Ayana Ellis - A Role Model Who Survived

The bruises are covered with the best makeup that money can buy, the smile is shifted into place and the personality is in check. An outgoing and fashionable young woman walks out her home and heads to work in her nice vehicle.

She has it together in every way possible, beautiful, poised and professional. Little does anyone know but she is involved in a volatile relationship that has proven to be a chore instead of a joy to behold. She has had the urge to leave numerous times but something keeps pulling her back.

Night after night she is faced with the daunting task of convincing herself that what she is experiencing is love. He was with her when she needed him; he knew her every thought and would always listen to her concerns but something else lurked deep.

She had always been a strong and outgoing person, the life of the party and a friend to a stranger. Soon his voice gets louder, his attitude becomes more hard edged and the need for her to be around him is constant. Eventually, the abuse becomes intense and results in various sprains and broken bones.

She often asks herself,” Should she leave or should she wait it out”, if only she knew that there were others who felt her plight. If she could get some inspiration to make a change and take a risk that would catapult her to being free, she could finally live life on her terms. Imagine if she could get her hands on Ayana Ellis’s “Full Circle” and find inspiration to walk away.

Ayana Ellis grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of four siblings, raised by a single mother from Jamaica. Growing up in the projects was no easy fete for Ayana Ellis who endured the harsh reality of being raised in the "hood" and the even harsher reality of being raised fatherless. She has a heart for young women who are pressing thru life’s hard issues and need inspiration and motivation.

She exclaims, "I write for the young women in the ghetto who work hard every day to get more out of life. My job is to empower young women and men in urban communities by sharing my experiences in hopes of spreading the message that instead of settling for being products of our environment, we can fight to be survivors of the struggle.”

From dating hustlers, to domestic violence to single parenthood, Ms. Ellis beat the odds and is well on her way to become one of the literary worlds most sought after Authors. As co-author of the hood classic Girls From The Hood Pt 4 and author of Love Changes, Ayana Ellis has only warmed her way into the hearts of avid readers.

I had the awesome task of sharing with Ayana about her life and how she maintains her life as an Author and a mother. Let’s take a look at how she does it all,

Ayana, thank you so much for this opportunity to share with you.
Thank you Darian, It is a pleasure and an honor to even be considered.

Absolutely, tell our readers where you are from?
Brooklyn, NY born and raised.

What event prompted you to start writing? Did you have a background in writing?
I started writing as a hobby and a friend of mine turned one of my short stories into a friend of hers who happened to be a literary agent. She contacted me about representation and the rest is history.

As a mother what has been some challenges that you have encountered?
I encounter the guilt of feeling as if I am not giving my daughter enough attention because I am always on the computer working. The fact that I chose not to stay in the corporate world and to go independent knowing that the money isn't on time was hard as well.

How do you remain grounded?
I keep my family close, I pray all of the time for a peace of mind 24 hours a day. I stay away from negativity by any means necessary.

How do you unwind when you’re having a stressful day?
I relax w/a bottle of Moscato D'asti it’s delicious!

To that young woman/man who is experiencing domestic violence, what would you say to them?
I would say to them to please follow their minds and not their hearts when it comes to domestic violence. I would also tell them to surround themselves with positive people and to never think that they can't get out of this situation. All it takes is the courage to leave and the strength to never go back.

How do you give back to your community?
By writing books that will influence the youth in a positive way and inspire the men and women to move out of situations that are unhealthy. It may not be all roses but there will be a lesson in each novel. Each one teach one.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next five years I see myself sitting in the director’s chair turning Full Circle into a FULL MOVIE! ;-)

With works such as the gritty, heart breaking but triumphant Full Circle which is based on Ms. Ellis herself, not only does she prove that she can hold her own with the big boys but she also proves that she is in this game for the long haul. That makes her a Literary Role Model and a Role Model for those who have survived and beaten the odds in life.

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