Today I am pleased to welcome Omegia Keeys. She is currently on tour with her memoir, Rise and Fall of a Track Star. You can view her entire schedule HERE. She is also kind enough to offer 2 lucky winners an e-copy of her book. Just leave a comment with your email address for your chance to win, and also follow her tour for even more chances by clicking above.
From The Mind of Omegia
So without further ado, Welcome Omegia. Let's talk books.
BK: What inspired you to put your life in a book for all to see?
OK: Well my oldest son was graduating from high school and I felt it would be the perfect time as he is a huge part of the early years of my life.
BK: Penning a memoir can be very difficult, yet healing. What was it like for you to write this story?
OK: It was an emotional rollercoaster. For years I had repressed things, thought I was completely over some, and because I am older realized things were not as cut and dry as I once thought. I am thankful I had a great friend, another author, who I read a few chapters to at a time as I was getting in it all out my head.
BK: What kind of response have you received from the people you speak about in your book?
OK: It’s amazing a lot of people said they can relate to the topics I covered. I didn’t know so many people could be touched by my words. I just had a reviewer tell me she loved the book.
BK: Has your family read it? Were they shocked to learn some of the things you had to go through?
OK: Shock from some, mainly my mother. She had no clue of some of the things going on with me. My close friend was like she is glad I wrote it and had no problem with me using her real name.
BK: How has writing this memoir changed your life today?
OK: It has made me a lot stronger and open. I no longer feel like I am hiding the real me behind a brick wall.
BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
OK: I hope my readers feel they are not alone and can talk to someone. If their family doesn’t want to listen there are others that will.
BK: Have you received any mail or reviews stating that you and your book have helped them in some way?
OK: I just had a reviewer tell me she loved the book. My editors comments were she wanted to hug me and punch the people who did me wrong.
BK: What is one thing you would like to say to readers that have or will read your book?
OK: That they are now willing to stop judging people so hard. You never know what is making someone else be distant, angry, drink a little too much, instead ask the person what’s wrong and let them know they are there to listen.
BK: What advice or counseling would you give to someone who has gone through what you have endured, or something similar?
OK: After I stop crying I will hug them and let them know whatever happened it is not their shame but the person who did it shame. I know it will be hard but do not let the incident be the defining moment of their life.
BK: Anything else you would like to share?
OK: I have recently had the pleasure of speaking to some teens about my book as well as bullying a peer pressure. I had a great time, but I would like us as adults to quit trying to hold children responsible for adult things. Each person handles things differently and it is our job as adults to take care of the youth.
BK: Where can readers find you and purchase your book?
OK: It’s available on Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon right now.
From Pan Am Game bronze medal winner to All American, Omegia Keeys was once touted in Track Magazine as one destined for greatness, but walked away from it all. Rise and Fall of a Track Star is Omegia’s firsthand account leading her to the breaking point. For years Omegia held on to the shame of a dirty little secret, one too common in the African American Community.
Through her memoirs Omegia takes you on a journey through her childhood onto her adult years. Her struggles as a teenage mother is only a checkmark on the list of life altering experiences, ones she hopes young girls and woman can learn from.
Omegia has one goal with her story, to educate, help others, and to release the long carried shame.
Rise and Fall of a Track Star is powerful and inspiring.
- Darci Fielding, Senior Editor
Omegia’s voice and courage will help us to save our girls.
- C.H. Towns author of Night and Day
Omegia’s writing touches the soul of every young girl fighting to find her voice.
- Alexis “Cherie” Norwood author of Bittersweet: Diary of a Safegirl
Amazing, must read!
-Joy, Readers Favorite
Thank you so much for having me stop by BK!
Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you with me today and I wish you much success in the future. Please watch for my upcoming review of Rise and Fall of a Track Star coming up Nov. 24th. You can view Omegia's entire tour schedule here for more chances to win and leave a comment with your email address to enter to win today. Contest will run through Nov. 4 and winners will be announced Nov. 5.
Good luck,
1 comments:
I stopped by your blog today.
Ann
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