Welcome to the Other Side!
I started writing The Other Side: Secrets over ten years ago but I couldn’t get past the first couple of pages. Talk about writer’s block! However, there was something about this story that would not die. I picked up a pen so many times. Then in August of 2019, the rest of the story came to me. It was literally like a dam broke and the words just poured out of me especially as the LGBTQ+ community continued to move into mainstream society. As the voices of the younger generations grew louder and bolder, so did the voices of the characters in my head. I knew I had to finally get this story out and into the world.
The characters and their stories in this series are real issues that anyone can connect with. This isn’t just for my LGBTQ+ community, it’s for anyone. That’s what makes me the most proud. To hear someone say it’s a love story not just a lesbian love story; or when I have a heterosexual person tell me how much they loved the book; or how much a particular character reminds them of themselves and their friends. This book is about successful people of color that are trying to find themselves. So while the story might be a coming out story, it’s also a coming of age story. It’s about a group of women and their journey to find themselves. I believe that my voice lends an honesty to the story that will help open the door for literature that is not fully explored by mainstream media.
***My Type of Book***
“All I’m Going Say Is O’Jay Barr Is The Reason I Picked Up A Book Again. As Far As My Knowledge, There Aren’t Many Authors Out There That Bring This Type Of Genre To The Table. It’s A World Full Of Samanthas That Come Show You What’s Real Then Give You Mixed Emotions Because Of What The World May Think. I Hope She Follows Her Heart. Definitely A Great Book & I Love/Hate Cliffhangers Lol But That’s How You Keep Things Trending. I Can’t Wait For The Next Book And Possibly Some Movies :)”
-Shanay Jackson
