I'm thankful this week to welcome my longtime friend & fellow poet, Tamara Woods, author of the recently released poetry collection, "The Shaping of an 'Angry' Black Woman," as a featured guest on theodorewebb.com.
Tamara has inspired me for a number of years. We wouldn't have the vibrant poetry-literary scene we have today in north-central West Virginia without Tamara's positive energy. In addition to many other events, workshops, etc., Tamara co-founded Morgantown Poets, an ongoing monthly literary event at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC).
Now living in Hawaii, Tamara continues to share the spoken & written word, encouraging others, at her dynamic blog, PenPaperPad.com.
Without further adieu, here is author Tamara Woods, in her own beautiful words:
Tamara has inspired me for a number of years. We wouldn't have the vibrant poetry-literary scene we have today in north-central West Virginia without Tamara's positive energy. In addition to many other events, workshops, etc., Tamara co-founded Morgantown Poets, an ongoing monthly literary event at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC).
Now living in Hawaii, Tamara continues to share the spoken & written word, encouraging others, at her dynamic blog, PenPaperPad.com.
Without further adieu, here is author Tamara Woods, in her own beautiful words:
Tamara Woods, Author I’m really excited that Ted has given me the opportunity to tell you more about me and my writing. And that I can give one of you guys a signed copy of my book, "The Shaping of an 'Angry' Black Woman."
(To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about why you want to read "The Shaping of an 'Angry' Black Woman" in the comments section below and then SHARE the link to the book (http://sakura-publishing.com/product/the-shaping-of-an-angry-black-woman/) on your social media: Facebook, Twitter, etc. One winner will be randomly selected from among those commenting.)
I grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia, a shy girl, who read way too much and daydreamed even more. Barbie was the first victim of my storytelling. She and Ken went through some very dramatic breakups, which included so much backstory.
In the fourth grade I realized these stories I told could be written down. On paper. My mind was blown. Short stories became my go-to for storytelling.
The next jump in my writing happened in the summer before my seventh grade year. I attended a week-long workshop for African American students at the (then) Fairmont State College. I had no idea that one week would change my life so much.
That’s when I met my “first” love and I learned that I could write poetry. Those potent things fused together, and poetry became my way to communicate my fears, my triumphs and complex emotions that I don’t always have the words to express.
Poetry shows me the way.
Fast forward and college came. I was a journalism major at West Virginia University. It’s where I met so many wonderful people, including Ted, who have inspired me and kept me going. During that time I learned I could do the spoken word, and take a stage. I didn’t have to live in Brooklyn or Chicago. I could do it in Morgantown. And so we did.
I decided I was going to leave the isolation of my Mountain Mama and move to a different place where I could become more connected…so I moved to the island of O’ahu. I know, it sounds like my geography skills are terrible (my sense of direction certainly is). However, moving here did help me connect more—with my writing. And then I realized I wanted to share my writing and my point of view with others. And so “The Shaping of an ‘Angry’ Black Woman” poetry collection started to be formed.
I wanted to address the subject of black women and how we're perceived in society. The negative views people project onto us. And I started thinking about how we are portrayed in media/books/etc. I’ve noticed three general roles: The Slut, The Nanny, The Bitch (aka Angry Black Woman). I don't have the body type for the first, I'm not nurturing enough for the second, so I would be assigned into the third role. I wanted to contribute to this conversation - and let people know that I'm more than just a one-dimensional character. We all are.
Here’s an example of one of the poems that’s in the book, where I talk about my choice to have my hair natural.
(To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about why you want to read "The Shaping of an 'Angry' Black Woman" in the comments section below and then SHARE the link to the book (http://sakura-publishing.com/product/the-shaping-of-an-angry-black-woman/) on your social media: Facebook, Twitter, etc. One winner will be randomly selected from among those commenting.)
I grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia, a shy girl, who read way too much and daydreamed even more. Barbie was the first victim of my storytelling. She and Ken went through some very dramatic breakups, which included so much backstory.
In the fourth grade I realized these stories I told could be written down. On paper. My mind was blown. Short stories became my go-to for storytelling.
The next jump in my writing happened in the summer before my seventh grade year. I attended a week-long workshop for African American students at the (then) Fairmont State College. I had no idea that one week would change my life so much.
That’s when I met my “first” love and I learned that I could write poetry. Those potent things fused together, and poetry became my way to communicate my fears, my triumphs and complex emotions that I don’t always have the words to express.
Poetry shows me the way.
Fast forward and college came. I was a journalism major at West Virginia University. It’s where I met so many wonderful people, including Ted, who have inspired me and kept me going. During that time I learned I could do the spoken word, and take a stage. I didn’t have to live in Brooklyn or Chicago. I could do it in Morgantown. And so we did.
I decided I was going to leave the isolation of my Mountain Mama and move to a different place where I could become more connected…so I moved to the island of O’ahu. I know, it sounds like my geography skills are terrible (my sense of direction certainly is). However, moving here did help me connect more—with my writing. And then I realized I wanted to share my writing and my point of view with others. And so “The Shaping of an ‘Angry’ Black Woman” poetry collection started to be formed.
I wanted to address the subject of black women and how we're perceived in society. The negative views people project onto us. And I started thinking about how we are portrayed in media/books/etc. I’ve noticed three general roles: The Slut, The Nanny, The Bitch (aka Angry Black Woman). I don't have the body type for the first, I'm not nurturing enough for the second, so I would be assigned into the third role. I wanted to contribute to this conversation - and let people know that I'm more than just a one-dimensional character. We all are.
Here’s an example of one of the poems that’s in the book, where I talk about my choice to have my hair natural.
TAMARA WOODS was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia, where she began writing poetry at the age of 12. Her first poetry collection is available at http://sakura-publishing.com/product/the-shaping-of-an-angry-black-woman. She has previous experience as a newspaper journalist, an event organizer, and volunteer with AmeriCorps and VISTA, in addition to working with people with disabilities. She has used her writing background to capture emotions and moments in time for anthologies such as Empirical Magazine, her blog PenPaperPad and writing articles as a full-time freelance writer. She is a hillbilly hermit in Honolulu living with her Mathemagician.
Social Media
Facebook: http://facebook.com/TamaraWoodstheWriter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/penpaperpad
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TamaraWoods/posts
Tumblr: http://penpaperpad78.tumblr.com
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/pimptwoo/videos
Social Media
Facebook: http://facebook.com/TamaraWoodstheWriter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/penpaperpad
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TamaraWoods/posts
Tumblr: http://penpaperpad78.tumblr.com
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/pimptwoo/videos
 Click cover pic to read! |  Click pic to read! |
