Young Author Featured In Compilation

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Books

Saturday, 12 June 2010 06:15

By caribarena news

Antiguan author Floree Williams has added her voice to the musings of women from all over the world in a new collection entitled Souls of My Young Sisters, which includes a foreword by RnB star Mary J Blige and Madeline Smalls.

According to a release, Williams writes "specifically of her painful journey to self-love, including admitting her weaknesses and taking ownership of who she is in all her glory".

From a young age, she acknowledges in the book – co-edited by Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy – she was tormented by the critiques of others, allowing them to break her spirit. “One day I hope to be blessed with a daughter, and I hope that the one thing I can pass on to her is to accept herself for who she is, and that as long as she tries her hardest, then her best is good enough. As for me, I get by one day at a time, learning to love more of me slowly, but surely," she said.

Williams holds an Hons BA from the University of Toronto, and has published a book of childhood short stories entitled Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses, which is available at Best of Books. She received a National Youth Award for Literary Arts in 2008, and is currently wrapping up work on her first novel slated for release this summer.

Describing the collaboration, the release said, "The women in these pages are survivors and have not even reached the age of thirty. If you are trying to figure out what’s next, headed to college, in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, or getting your career or family started, look to your sisters and their honest – sometimes heartbreaking – but always encouraging real-life stories."

“These young women are powerful, and knowing the stories of other young women from around the world keeps you from feeling alone,” say Daniels and Sandy.

“Our purpose is to give women the opportunity to be able to recognize themselves by reading about other women’s lives and gain the strength to move on and succeed as those have before them.” 

The authors, Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy, who have been friends since high school, enlisted the help of women between the ages of 18 to30 from the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa. Sections of the book revolve around self-image - “I Had Enough,” “Why Does It Hurt so Bad?” “Why Am I Afraid?” “Am I My Mother?,” faith, decisions, careers, love, and death.

"Whether you’re dealing with issues of self-esteem, dating, domestic violence, cyber-stalking, or racial profiling, within these pages a diverse gathering of amazing women like yourself, from entrepreneurs to entertainers, have words of wisdom, inspiration, and practical information. Women of all backgrounds will find stories or issues they, or a loved one have confronted in their own lives," the release added.

This year marks the 10th anniversary since the publication of the first volume of the national bestseller, Souls of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, tell Their Stories and Heal Their Spirits. They are honouring this release with a Souls of My Sisters conference on St Lucia from August 5 to 8.

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