“I have realized that we can directly measure life by our will to endure, persevere and survive” – Ava Brown
One of the most consistent bits of advice given to writers is ‘write about what you know’. They say that the best told stories come from experience.
Author Ava Brown has taken that advice with her new book “Bamboo & Fern”, an autobiography of her life growing up as a child in Jamaica an having to forgo school to sell mangoes on the trains with her family because they were poor.
The title of the book reflects on Brown’s character and resilience to get past the heartache and ultimately embrace it and triumph over it — “Using the metaphor of the bamboo, her childhood experiences gave her strong roots to grow but made her tough and bendable like the bamboo plant, she is also like a fern, vulnerable but with a huge capacity for survival.
Ava’s self-taught belief that she was destined for more then the community’s recreational activities of sex, raising babies and going to the farm gave her the courage to forge a very different path than the one expected of her.
Bamboo & Fernwill take you through many different emotions from sorrow, to laughter to ultimately triumph as Brown is now a Global Business Development Manager with an MBA degree.
Enjoy our interview with Ava Brown as part of our Author Spotlight Series and purchase your copy of Bamboo & Fern which is available on Kindle and paperback at Amazon.com or www.avabrown.org
Q & A w/Author Ava Brown
What inspired you to become a writer?
I started writing as a way to escape sadness and the trauma I carried around since childhood so escapism essentially.
Who is your favorite author?
John Grisham as he captivates me and makes me feel as though I am in his books.
What books have influenced your life most?
Books that have influenced me are – Finding Fish: A Memoir By Antwoine Fisher, Oprah, James Brown, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela and Marilyn Monroe’s biographies.
Describe “Bamboo & Ferns” in 30 words or less.
It’s all about survival, hardship, challenges, fear, insects, and most importantly resilience. It touches on issues many black people are afraid to touch but, it has a great essence of motivation and encouragement in many aspects such as you can do it, roll up your sleeves, where you are from doesn’t decide where you can go.
Why should we read it?
You should read it because “Bamboo & Fern” will break your heart, before it makes you smile. Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride that breaks hearts, will undoubtedly motivate, Inspire and fuel the desire for change.
