboo, you know,
like the uncle that you not posting dressed around, stuff
like that. This book touches on it. And if my
book can reach one girl to the point she say,
(22:08):
I know I'm not in this by myself. Somebody's been
through what I'm going through, that's my success right there.
If somebody can read my book can go you know
what this girl right?
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (22:20):
I made it f this time, but we're gonna try
it again.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Because I know who won't be easy for me.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
I've been a CNA for a very very long time,
so it's a new come up for me. But I
can't let one bad grade go.
Speaker 5 (22:38):
I don't think this for me no more, it's not
gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
I'm so you're wanting to reach those with this book
who would who would benefit best from your.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Writings, anybody that's willing to listen, anybody that's willing to understand,
and anybody that can read in between lines.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Oh okay, I love that reading in between the line.
So you're wanting them to come up with an interpretation
for themselves.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yes, because what I can what I'm thinking, You might
read it and.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Be like, well that ain't what that is.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Understandable Now it's It's nice to have a book where
you can interpret yourself and place yourself aside the book.
So I love that. So before we went online, it
wasn't able to tell you this. So I'm gonna go
ahead and tell you now. The last five minutes of
Scie book out different podcasts, we have our fun questions. Okay,
(23:43):
So the pun questions are questions that involve music and
media because I love music and I love media. So
I have now had a staple question that I asked
every author. But before I ask you that question, I'm
gonna ask you this. You have an opportunity to have
(24:06):
your poetry down at a spoken word conference at essence
like this, Let's do a big who would you want
to read your poetry and why did you choose that person?
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Jill Scott.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Oh see, you went straight there? So why Jill Scott?
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Because when Jill Scott first came out, a lot of
people really wasn't rocking on the neo soul. Everybody was
so into hip hop and you know, everybody want to
be a hot girl, and you know, we wanted to
be suked and everything else. But she had a vibe
of her own. It wasn't, hey, I want to be
(24:49):
a copy paste person. It wasn't like I see Erica
Badu do a number try.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
No, she was like, this is my soul, this is
my lane.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I'm gonna create my own Pa, You're right, That's exactly
what she did. And she didn't let anybody kind of
dictate her and she grew along the process.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So I see it.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
I feel that one here's a staple question Lifetime is
on the line in the Love Your Book, they want
to make your booket to a film. Who would be
your leading lady and who would be your leading man?
(25:31):
And why did you choose them?
Speaker 4 (25:34):
My leading lady would have to be Whoopy Goldbert. It
is because we were brainwashed to believe Whoopy was an
ugly woman. I was brainwashed to believe that I was
very ugly that nobody never wanted me.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I was undesirable, I was damaged good and it took.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Somebody thirteen years to finally crack.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
Me down to where I became the diamond I am today.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
So I have to go with whoopy Why because everybody
took past the other dog. Oh she ugly.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
You know, she did this and did this, But at
the end of the day, she's still smiling. She is
beautiful as she ever was off.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
My leading man.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Would have to be Samuel L. Jackson, because the man,
the way he say ms, and the way every time
I messed up with my granddaddy had to look at it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And if that man, because I want.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Him Samuel L.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Jackson. Okay, I see it, I see it all right.
Lifetime's back on the line again, but this time they
want to do a bio pic of you. Who would
you give the honor of playing you? And why I.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Would play me?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Okay. There are emotions that certain people can't tap into
if they've never been through it.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
MM, only you could play yourself the best, So I
totally understand that. So before we leave tonight, give us
the rundown. Tell us where we can get your book.
If you could tell us when your next book is
going to be coming out, and if you have any
social media handles, tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
My book is on Amazon.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I just discovered recently that.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
They finally put it in Books a million, so I'm
excited about that. My social media platforms are poet Brooks
on Instagram, poet Brooks also on TikTok. I'm I'm I'm
gonna say, I'm viral ish probably every other day. It's
(28:01):
more of a comedy short than anything because when we
have we go to work with Gardis I work with.
We don't go to work to work, We go to
work to last. It is twelve hours of a straight poverty.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Show Joe and listen. I work at a public library
and there it is like this, totally like that, and
you like, I actually didn't come in to work, but
I'm gonna laugh my butt off, So it's time to
get off because I need some entertainment. I told me,
I understand that.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
And I always feel like you never know what somebody
going through, so if you can make them laugh, you
compleet the whole day. And my residents think on a clown,
so every time I make a joke, they always laughing
at me anyway. So yeah, I'm social media ish. I'm
trying to do better. I'm really really trying to do better.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
I ain't just speak consistent like I have to tell
myself okay.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
I'm learning about that.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Well I will, yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
But yeah, the title of it is Secret.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I'm trying to have it out around December January, and
this book is a roller coaster. You're going to laugh,
you're going to get angry, you're going to see everything
from Miss Angels eyes, and you're going.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
To be like I went through that. I went through that.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
I went through that, and you're gonna learn you can
overcome it, you can hear from it and become a
better person.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Now that's my type of book, So you know, I
will be looking forward to that. I love those books
that take me on the roller coaster. So keep me
in contact because I surely want to read it. Yes, ma'am, Well,
what's made poet Stevens? Thank you for being with us tonight.
(30:00):
I'm gonna let you say one more thing to your
new readers, old readers and soon to be readers want
they see this podcast, what would you like to say
to them?
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Keep an open heart?
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Open mind and open ears because everything you see not
might might not lad up to everything you hear, and
sometimes your best thing is to just listen and don't respond.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
That hurt them worse.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Ooh, I like that. Listen and don't respond. Sometimes I
don't know how.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
You don't want a reaction, and if they don't get it,
that makes the mad and.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
They walk off.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
I'm slowly learning that.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
That is true. But then for me, there's some reason
why I feel like I gotta have the last word,
and maybe that's why my child is that. Yeah, that
makes sense. Sometimes I do feel like I got to
get that. But you know what confirmation? Stop talking so
much and just walk away. All right, here you got
(31:06):
I'm gonna stop paying attention. Stop paying attention. Well, thank
you for joining us tonight. It has been a pleasure
you guys. Go grab Can't Handle Failure by Poet Stevens.
We got it on Amazon, they got it on Bonds
and Noble. Go ahead, get your copy read this one
so you could be ready when a new one comes
(31:28):
out Secrets in December. Okay, thank you again for being
with us tonight. Hey, guys, I'll be back on Thursday.
And Thursday I have a double feature. I got two offers,
not one, but I got two. But I see you
(31:48):
next week Thursday. Remember I mean this Thursday my fault.
Remember there's no such thing as an old book because
not everybody is there in every book. Have a good night, everyone,
five
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