Honored to Receive the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Artist Fellowship

Y'all! I am so happy to announce that I have been awarded the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Artist Fellowship! This is an honor for me, and I'm grateful to the Mississippi Arts Commission for their support of artists and our creative power.

This fellowship is a crucial investment in the next stage of my artistic journey, specifically for my project, "Catfish & Lemonade." This is a deeply personal collection of short stories and screenplays that explores the complexities of human experience, blending grounded realism with elements of Afrofuturistic fantasy and Southern Gothic fiction. My collection, like its title, is an ode to the diverse landscapes and cultural influences of the Mississippi Delta that have shaped me.

Early draft of "Catfish & Lemonade" cover art for the collection of stories and screenplays.

The fellowship funding will be instrumental in bringing this project to life. It will provide the dedicated time and resources needed to refine the manuscript with a professional editor and, importantly, to produce the "Catfish & Lemonade" audiobook. With my background in theater and performance, I am excited to create an immersive listening experience that brings these characters to life with warmth and emotional depth.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Mississippi Arts Commission for this incredible recognition. I am excited about the work to come and look forward to sharing more of my journey with you.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.