Celebrating The Third Anniversary of My Book: “A Return To Pleasure”
Today marks the three-year anniversary of my first self-published book, Return to Pleasure. I am incredibly proud of myself and excited for what’s ahead. Seeing the people who have purchased this book, the organizations that have ordered copies in bulk, and the way this work has continued to spread reminds me of why I wrote it in the first place. This journey has been deeply fulfilling, and I am grateful for every person who has held this book in their hands and allowed its words to touch their lives.
To know that I had the opportunity to read this book on Stanford’s campus as they were welcoming students back into in-person sessions for the first time since the pandemic was monumental. It was a moment of renewal, of coming together again after so much collective grief and isolation. To have my work read and received at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt University—all within this three-year period—is truly amazing. Each of these moments has affirmed that this work is not just necessary but resonant. Being invited to speak as a sexual liberation advocate, artist, healer, and performer has shown me how powerful these conversations are. Reading at the National Conference on Domestic Violence and Abuse was a moment of deep validation, knowing that my words could support those doing critical work in the field. Taking this book onto national television expanded its reach in ways I never imagined. For all of this, I am unfathomably grateful.
I think about my mother holding my book in her hands, a full-circle moment that meant more to me than words can express. I think about the young girl I once was, scribbling on my bedroom wall:
“I want to be an international best-selling author. I want to teach women how to dance their way back to God, dance through their fears, and dance through the pain so they can truly find that sense of aliveness.”
Looking back, I see how every step—every challenge, every breakthrough—led me here. My younger self dared to dream, and my present self is living that reality.
I think about my mentors—Rev. Anthony Hollins, Bernadette Pleasant, Gabby Bernstein, Marianne Williamson, Afro-Mystic, Iya Asabi—and all the mentors who poured into me over the years. I quite literally would not be who I am had I not found their work at various points in my life. Their guidance, wisdom, and presence shaped me in ways I am still uncovering. They planted seeds that continue to blossom, and I am forever grateful.
I think about my husband, whose unwavering support has allowed me to fully step into this calling. The space he has made for me—to write uninterrupted, to take the time to refine my thoughts, to trust that our needs would be met—has been an extraordinary gift. To have months, even years, to create without the weight of financial stress is a blessing beyond measure. I do not take it for granted.
I am deeply grateful for my family. And when I say family, I mean my closest of best friends, my husband, and his family—the people who have wrapped themselves around me so I can continue to do this work. Their belief in me, their encouragement, and their love have been my foundation. I would not be here without them.
And now, I am beyond excited to share that the next book in the series is coming out this year on Mother’s Day. This next chapter of my work is a continuation of everything I have learned, lived, and witnessed. It is a book I am writing from a place of deep transformation, and I cannot wait to place it into your hands.
Thank you for your love, your support, and for pouring into me and this work. Your presence on this journey means more than I can say. I am honored to keep moving forward with you.
I introduce to you:
A Return to Pleasure: From Grief to Liberation—Healing the Past, Reclaiming the Future, and Disrupting Timelines of Generational Sexual Trauma.
Cover Image Photo by: Miller
A Black queer femme stands gracefully in a vast field of sunflowers, their golden petals stretching toward the horizon. She wears an off-the-shoulder pink blouse that drapes over her frame, paired with form-fitting jeans that highlight her curves. A wide-brimmed brown sun hat casts a soft shadow over her face as she gazes into the rolling hills in the distance. A glimpse of a delicate tattoo peeks from her back, while a striking spider web tattoo adorns her right shoulder. The warm sunlight bathes her in a golden glow, blending her presence seamlessly with the serene beauty of the landscape.