Today we’d like to introduce you to Breonda G. Simmons.
Hi Breonda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Breonda G. Simmons. I am author, poet, and artist. As a child, my mother noticed that I had a unique voice and at the tender age of 7, I was known for being well-spoken and having an expansive vocabulary. She began using her spare time to help me cultivate what I didn’t realize was a gift. I would participate in speech contests, plays, and even debates. As a young child, I struggled with the harsh effects of being teased and ridiculed for having interests that were different from my peers. To cope with all that I felt on the inside, I begin to pick up a pen to express what I felt on paper about what I was experiencing on the inside. Writing gave me the opportunity to sharpen my creativity while also providing a form of therapeutic escapism. The descriptive accounts of my day, or my innermost feelings were then transformed into poetry that I would selectively share with family and friends. Although, I didn’t always share my pieces of art, I never stopped writing. Twenty years ago, there was so much of my life that I realized I had struggled healing through. So, I embarked on the journey of writing a memoir, but I had encounters with writer’s block so frequently. I needed to find a way to get back to operating in the therapeutic escapism that writing previously provided for me. Week to week I gave myself writing prompts that I would then transform into poems. The compilation of all of the work written during this period became my first published book, “Floating In My Breakthrough”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As much as I have enjoyed the journey of being an author, I also consider myself an artist, and I am very particular about the work that I release into the world. My vision is very important to me. The work, the art, and the collaborative opportunities are all a reflection of me. Much of my story and things that I’ve gone through were compiled to poetically share my perspective on life’s more pressing issues. I struggled immensely with bearing my soul to this world, and my reaction with becoming a “public figure”. As time passes, I am always elated to hear how my work has impacted so many. Those moments make all parts of the journey worth every obstacle.
I am a passionate author, poet, and artist known for my first published book, “Floating In My Breakthrough”. I am most proud of the dedication from all of those who were involved in making this project a possibility and being able to share my art with this world. My ability to share the most intricate, intimate, daring, and what I like to call “valley moments” of my own life has the power to motivate and inspire others. I have developed a willingness to talk about the parts of life that most people are not always comfortable talking about and I think that’s what makes me unique as an author and artist. I have found purpose in bearing it all.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
As a writer, I can find the versatility in previous work. Something that has already inspired me can inspire me even further to create more. For instance, at the end of my book there’s a piece titled “ABC’s of Life” where I poetically express my own re-adaptation of the alphabet. Eventually, I would love to recreate the piece in its’ entirety to create a cartoon for young children learn the alphabet in a way that can motivate them to reach great heights. From A to Z, there would be a cartoon version of myself climbing the ladder of life while navigating through each letter to learn more about myself. I am always creating and thinking about ways to release art that can impact the masses.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @breondagsimmons
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BreondaGSimmons/?ref=page_internal&paipv=1
Image Credits
Book Cover Artwork (Tenaysha Stewart of Ten10 Images)
