This photo of  Nikky Finney, Pearl Cleage, and Ntozake Shange and me was taken at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta in 2003. I can’t believe that was almost ten years ago. My first novel, Leaving Atlanta, was just out in paperback.  I was starting to feel like a “real” writer, but sharing the stage with these women had me shaking like a leaf.  All three of them were lovely toward me, encouraging and kind.  I was grateful then, and grateful I remain.

If everything happens for a reason, I wonder why I stumbled accross this photo today?