A Look Back on My Fiction and Poetry Writing Journey

As an author of The Mind novel and Freedom poetry book, I am taking a look back on my fiction and poetry writing journey. I have written two books with the first entitled The Mind that is a fiction novel. I also compiled Freedom, a book of poetry. An ode in the Freedom book relates to the freedom from slavery of African Americans here in the United States.

My fiction and poetry writing journey to become an author began with a longstanding history of writing poetry. When I think about who inspired me, I absolutely have to mention Phyllis Wheatley. For instance, I got familiar with her at an early age by gaining insight from her poetry. There is deep meaning in her poetry. That enlightened me. In addition, with both of us being black, this similarity made her writing interesting.

At an elementary school event, I dressed like Phyllis Wheatley since she was an easy choice with all the inspiration she had given me. Wearing a white apron and contrasting dark purple dress, I got in line with my fourth grade classmates. We were all dressed as our favorite historical figures and on our way to celebrate the United States Bicentennial in 1976. What a joyful day it was because we were imitating the giants of the past though we were only in fourth grade.

More Poets on the Journey to Write

Next, I was on a quest to read more poetry because I understood the poetry. I discovered books which compiled works of poets, for instance, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson and Maya Angelou and many more. That exhilarated me. In addition to Phyllis Wheatley, Maya Angelou definitely influenced me as a writer of poetry and through her eloquent speech. As well as with great significance, she spoke poetically. I find that these poets from the past have provided an example of excellence. Their art has provided a basis which to compare, when we recognize high artistic quality.

My Works

I am an author with two books behind me. The Mind novel is about an African American woman, Sheila, who is struggling with hearing voices. She finds out many shocking truths from her past with the assistance of one of her friends. Her friend Jonathan is right by her side during her transitioning to becoming well and whole from depression. She becomes reacquainted with her close friends. This book of fiction has given me the opportunity to be the maker of my own storyline, characters, and their own captivating conversations.

Here is a recent review for The Mind that I received in August 2021 from Kalyan Panja of BookMarkks (https://bookmarkks.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-mind-gloria-foster.html).

Today I bring you my impressions of The Mind, a novel by Gloria Foster, a game of mirrors where everything can be real or illusory at the same time. For me it has been my first approach with this author and I have had a great time reading this book. It is true that when I got this novel, I was expecting something else, but the path it has taken me has pleased me and above all, it has surprised me.

We are going to attend a reading that is not at a frenetic pace, but it is not necessary, since the author combines a plot that puzzles and that you want to know more about. The plot has an atmosphere that will make us relive the childhood of Sheila Leclaire, an investment banker who lives in Sommerville, Virginia.

Haunted by voices of events that occurred in her childhood, we find Sheila is a tenacious and we could even say obsessive woman. In Sheila's story real things are mixed, dreams, and a lot of imagination. The same author gives us the key.

The book is seasoned with an evening dose of social denunciation (no more concrete so as not to spoil, but if you have read it you will understand me perfectly) and takes place in Sommerville, which becomes a silent character.

Throughout the novel we will gradually discover the world of Sheila, all the people around her, who were not many, and how each one of them seems to tell something. And it is that the author knows how to attract attention and that you devour the story.

The plot will catch you from those first moments in which we will meet Sheila, and we will not be able to stop reading, because you think that you are going to read a couple of chapters turn into 14, since you are hopelessly trapped in that plot that Gloria has created trying to find the meaning of everything that happens.

Together with Sheila we will get to know other characters who, although they do not have a leading role, contribute important things to the story. Above all, they help us understand Sheila's personality.

From the first moment we enter a plot that takes us from one event to another. Gloria Foster gets us to devour the book, because you will want to know what is behind Sheila’s past. Through chapters titled with simple language and constant dialogues we find out about her life.

This is, broadly speaking, the premise of a novel that articulates its plot in a total of fourteen short chapters. Many of these short chapters’ end with such an unknown. In this it seems to me that this author is one of the best. And be careful, as I said, the ending is quite coherent, that is to say that it is not that complicated to find out.

Starting from these premises, the novel continues in a tight way. The writer is very skilled in gradually revealing the details that allow the reader to delve into the enigma. There is no blood, there are no serial killers and there are no monsters. Yet, the sense of unease immediately grips the reader.

The Mind has a story that hooks, not only because of the plot but also because of the way it is told, very well defined by its author that it makes it easy for you to read it. And in this book in particular it is the ravines and labyrinths of the human mind, its unpredictability, that generate in the reader the sense of estrangement.

We are constantly on the borderline that separates the rational from the irrational, sanity from madness, the most reassuring explanation from the most fearful one. Perhaps what has convinced me the most about the novel is how it is narrated.

The use of an omniscient narrator has made me distance myself a bit from the characters and see everything as a spectator. The characters, barely have outlined the lines that surround them, but in this case it is not necessary to create tension, because with the brief brushstrokes offered by each of them is enough for us to have an idea of the role they are going to play.

Of course, we must recognize that The Mind, does not have a frenetic rhythm, but does manage to keep the reader continue reading one more chapter. Drawn with a prose without frills and an agile narrative, whose tension is correctly dosed, Gloria Foster has concocted a misty story.

The plot leads us to think of a simple story, but as we move forward the doubt is forged, creating an ambiguous residue. It does not let you take anything for granted, small drops that make you believe that there is much more, the author's pen. It is simply intriguing and easy to follow but we are not talking about a light reading.

Education

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematical Sciences.

“A psychological tale with a messy plot.”
– Kirkus Reviews