My we introduce you to talented author Aneesah Mohammad-Coley.
Aneesah is a new voice in the world of writing. This rising literary star has graciously given us a glimpse into her life as an up and coming author. Check out her interview!
PO: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Aneesah: I am a 23 year old writer from and residing in the historic city of Philadelphia. I am proud to represent and call “home” such a place that, despite its evident troubles and tarnished rep, manages to be so culturally rich and beautiful…The soft pretzels are a bonus. Here in the city, I attended Temple University and earned my BA in English in 2014. Many late nights and early mornings went into successfully completing that chapter of my life and I am now focused on using my degree in ways that benefit my dreams and purpose.
PO: When did you first discover your love for writing?
Aneesah: Writing has been my love ever since the days of my youth, as far back as my elementary/middle school years. Creative storytelling and also songwriting have been and continue to be precious outlets, irreplaceable parts of me. Whenever I find and revisit things I have written many years past I am always overcome with such a heartwarming sensation that insists that this is what I am supposed to be doing. My passion for the art, as it remains embedded within me, is steady growing…evolving. This is my path, my very own yellow brick road.
PO: Tell us about your book Body of Word. How did it come to be? What message would you like it to convey to others?
Aneesah: Body of Word: A Collection of Poetic Limbs is my first “baby” as I like to call it. It is the birth of my creative career. It is also the result of me continually cherishing the beauty and importance of authorship.
So many ideas filled my head as I began composing Body of Word during my very last semester of undergrad at Temple. I enjoyed the writing process, which for me was about 6 months. Once the compilation was organized to my absolute liking, I self-published just a few short months following graduation.
Body of Word, a play on the phrase “body of work,” is a reflective, truth-telling and encouraging composition of poetic pieces written with the intentions to provoke thought and feelings of familiarity within readers. The ultimate meaning behind its title comes from an idea I express in the Introduction: “Words permeate my entire body. They make me up and flourish from the inside out.” I am essentially a walking “body of word,” a woman full of stories and musings (limbs) longing to share her naked thoughts with the world all in an attempt to inspire and uplift.
After having read Body of Word, I would like people to walk away with the thought, the belief, that: I. They are indeed significant. II. They are not alone in this human/emotional experience. III. Love is power. Love is key. Love is a necessity.
PO: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to publish a book?
Aneesah: Go. For. It. Take control of the situation. In today’s society, I feel that a lot of opportunities are self-created and “the entrepreneur/the self-starter” is a rising role. Independent publishing is a way for writers in particular to take our lives and passions into our own hands. We are able to make things happen as opposed to waiting and waiting and waiting around for some large publishing house to care about us and finally take notice of our labors of love. With independent publishing, creative freedom is ours. This route also teaches you, encourages you to learn how to market aka believe in your work as well as yourself so much so that others start to believe in you and your work too.
PO: What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?
Aneesah: I cannot go a day without singing and listening to music that makes me feel good. I love going to/watching movies; My DVD collection is insane and I find a reason to quote Eve’s Bayou (my favorite movie of all time) at least once a week. I am addicted to YouTube because it has everything, especially entertaining web series produced by Black & Sexy TV and Issa Rae. I am still fascinated by libraries, bookstores, and the feel of a real book in my hands. Doing arts and crafts and going to see live theatre are also some of my favorite things.
PO: What inspires you? In both your work and personal life.
Aneesah: First and foremost, my Mother inspires me. She is a phenom and my greatest supporter. To speak of my Mother and to quote Eve’s Bayou (see film), “I was named for her”… and that in itself means so much to me. Every work that I create will always be dedicated to her, rightfully so.
I also find inspiration in my surroundings. I am an observer by nature. I watch and I listen, not to pry but to learn. I am always learning as one should. I analyze the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly within people, nature and society in general. My arsenal of knowledge is what helps me to write and to survive.
Lastly, all the time I am inspired by the world’s greatest feeling: love.
PO:What’s the most recent book that you’ve read? What’s your favorite book of all time, and why?
Aneesah: The book I’ve read most recently is entitled Moon Marked & Touched by Sun: Plays by African-American Women. The anthology is edited by Sydné Mahone and is important to me as a writer of color and a woman of color. The literary/creative arts world, and the world in general is so often dominated by white men and for someone like me to make a name for herself against all odds is/will certainly be a great feat.
Besides Body of Word of course, my favorite book would have to be Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist for its genuine encouragement, creative storytelling and overall influence. The book literally puts life and dream-chasing into perspective. It makes me evaluate and strive to follow more intently the voice of my own heart. It causes me to ponder my own “Personal Legend” as Coelho puts it. It really is a book for the ages, one everyone should read.
PO: Where do you hope your writing takes you? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Aneesah: I hope my writing helps me to reach some of my greatest heights. With it I seek to explore new and fascinating places, reach the hearts and minds of many, and to make an overall artistic statement.
I love writing in various creative forms so in 10 years I see myself being a successful author, screenwriter/filmmaker, playwright, etc. I just want to share as many stories as I can, entertaining and uplifting folks along the way. I know that my voice and what I have to offer is valuable and it’s that belief in self that will take me as far as I want to go.
I seek no fame, only contentment in what I do.
PO: Describe your own outlook on life in one sentence.
Aneesah: Despite all internal and external interference or opposition, one should absolutely strive to and then actually live a life worth dying for.
We couldn’t agree more with that last sentence. She’s a true gem.
You can purchase Aneesah’s book, Body Of Workhere on Amazon!
You can also find her on Twitter/Instagram - @MsMahogAnee
Also, if you would like to contact Aneesah you can reach her by email at aneesah.coley@gmail.com
***This interview was conducted by Candice Me’Shelle on behalf of Purple Olifant. Find her on Instagram (@ImCandice) and be sure to follow Purple Olifant on Instagram (PurpleOlifant) and on Facebook at Purple Olifant.
The Art Institute of Chicago is not only a museum, but it’s also a school. Occasionally visitors will see students painting replicas of some of the masterpieces on display at the museum. Here are some photographs I took a few years ago, which I recently found in my endless photo archive.
Percy Sledge (November 25, 1941 – April 14, 2015) was an American R&B and soul performer who most notably recorded the single “When a Man Loves a Woman” in 1966, an international top 40 hit that the RIAA has certified as gold. Having previously worked as a hospital nurse in the early 60s, he achieved his best success in the mid to late 60s and early 70s with a series of emotional soul songs, in his later years receiving the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Career Achievement Award.
Biography
Early career
Sledge worked in a series of agricultural jobs in the fields in Leighton, Alabama before taking a job as an orderly at Colbert County Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama. Through the mid-1960s, he toured the Southeast with the Esquires Combo on weekends, while working at the hospital during the week. A former patient and mutual friend of Sledge and record producer Quin Ivy introduced the two. An audition followed, and Sledge was signed to a recording contract.
Sledge’s soulful voice was perfect for the series of soul ballads produced by Ivy and Marlin Greene, which rock critic Dave Marsh called “emotional classics for romantics of all ages”. “When a Man Loves a Woman” was Sledge’s first song recorded under the contract, and was released in March 1966. The song’s inspiration came when Sledge’s girlfriend left him for a modelling career after he was laid off from a construction job in late 1965. Because bassist Calvin Lewis and organist Andrew Wright helped him with the song, he gave all the songwriting credits to them. It reached #1 in the U.S. and went on to become an international hit. “When A Man Loves A Woman” was a hit twice in the UK, reaching #4 in 1966 and, on reissue, peaked at #2 in 1987. The song was also the first gold record released by Atlantic Records. The soul anthem became the cornerstone of Sledge’s career, and was followed by “Warm and Tender Love” (Covered by UK songstress Elkie Brooks in 1981), “It Tears Me Up”, “Take Time to Know Her” (his second biggest U.S. hit, reaching #11. The song’s lyric and written by Steve Davis), “Love Me Tender”, and “Cover Me”.
Sledge charted with “I’ll Be Your Everything” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” during the 1970s, and became an international concert favorite throughout the world, especially in the Netherlands, Germany, and on the African continent, and South Africa in particular.
Later career
Sledge’s career enjoyed a renaissance in the 1980s when “When a Man Loves a Woman” re-entered the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #2, behind the reissued Ben E King classic “Stand by Me,” after being used in a Levi’s commercial. In the early 1990s, Michael Bolton brought “When a Man Loves a Woman” back into the limelight again on his smash hit album Time, Love, & Tenderness.
In 1994, Saul Davis and Barry Goldberg produced his new album, Blue Night, for Philippe Le Bras’ Sky Ranch label and Virgin Records. It featured Bobby Womack, Steve Cropper, and Mick Taylor among others. Blue Night received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Vocal or Instrumental, and in 1996 it won the W.C. Handy Award for best soul or blues album.
In 2004, Davis and Goldberg also produced the Shining Through the Rain album which led to his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Songs on the CD were written by Mikael Rickfors, Steve Earle, The Bee Gees, Carla Olson, Denny Freeman, Allan Clarke and Jackie Lomax.
In December 2010, Rhino Handmade issued a four CD retrospective The Atlantic Recordings which covers all of the issued Atlantic masters, as well as many of the tracks unissued in the US (although some being simply the mono versions of songs originally issued in stereo. Disc 1 comprises Sledge’s first two LPs which were not recorded on stereo equipment.) Sledge toured with Sir Cliff Richard during his Soulicious tour, performing his hit track “When a Man Loves a Women” and dueting on “She’s My Puppet.”
Death
Sledge died at his home in Baton Rouge on April 14, 2015. He was 73.
I was asked by my friend to do the incredibly fun task of illustrating the menu for their new coffee shop, Monogram Coffee. Here are some of my favorite pieces.
For those of you in the Calgary area, Monogram Coffee is having their grand opening today (Wednesday, March 11th). Check them out if you want to try some delicious beverages and food!
