It feels superficial to comment about what exquisite writing this is — given that it was formed through such painful experiences. But it really is so artfully written. As a new mother, I cannot even begin to imagine the visceral pain you must have felt in this. As if a limb was removed. I am so happy you have your baby back in your arms. I’m looking forward to following more of your work.
Thank you so much Kiya for acknowledging the very thing that I love and work hard to intertwine with the stories I tell. I think it’s Toni Morrison who embodied the mystery between weaving beauty with painful storytelling. So this truly encourages me beyond words! I’m also so grateful to have my daughter back ❤️ more to come!
Starr, this breaks me - I just read everything you've posted here on Substack. Thank you for sharing this huge part of your life, and so beautifully. There is a gaping silence around parents' stories when the family court system and CPS is involved. We need to hear more of this, so that we can help more parents escape abusive situations without being punished for it. And the intergenerational component is such a big part of all of our stories... you've given me so much to think about, and I just want to say thank you.
I’m so humbled and so honored for you to take the time to read my work. I know my story is just one out of many. It’s terrifying to translate into thoughts. But I truly am encouraged to keep going!
Thanks for reading and listening - your name is familiar to me. I lived in NYC for 10 years and attended lots of literary events, maybe that's where I can recall your name. But I am honored to have you amongst my subscribers. I look forward to deep diving into some of your content!
Starr, thank you for your kind words. I do a few events in NYC at Thrillerfest and Writers Digest. I'll be doing the Algonkin Write to Pitch this December. I do a lot of on line pitch events for WDW - Writer Day Workshop. So maybe one of those is it.
In regard to "voice", I did listen for a minute -- but I was referring to your writing voice. You had some lines in the piece that were really good. It felt like the start of something…
MY MOTHER was denied all help when she had her firstborn. It is only natural that she denied me the same. I was the baby that made my mother a mother - the first to pull her by the umbilical cord and make her forge a maternal, feminine bone.
Some 30 years later, I show up on her doorstep with my 2-month-old, and she is angry at me: one, for running away from a man; and two, for having a baby alone. Had she taught me nothing if not to let a man put a baby in me?
Yes - I attended a few pitch events (the writer's digest I think) a few years back in NYC. Kind of felt like speed-dating for writers and literary agents, LOL! Thank you SO much for pointing out these lines. I am working on a memoir project, its taking me a while to get my hands dirty with it. Substack is sort of the journey/blog space that helps me ignite the flame. So this is extremely encouraging and helpful.
I’m rewriting the story my father was given. I don’t know still why he wasn’t there for me, but I’m determined to never have my own son wonder or question my love for him. This is how we heal. Grateful for you sharing your truth and life with us ❤️
Thanks Marc! I love reading your posts about your father. It’s amazing how we have to rewrite and reparent ourselves while parenting our children at the same time. It’s not for the faint of heart! Salute to you for showing up and being a great example of what breaking generational trauma looks like in Black fatherhood.
It feels superficial to comment about what exquisite writing this is — given that it was formed through such painful experiences. But it really is so artfully written. As a new mother, I cannot even begin to imagine the visceral pain you must have felt in this. As if a limb was removed. I am so happy you have your baby back in your arms. I’m looking forward to following more of your work.
Thank you so much Kiya for acknowledging the very thing that I love and work hard to intertwine with the stories I tell. I think it’s Toni Morrison who embodied the mystery between weaving beauty with painful storytelling. So this truly encourages me beyond words! I’m also so grateful to have my daughter back ❤️ more to come!
Starr, this breaks me - I just read everything you've posted here on Substack. Thank you for sharing this huge part of your life, and so beautifully. There is a gaping silence around parents' stories when the family court system and CPS is involved. We need to hear more of this, so that we can help more parents escape abusive situations without being punished for it. And the intergenerational component is such a big part of all of our stories... you've given me so much to think about, and I just want to say thank you.
I’m so humbled and so honored for you to take the time to read my work. I know my story is just one out of many. It’s terrifying to translate into thoughts. But I truly am encouraged to keep going!
This is really so beautiful 😌
Thank you baby 🥰💋
This is a really nice piece. I enjoy reading your writing, especially the voice.
Thanks for reading and listening - your name is familiar to me. I lived in NYC for 10 years and attended lots of literary events, maybe that's where I can recall your name. But I am honored to have you amongst my subscribers. I look forward to deep diving into some of your content!
Starr, thank you for your kind words. I do a few events in NYC at Thrillerfest and Writers Digest. I'll be doing the Algonkin Write to Pitch this December. I do a lot of on line pitch events for WDW - Writer Day Workshop. So maybe one of those is it.
In regard to "voice", I did listen for a minute -- but I was referring to your writing voice. You had some lines in the piece that were really good. It felt like the start of something…
MY MOTHER was denied all help when she had her firstborn. It is only natural that she denied me the same. I was the baby that made my mother a mother - the first to pull her by the umbilical cord and make her forge a maternal, feminine bone.
Some 30 years later, I show up on her doorstep with my 2-month-old, and she is angry at me: one, for running away from a man; and two, for having a baby alone. Had she taught me nothing if not to let a man put a baby in me?
Yes - I attended a few pitch events (the writer's digest I think) a few years back in NYC. Kind of felt like speed-dating for writers and literary agents, LOL! Thank you SO much for pointing out these lines. I am working on a memoir project, its taking me a while to get my hands dirty with it. Substack is sort of the journey/blog space that helps me ignite the flame. So this is extremely encouraging and helpful.
I’m rewriting the story my father was given. I don’t know still why he wasn’t there for me, but I’m determined to never have my own son wonder or question my love for him. This is how we heal. Grateful for you sharing your truth and life with us ❤️
Thanks Marc! I love reading your posts about your father. It’s amazing how we have to rewrite and reparent ourselves while parenting our children at the same time. It’s not for the faint of heart! Salute to you for showing up and being a great example of what breaking generational trauma looks like in Black fatherhood.
Thanks for reading!