In a world where stories often go unheard, Samarra St. Hilaire emerges as a beacon of inspiration through her young adult novel, Brushed Between Cultures. Drawing from her own experiences as a Haitian American, Samarra crafted this book to showcase the beauty and complexity of her cultural heritage, aiming to provide positive representation that resonates with young readers. In this interview, she opens up about her creative journey, the challenges of self-doubt, and the unwavering faith that propelled her forward. With authenticity and warmth, Samarra shares her insights on overcoming obstacles, embracing grace, and the power of believing in oneself—messages that encourage not just young readers but women everywhere to pursue their dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem. Join us as we dive into the heart of Samarra’s story and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
- What inspired you to write your YA novel “Brushed Between Cultures”?
I was inspired to write “Brushed Between Cultures,” by the idea of wanting to see positive representation of the Haitian American experience. - Can you share more about the moments of fear and self-doubt you faced while writing your novel?
I experienced many moments of fear and self-doubt while writing the novel. Yes, I froze several times before crossing the finish line. I have been an occupational therapist for almost 22 years. The idea of doing something so completely different and presenting it to the world made me feel vulnerable. I intentionally delayed submitting the final draft of the manuscript in addition to rewriting parts of the book several times with the hope of achieving some degree of perfection. - How did your faith in God and the support of family and friends help you through the writing process?
My faith in God along with the support from family and friends was a crucial part of the process of completing Brushed Between Cultures. I wholeheartedly believe without any doubt that God gave me the idea for writing the novel. The first paragraph of the book fell into my mind like rain in the middle of the night. That was the starting point for writing Brushed Between Cultures. My family and friends were extremely encouraging and understanding. There were several days where I isolated myself and spent countless hours working on the manuscript. - What role does faith play in your creative and personal journey?
Faith plays a crucial role in my creative and personal journey on a daily basis. For one, I am an out of the box thinker in addition to being creative. I attribute those skills to God. Secondly, I make all effort to conduct myself in a manner that positively represent God. I make mistakes but those mistakes are covered by grace. Every day that God allows me to wake up is an opportunity to be and do better. - What advice would you give to other women who are struggling with self-doubt in their creative endeavors?
To women struggling with self-doubt, please know that you are not alone. I have struggled with self-doubt for many years but never allowed those thoughts and feelings to stop me from moving forward. Try not to compare yourself to others. Comparison will stifle your growth. Write your personal goal(s) and determine what success means to you then move forward. If God has placed a vision in you, He will provide the necessary resources and people to make the vision come to life. Just take the first step. You can do it! - What challenges have you encountered in marketing your novel, and how are you overcoming them?
As a self-published author, I have and continue to encounter challenges with marketing Brushed Between Cultures. I am making efforts to use social media (Instagram and TikTok) regularly in addition to contacting local bookstores, schools, social media influencers, organizations, etc. - What strategies do you use to stay positive and speak encouraging words to yourself?
Remaining positive and encouraging in a world that seems filled with hurt, pain, and unrealistic expectations of women can be challenging. There are days when I fall short of encouraging myself to the point where my husband and friends have to remind me of all the goals I have achieved in life. The process of writing Brushed Between Cultures has shown me the power of the words we speak over ourselves. I make an active effort to speak positive words over my life. In addition, I remind myself that God has a plan for my life. - Can you share an example of how giving yourself grace has made a difference in your journey?
Learning to give myself grace has made a difference in my journey in life. Giving myself grace is understanding that mistakes will occur, but these mistakes create opportunities for growth in addition to pointing me back to my source of strength, which is God. Giving myself grace is understanding that a mistake does mean I should give up. Giving myself grace is understanding that I am not the sum of my mistakes. Grace to me means, bumps, bruises and all, keep working towards the goal. - How do you maintain your mental health while balancing multiple projects and responsibilities?
To maintain mental health while balancing multiple projects and responsibilities, I always surround myself with positive people. Drama is draining and has no place in my life. I make time for family and friends. I also enjoy listening to music and watching movies. Being home is my place of peace, which helps in maintain my mental health. - How has your personal story influenced the themes and characters in your novel?
Although Brushed Between Cultures is a fictional book, every character has a part of me. Humor, self-doubt, encouraging others, navigating between cultures, adjusting to change, advocacy, uncertainty are all qualities I possess and past experiences. - What legacy do you hope your novel “Brushed Between Cultures” will leave for young readers?
The legacy I hope “Brushed Between Cultures,” will leave for young readers is to believe in themselves. I want each young reader to know that they possess greatness within. Your potential may look different that others but that does not make you less than. Speak positive words over your life. You are beautiful and capable.
W: https://brushedbetweencultures.com/
