Kinks...Connected At The Roots
An interview with Yvette Coleman and Amera Douglas
By Kenyatta D. Pious

Writing has come full circle with our very own Beauty Editor, Yvette Coleman, as she (and longtime friend Amera Douglas) co-wrote Kinks…Connected at the Roots. This is a modern (and fresh) approach to the coming of age story. Kinks deals with the trials and tribulations (that many of us can relate to). At its height, it is an exposition into the triumph of the human spirit against life's "kinks" and to bear witness to this victory.

Naturally we bring you an exclusive interview behind the minds of Kinks. Note: the italicized is Yvette Coleman and the non-italicized is Amera Douglas.

What is the main theme of the book?
YC: The main themes are love, hope and resolution. Initially the collection of poems and stories came from [my] life experiences. The book reflects the feeling of me and Amera. We have been “sisters” since we were 12. Our lives have gone in separate directions and locations but we are still “connected at the roots.” The book reveals that we all have similar desires, heartaches, beliefs, and dreams - - we all will experience a “kink” or two that will challenge our morality, spirit, and trust.

AD: The main theme is that, though all the trials and tribulations of life deplete our energy, we are all still connected by them and can grow stronger by acknowledging how the shared experiences make us better.

Art often mirrors reality - - what reality is mirrored in this book?
YC: I believe many people can identify with our collection of thoughts and memories. Art is life in many ways. We draw from our experiences to verbalize the collective thoughts of many women.

AD: My art definitely mirrors my reality! Every piece I’ve written was at a time in my life where that specific situation was happening. There are almost no metaphors or “bigger picture” pieces. They all tell of a very personal experience I was having at that time.

Writers are often told that they bare their souls when they “create” - - what can we learn about your soul from reading this book? Do you agree with that statement?
YC: I agree with the act of “baring your soul”. The act of creating a piece allows me to resolve any thoughts or issues that have left my soul wearied or strained. When I complete a piece I feel at ease. In my collection I’ve put myself in others’ situations and spoke through them. How it makes me feel, how would I react? I take those two questions and build a concept for a piece and the perspective comes alive within those pieces.

AD: You may take away that I am an angry old soul. I have chosen to strike back at people, places and situations through words. It’s how I make peace internally. I don’t necessarily agree with that; rather, I feel that my soul is weathered and much wiser than when I first began writing. It has granted me a clarity that I didn’t possess before.

What was the hardest thing about writing this book? Was it a story that kept “calling” you or just something you concocted?
YC: The hardest thing had to be sharing my thoughts; I originally started writing a diary/journal for my private use in high school. I wanted to pass my history to my children; to let them know who their mother was as she learned about herself. I often think of all the stories and thoughts my mother had and never had a chance to share with me. I wanted to give my best gift to them: a gift of love and understanding. The process became more of a focus when I began to share, and people began to identify but could not voice themselves through wordplay. The stories and ideas would come to me and I injected pieces of life from myself and others. The “calling” would sometimes come in the middle of the night and I had my notepad available to catch those thoughts and develop them as a story.

AD: The most challenging thing was putting in pieces that I was sure would embarrass my mom and grandma! Our family very rarely discussed such intimate, sensuous or erotic topics so a lot of the pieces almost didn’t make it! The idea for the book had been calling me for several years and when Yvette started sharing some of her pieces with me, I knew we had to move on it.

What do you hope this book will achieve?
AD: I hope that this book will open young eyes to the ways of the world beyond what they see on television and in movies. I want young people to understand that there are many different dynamics to all types of relationships and that it takes more than just love to make them work. In family life, work life and personal life, there are lots of kinks that you will encounter and it is better to read about and relate to someone else’s deeply personal experiences than to go through it and maybe not make it out on the other side.

What writer most influenced your writing aesthetic?
YC: Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, James Joyce. I remember reading their books in junior high and I felt connected. I could relate, many say I have an old soul!

Since this is your first book, what was the moment that gave you inspiration to write?
YC: The defining moments in my life: my first experiences, the joy of college, losing my mother, marriage, enjoying the process of discovering who I am.

AD: My inspiration came from not being able to express myself verbally. I’m a pleaser. I don’t want anyone to not like me, so I would generally go along with whatever was going on and then go home and write what I really wanted to say, do and how I really wanted to act. I would read my diary aloud and say, ‘that sounds like a great story’. That’s when I knew I wanted to write professionally.

A writer only writes ONE story - - just different shades of it. Do you agree with that? If so, what shade did you just write?
YC: That is possible, I try to open myself to new experiences and people to have that connection with the other side of the game so to speak and unintentional stories come from living life. The talent is to tell the story as many different and sharp ways as possible. I do not think this is cheating the reader, but allowing them to see all perspectives, and if the writer can challenge themselves by being fresh and innovative with that ONE story and we still enjoy then that’s a talent. I try to just live and take one day at a time. No worries only joy as a friend mine would say. You can some similar shades within this book. Some of the pieces needed a continuation, some are more direct, some are more sensual, some will inspire.

AD: I agree to an extent. A lot of inspiration comes from your personal experiences, situations and friends. Most authors write about what they know or what they are interested in; however, I believe that always trying to make the next book better, we stretch our limits and go outside our boxes for new material.

Finish the following sentences:

YC:
I most want to be like Oprah AND Michelle Obama!

Three things I would change from my past are: Graduation night ’94, ‘96 and ’97!

AD:
I once lied about: the reason for breaking up with a man (he was bad in bed)

Three things I would change from my past: are: not demanding respect for myself, having children too early, cheating on my high school sweetheart

Connected at the Roots is available online by visiting www.lulu.com/content/1134102