Other people’s opinions of your work are not ultimately as important as your own opinion of your work.Today’s featured award-winning author is an actor, award-winning screenwriter, audiobook narrator, college professor, and the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award winner, Toni Ann Johnson. Toni Ann and I have a fun chat about her book, “Light Skin Gone to Waste”, how to gain confidence as a writer, and more!!! Key Things You’ll Learn:How she got into writingWhy it pays to trust your intuition as a writerWhy persistence is required to have success as a writerThe mindset writers should have when doing public readings of their books Toni Ann’s Site: https://www.toniannjohnson.com/Toni Ann’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Skin-Gone-Waste-Flannery/dp/0820363065/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1HTAT4ZDCWE9O&keywords=light+skin+gone+to+waste&qid=1652130487&sprefix=light+skin+gone+to+waste%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-4 The opening track is titled, "Don't You" from The Solar Mixtape by Asis Galvin. Be sure to capture this beat by clicking this link. https://asisgalvin.bandcamp.com/track/dont-you You May Also Like… Ep. 487 – “Black Indian” with Shonda Buchanan (@shondabuchanan): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-487-black-indian-with-shonda-buchanan-shondabuchanan/ #Holiday Bonus Ep. – “Read Until You Understand” with Dr. Farah Griffin (@FJasmineG): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/holiday-bonus-ep-read-until-you-understand-with-dr-farah-griffin-fjasmineg/ Ep. 430 – “Being Brown in a Black and White World” with Annemarie Shrouder (@ashrouder): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-430-being-brown-in-a-black-and-white-world-with-annemarie-shrouder-ashrouder/  Ep. 350 – “Stay on Track Tips” with Dr. Ro (@everythingro): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-350-stay-on-track-tips-with-dr-ro-everythingro/ Ep. 365 – “My Poetry Is the Beauty You Overlook” with Kim B. Miller (@pwcpoetlaur2020): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-365-my-poetry-is-the-beauty-you-overlook-with-kim-b-miller-pwcpoetlaur2020/ Ep. 429 – “Too Happy to Be Sad Girl” with Angel Aviles (@2Happy2BSadGirl): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-429-too-happy-to-be-sad-girl-with-angel-aviles-2happy2bsadgirl/ #Bonus Ep. – “From Shy Girl to Award-Winning Model” with Lorna Greyling (@LornaGreyling): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/bonus-ep-from-shy-girl-to-award-winning-model-with-lorna-greyling-lornagreyling/ Ep. 420 – “The UPside of Failure” with Tiana Sanchez (@likearealboss): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-420-the-upside-of-failure-with-tiana-sanchez-likearealboss/ Ep. 356 – “The Relentless Pursuit of Greatness” with Thomas R. Williams (@MrTRWilliams): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-356-the-relentless-pursuit-of-greatness-with-thomas-r-williams-mrtrwilliams/ 257 – “It’s Time To Fly Away” with Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew (@Froswa): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/257-its-time-to-fly-away-with-dr-froswa-booker-drew-froswa/ 42 - "Courage" with Christie Lindor (@MuseMece): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/42-courage-with-christie-lindor-musemece/ Ep. 397 – “Make Your Own Break” with Jennifer Lieberman (@iamjenlieberman): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-397-make-your-own-break/ Ep. 452 – “Writing a Penetrating Tell-All Memoir” with Karin Freeland (@KarinFreeland): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-452-writing-a-tell-all-penetrating-memoir-with-karin-freeland-karinfreeland/ Ep. 340 – “A Single Light” with Tosca Lee (@ToscaLee): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-340-a-single-light-with-tosca-lee-toscalee/ Ep. 351 – “The Gift Legacy” with JP McLean (@jpmcleanauthor): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-351-the-gift-legacy-with-jp-mclean-jpmcleanauthor/ Ep. 448 – “Keepin' It Real” with Caramel Lucas (@Ms__Caramel): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-448-keepin-it-real-with-caramel-lucas-ms__caramel/