Women who Write: My Top Female Author Inspirations and their contributions to the Writing Community

Verses of the Day:

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

In honor of women's month, I'd love to share a few female authors who have made a huge impact not only in my endeavors as a writer but my love and passion for reading.

1. Natalie Goldberg

Author of "Old Friend From Far Away"

"The Things that make you a functional citizen in society-manners, discretion, cordiality- don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs raw truth, wants your suffering and darkness on the table, revels in a cutting mind that takes no prisoners."

-That line gave me the courage to write about things I had never even dared to speak aloud, it gave me the green light to really be my authentic self, to admit that I was no angel and that my flaws made as much of my character as the things people admire me for. To Mrs. Goldberg, thank you for accepting my worse, and making it make sense.

2. Rupi Kaur

Author of Milk and Honey, The Sun and Her Flowers and Homebody

"The kindest words my father said to me

women like you drown oceans."

-It was incredibly hard for me to choose one thing that spoke to me, because everything did. She is a woman of power with words as a sword and shield. She has the gift to say a lot with a little and for that lesson, I am thankful. To Mrs. Kaur, thank you for replanting me to the roots of my creative soul.

3. J.K Rowling

Author of the "Harry Potter" series, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "The Cursed Child"

"It is the quality of one's convictions that determine success, not the number of followers."

-Remus Lupin

- Rowling gave us a world of enchantment while teaching us valuable and golden lessons of what it means to live, love and lose. There is so much she gave to me as a creator that it is difficult for me to find the words. To Mrs. Rowling, thank you for the beauty and epic legacy that is Harry Potter, for reminding me to always search for the light, even in my darkest hours.

4. Shay Young-blood

Author of Black Girl in Paris

“Before I left home I cut my hair close to my scalp so I could be a free woman with free thoughts, open to all possibilities. I was making a map of the world. In ancient times maps were made to help people find food, water, and the way back home. I needed a map to help me find love and language and since one didn't exist, I'd have to invent one, following the trails and signs left by other travelers. I didn't know what I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted to be the kind of woman who was bold, took chances, and had adventures. I wanted to travel around the world. It was my little-girl dream.”

If there were ever a book to represent me the most, it was Black Girl in Paris. My passion to create, my thirst for adventure, the never ending question of: how bad do I want it, when it comes to my dreams and aspirations. Eden reminded me of why I loved the arts and the sacrifices I'd willingly make in order to achieve in my chosen field. To Mrs. Young-blood, thank you for your gift of Parisian dreams, map making and poetry, Merci Beaucoup.

5. Amanda Gorman

Author of "The Hill We Climb", "Call Us What We Carry" and "Change Sings"

"That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb if only we dare it because being American is more than a pride we inherit, it's the past we step into and how we repair it."

-The Inaugural Ceremony of President Biden came with an unexpected surprise dressed in yellow that would catapult me back to my writing roots of poetry. Amanda Gorman graced the stage, and through her potent and powerful "The Hill We Climb.", Lit a fire in my soul to return to my work and finish what I'd started...the year that followed, I published "The Butterfly That Dreamed of Phoenix Wings." A collection of poetry that stands as my testament of human strength and spirit in the face of adversity. Thank you Mrs. Gorman, for inspiring me to continue in my work, during a time I was all but ready to allow it to fade.

There will always be a seat at the table of literacy of great minds such as these. Through them, I have been empowered to continue on my writing journey until the very end. I wish to reach others the way I have been reach, encourage the way I have been encouraged and inspire the way I have been inspired by these magnificent authors mentioned above! Let's chat, who are your favorite female authors and how have they impacted your life? comment below and as always!

"For the love of life and literature, stay prayerful, stay positive and write on!"