Authors Note
In 2009, I began writing a story drawn from a childhood memory of dodging bumblebees while picking honeysuckles with a neighborhood friend. I wrote two chapters before hitting a long stretch of writer’s block. Still, I kept returning to it—rewriting, restarting, again and again. I often psyched myself out, doubting I had what it took to write a book beyond a screenplay.
Two years ago, I revisited the same story. This time, it poured out of me. From spinning dreidels to picking flowers to climbing towering trees, West Oaks offers a window into the late ’90s—when nature was the ultimate playground, neighbors were family, and sugar was currency.
Over time, this story blossomed into a love letter to Black boys and girls, Black men and women alike, and to the younger versions of ourselves. Our minds are made of gold, and our thoughts can carry us to the most magical places. We deserve tender, thorough stories that capture the fullness of who we are—not just how high we jump, how efficiently we twerk, how ‘hood’ we are, or how strong we grow, but how deeply we feel and how important it is for our thoughts to reclaim our light in a world consumed by darkness. The heart of the story is grounded in the power of thought.
This story pulls from light-hearted moments of my childhood and spins them into a sweet adventure sprinkled with a touch of fantasy.
A story for all—I hope it inspires you to chase your dreams, even in these uncertain times.
