Writers4Higher: Writers4Higher features Angela Yolanda Hodge

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Writers4Higher features Angela Yolanda Hodge

Welcome to Writers4Higher

The purpose of the Writers4Higher blog: to feature authors in a new light, a fresh look at the way writers use their talents and life energies to uplift humankind. Writers4Higher doesn’t promote religious or political views. Authors are asked to answer three simple questions: simple, yet complex.

This issue, Writers4Higher features

Angela Yolanda Hodge

Hi, Angela. Welcome to the Writers4Higher family!

Tell me about yourself. Your book(s), your life, your inspiration.

BIO:

Angela Yolanda Hodge was born and raised in the beautiful town of Madison, Florida.

Angela is a graduate of North Florida Community College. Formerly a teacher for Florida’s Early Head Start Program, Angela has over ten years’ teaching experience.

As a child, she always kept how she felt within her. When trials and tests came, she began to express those moments and her feelings in writing. Writing became therapeutic for Angela, as it allowed her to release the pressure that she says submerged her heart in fear. Angela’s writing taught, kept, and saved her.

Angela currently resides and works in Tallahassee, while enduring many challenges over the years, Angela found a way to overcome the pain and rejection from her childhood. She is a proud mother of three children, five grandchildren, one son-in-law, and two God children.

In 2011, Angela published her first book, Daybreak: Gaining Strength Through Our Pain. In 2012, she contributed two short stories to two anthologies. One of her short stories, entitled, “A Wicked Twist of Fate,” was featured in Barbara Joe Williams’ anthology, 21 Lives of Lisette Donavan, and earned Angela a 2nd place prize in the Tallahassee Authors Network’s short story contest. The other, entitled “The Amazing Journey of Healing,” was featured in Marvin “Merv” Mattair’s anthology, Words from My Kings& Queens. In 2013 she published her second book Daybreak : Rising Above It All With Praise.

She is the Founder and Visionary Director of the Daybreak Community Outreach Program, which is a volunteer Christian base program designed to allow each individuals to be creative in their reading and writing skills we provide five workshops which includes the Daybreak Creative Writing Workshop, Scrapbooking with Daybreak, Daybreak Book Club for Kids, and Daybreak Poetry Slam, and Daybreak Young Author Conference.
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I love Scrapbooking. It allows me to be free in my mind, I can express how I feel without using words. I love spending time with family and friends.

My inspiration is believing in myself, finding my self- worth and moving forward. For many years, I lived in fear, the fear of not being accepted, the fear of rejection, and the fear of not being worthy. I was led on a 31 day transformation, and in those days, I felt I wasn't going to make it. I had to let it all go the past hurt, the pain, the unforgiveness, and the hate, day by day as I read the word. I gain strength to keep pushing, so I stand today and say all is forgiven.

2. Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?

I see my writing taking me in many different directions, working with others to help bring out their own gifts and talents. We all were born with a special gift; we just have to discover it and set goals to achieve it.

3. How do you use your talents/time to help other?

I use my talent and time to help others by volunteering in the community my Daybreak program is volunteer services. I do workshops as well and help with the youth department at my church. I volunteer with the FAMU Softball team, Leon County Reading Council, and Leon County High School. I also provide services to GMME-Global Multi Media Enterprise; I’ve been a reader and reviewer for the publishing company.