I've been writing for years...no decades. First, as an imaginative child making up stories, then as an award-winning journalist. I started writing fiction in 1999. I loved it because I was still working as a TV news anchor and reporter, so by day, I stuck to the facts, and by night, I could lose myself in the world of fiction. I made it a point to keep the two worlds separate.

Fast forward 20-plus years and 50-plus books...I felt stagnant as an author. And then I discovered historical fiction. So you mean, I could blend fact and fiction? Sign me up! And I was ready to write about Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Academy Award. Only it wasn't as easy as just signing up. I quickly discovered that if I wanted to write historical fiction well (and really, is there any other way???), then I needed to do my research. And research. And research. Not only did I spend two years researching this extraordinary woman that I thought I knew, but I found it helped to authentically tell Hattie's story. I had to research not just Hattie McDaniel but EVERYTHING about her world. And as time-consuming as it was, I loved everything about it. It would take me five hours to write five sentences, because of the research. I discovered the Internet is not to be trusted (that's a whole other blog). But the end result made every grueling moment worth it.

I love and appreciate my previous career as a mainstream fiction writer. But I am grateful for growth, this new chapter of my literary career, and venturing into unchartered territory. I can't wait to take you along for the ride! #TheQueenofSugarHill #ComingJan30